Last Updated on December 2, 2024
While perusing Reddit, I found a sub called TVTooHigh, and I’m shocked by how many folks do not know how high to mount a TV on the wall. Chiropractors must be making bank on all this neck craning. Side note: it’s not just homeowners; it’s hotels, too. TVs everywhere are hung entirely too high for optimal viewing experience. So, I’m taking it upon myself as an interior designer to educate the world and answer all the burning questions on how high you should hang a TV on the wall in your living room.
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General Rule Of Thumb For Mounting A TV On The Wall At The Right Height
If you’re presently in the process of hanging your new TV, you may just be saying, Kyla, give me the meat and potatoes of this post. Don’t tell me a story. I just wanna watch the game at the ideal height for the best viewing experience. Ya, I can respect that. Grab your tape measure and stud finder.
1. Recommended Height For A 42″ Screen Size Television
If you’re hanging a 42-inch TV, you’ll want to hang it 57″ from the center of the screen (not the bottom of the screen). This means the center of the TV should be 57″ from the floor. Why the odd number? Well, because it is the average person’s eye height. It may seem low when you first hang it but trust me. There’s a reason why every art gallery hangs the paintings at eye level. It truly is the perfect height.
2. Recommended Height For A 55″ Screen Size Television
If you have a larger TV (or art), you must accommodate that increase with added height. A 55-inch TV should be hung 61″ from the center of the screen. This will ensure you’re hanging your TV at the proper height.
3. Recommended Height For 65″ and 70″ Televisions
I’m just gonna group these last two large TV sizes together. The ideal TV height for a 65-inch television should be hung 65″ from the center of the TV screen, and a 70-inch TV size should be 67″ inches from the middle of the screen. This will center your mounted television at eye level and help avoid neck strain.
Keep in mind that the measurements above are a general rule of thumb. The correct height of your TV might need to be adjusted up or down to find the perfect spot. If you have to adjust the height, channel eye level height because you may not have enough space to fit a console below because the size of the TV is too large—and that is okay. Use this post as a guide to the proper TV viewing position.
RELATED: Check out my post on how to hang art like a pro and nail the right height every single time. Plus, 7 genius picture-hanging hacks.
Accommodating A Wall Mounted TV Over Awkward Furniture
So you have an entertainment center that doesn’t accommodate the general rule of thumb measurements, violating the TV mounting height. That’s okay; you can tweak it because we all know once you know the rules, you can break them. (BTDubs, yes, you should have a TV stand or console under your television to ground it.)
I purchased a low-profile sideboard at our old home, and if I were to hang a 42″ television 57″ from center, the TV would have looked super dinky. The scale would have been off. To accommodate the low profile, I went larger on the TV and lowered it a couple of inches from the general rule of thumb height.
To ground the TV and keep it from looking like it was floating, I wanted to hang it 6″-8″ above the furniture.
Same thought process for a higher sideboard or credenza. Unless the furniture is extra wide, consider downsizing the TV to accommodate scale and, again, hang the TV approximately 6″-8″ above the furniture. A good example of this is in the bedroom. If your TV is mounted above a highboy dresser, you do not want to hang a 70″ television above it. Purchase a smaller size, but mount it at an ideal viewing distance for a comfortable viewing experience.
Hanging A TV On A Bedroom Wall
This is another one of those situations where you must learn the rules to break the rules. When hanging a TV on a bedroom wall, consider how you’ll be watching your favorite shows (optimal viewing angle). If you’re lying down for the most part, consider lowering the height to accommodate eye level. If it looks too low visually, keep it at the general rule of thumb height, but tilt the screen down slightly. Just be sure you hang it at an optimal viewing distance to avoid eye strain.
Should You Hang a Television Over a Fireplace?
My personal preference is to avoid hanging a flat-screen TV over a fireplace at all costs, but sometimes, there are no other options. Since most families want a TV in the living room, there are a few things to remember to achieve optimal height and stay within safety standards.
The firebox, unless lit, will be a big black square, and the television, another big black rectangle, will be mounted above the mantel. Those two big black holes will dominate the entire room. There is an easy solution to avoiding TV domination.
