Wall mounting your TV is a great way to save space, but you have to take into account the TV size, viewing distance, eye level height, and more to ensure your TV is a comfortable viewing experience.
Whether or not you are going to mount your TV is a factor to keep in mind when you are in the market for one of the best TVs out there.
General height guideline
You can use the chart below to get a rough estimate of how high, from the floor to the center of the TV, you should mount your TV (with an eye-level height of 42-48 inches).
With a small amount of planning, you’ll be able to mount your TV in a way for optimal comfort, appearance, and ease of use. Placement is important, as is the bracket height, to get the most out of your viewing experience.
How to decide on the right height for your TV
As a general rule, you should mount a TV at eye level. Typically, eye level while seated is around 42-48 inches from the ground. You can use our table above to get an approximate starting point.
STAT: The ideal viewing distance for a 55″ TV is 7 to 15 feet (source)
The ideal height can be fine-tuned by measuring the distance from your eyes to the floor while in a seated position.
Keep in mind that most manufacturers recommend a viewing angle of no more than 30 degrees for maximum comfort and a minimum chance for eye strain over long viewing times.
Even if you’re likely not going to be the only one watching the TV, unless you’re especially tall or especially short, even when seated, using yourself as the standard is a good idea.
STAT: A large HD display at optimal viewing distance and angle is considered ideal for the most immersive viewing experience (source)
The quality of the picture is also important, and it can be improved with a good-quality TV that offers adjustable settings.
While the TV size, viewing distance, and eye level are important factors, there are some other factors to consider as well.
- Seating options – If you will mostly be reclining, you will want to raise the height of the where the TV is mounted to ensure a good line of sight.
- Room obstacles – You want an unobstructed view, so any furniture or shelves should be taken into account to not obstruct anyone’s view.
- Personal preference – Some people will like the TV higher or lower based on aesthetics, like over a fireplace. You should experiment with different heights before you drill any holes.
- The room – Keep the room size in mind, plus, if it is mounted in a bedroom, you should take the bed height into account before mounting to ensure the whole screen is viewable.
Using our table, your seated height, and your viewing distance, you should be able to find the optimal mounting height without much trouble.
Now that you know how high the TV should be mounted, you will want to check out how to wall mount a TV for the steps to actually get the TV on the wall.
STAT: The average viewer watches TV at a viewing angle of 10-15 degrees (source)
It should be noted that before you mount your TV, you need to make sure the area will fit the TV properly. This means understanding the TV size vs distance. You can also check out our TV size comparison to see what sizes are best for certain situations.