First and foremost, if you must hang a TV over the fireplace and your budget allows it, invest in the Samsung Frame TV. This snazzy and smart art TV acts as artwork and will eliminate one giant black hole. It comes with a free library of art, but you can also upload family photos. For other display options, check out my round-up of beautiful tv art and my post with a free tv art download.
RELATED: The brick fireplace before and after reveal was a controversial one. See for yourself and weigh in on the comments.
But the real question is how high you should hang a television over a fireplace. If you can, follow the general rule of thumb listed above based on the size of your television. If adjustments need to be made, you’ll want the bottom of the television 4″-12″ above the mantel and tilt the flatscreen TV down a bit until you reach the perfect viewing angle. This will allow you to achieve the best height and avoid neck pain.
If you have a wood-burning fireplace, I highly suggest finding a different wall to mount your television. The smoke and heat will ruin it. If you have no choice, hang it the full 12″ above the mantel. I will also caution you on drilling holes into your brick.
RELATED: Looking for something else to hang over your fireplace? Try one of the Anthropologie dupe mirrors.
How To Hide Cords On A Wall-Mounted TV
You’re probably hanging a TV on the wall because you want a cleaner, more elevated design look, right? So why would you have pesky cords dangling from it? There are a couple of solutions for hiding cords on a wall-mounted TV to avoid the frat house look and keep cords out of sight. The best way requires a drill and cord kit, but if you’re a renter, there is another option.
This In Wall Cord Management Kit is available on Amazon and is perfect for hiding low-voltage cords. They claim it can be done in 30 minutes if you have a drill (they even include the saw attachment in this particular kit.)
If you’re a renter and drilling pilot holes in drywall is frowned upon, check out these flat molding covers. They snap on and require very little damage to drywall. You can also paint the cover to help it blend.
RELATED: If you have an awkward living room layout with fireplace, try this simple guide with five different room layouts to help you design your room. This will also help you determine the main focus of the room.
TV Wall Mounts For Flat Screen Televisions
Because of the standard VESA (Video Electronics Standards Association) pattern, pretty much any TV mount you buy should work as long as it accommodates the television’s requirements like size and weight. That being said, most TV wall mounts are available in a full-motion TV mount. Mine slides side to side, which is perfect if you’re a serial furniture mover. In short, it’s not so much about the TV wall mount type you buy but rather the wall itself. It’s a good idea to anchor the wall mount to studs or use drywall anchors rated to support the weight of your TV. Even though flat screens are lightweight, they’re heavier than you think.
Do You Need Furniture Under A Television?
When I first began designing my home, I didn’t think furniture was needed, but ideally, yes, you’ll want a piece of furniture under a wall-mounted television to ground it no matter the size of your TV. As you can see in the Reddit example below, the homeowner tried to use the wood paneling to ground the television, which just does not work.
Personally, I’m not a fan of bulky entertainment centers. Instead, I’d opt for a vintage credenza or sideboard (readily available at an estate sale near you). Mine (pictured above in the blue DeNimes living room) is hung over a vintage Henrendon burl wood credenza. To ensure the electronics don’t overheat, we cut a hole in the backside for ventilation.
Remember, This Is Only A Guide On How High To Mount A TV
It should be noted that the TV hung in my living room is a smidge too high, but that is what can happen when you’re at work and leave it up to the audio installers. They hung my speakers for optimal theater sound versus the optimal TV height. Needless to say, I was not thrilled when I arrived home from work that day, and my screen height was too high. It happens to the best of us. Just try not to hang your TV inches from the ceiling and you’ll be just fine.
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Merlyn
For sitting area tv viewing, shouldn’t eye level be the seated, not standing, measurement? Center of TV at 42″ or thereabouts.
Kyla Herbes
MerlynYou would think, but you have to accommodate how far away you’re viewing the TV. Because of that, you’ll want to raise it to eye level.
Amanda
I’m not understanding…and trying really hard to because I have 4 tv’s to hang. In all of the examples you gave, there is 47.3 to 49″ from the bottom height of the tv to the floor. That means that every center point is completely different height. So there is no consistent center point the way you’ve described to do it. What am I missing??? Help please!!!
Kyla Herbes
AmandaThat is correct! There is not a one size fits all height.
TV Pro
Great tips on TV mounting height. Following the general guidelines ensures the best viewing experience and prevents neck strain. Love the focus on design balance, especially with furniture placement and cord management.