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House Of Hipsters

Design Tips How To

How High Should You Hang A TV?

March 9, 2023

Last Updated on March 16, 2023

I’ve been perusing Reddit lately and joined a sub called TVTooHigh, and I’m shocked by how many folks do not know how high they should hang a TV on the wall. Chiropractors must be making back on all this neck craning. And it’s not just homeowners; it’s hotels too! The TVs are hung entirely too high. So I’m taking it upon myself to educate the world and answer all the burning questions on how high you should hang a TV in your living room and avoid wearing a neck brace.

How High to Hang a TV - Learn how high to hang a wall mounted tv so it's not too high
Learn How High To Hang A TV On A Wall

Table of Contents

  • SOLVED! The General Rule Of Thumb For Mounting A TV On The Wall
    • 1. General Height For A 42″ Television
    • 2. General Height For A 55″ Television
    • 3. General Height For 65″ and 70″ Televisions
  • Accommodating A Wall Mounted TV Over Awkward Furniture
  • Hanging A TV On A Bedroom Wall
  • Hanging A Television Over A Fireplace
  • How To Hide Cords On A Wall-Mounted TV
  • Do You Need Furniture Under A Television?
  • Discover More Eclectic Home Decor Ideas And DIY Interior Design Tips

SOLVED! The General Rule Of Thumb For Mounting A TV On The Wall

If you’re presently in the process of hanging your 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. Ya, I can respect that.

1. General Height For A 42″ Television

If you’re hanging a 42″ tv, you’ll want to hang it 57″ from center. Meaning the center of the TV should be 57″ from the floor. Why the odd number? Well, because it is the average person’s eye level. It may seem low when you first hang it but trust me, there’s a reason why every art gallery hangs its art at this level.

2. General Height For A 55″ Television

When your TV (or art) is larger, you must accommodate that increase with added height. A 55″ television should be hung 61″ from center.

3. General Height For 65″ and 70″ Televisions

I’m just gonna group these last two together. A 65″ television should be hung 65″ from center, and a 70″ television should be 67″ inches from the center. This will center your mounted television at eye level.

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.

How High Should You Hang a Television - Learn how high to hang a wall mounted tv so it's not too high
This Is A 55″ Samsung Frame TV that Looks Like Art

Accommodating A Wall Mounted TV Over Awkward Furniture

So you have an entertainment center that doesn’t accommodate the general rule of thumb. That’s okay; you can tweak it because we all know once you know the rules, you can break them,

Example of a TV hung too high
Via Reddit

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 it to hang 6″-8″ above the furniture.

Example of a TV hung too high
ViA Reddit

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.

Hanging A TV On A Bedroom Wall

This is another one of those you must learn the rules to break the rules situations. When hanging a TV on a bedroom wall, consider how you’ll be watching. If you’re lying down for the most part, consider lowering the height to accommodate eye level. If it looks too low, keep it at the general rule of thumb height, but tilt the screen down slightly.

Hanging A Television Over A Fireplace

Personally, I avoid hanging a television 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.

Example of a TV hung too high on a fireplace
VIA REDDIT

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. To avoid TV domination, there is an easy solution.

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.

How High To Hang A Television Over The Fireplace - Here is everything you need to know if you're mounting a TV over the fireplace when it comes to the perfect height.

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.

If you have a wood-burning fireplace, I 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 into your brick.

RELATED: A reader requested mantel decor ideas and styling tips. You’ll find one idea specifically using the Frame TV.

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? To avoid the frat house look and keep cords out of sight, there are a couple of solutions for hiding cords on a wall-mounted TV. 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.

In Wall Cord Management Kit to hide the cords on your wall mounted television
Shop In Wall Cord Kit

If you’re a renter and drilling a hole 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.

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. 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.

Example of a TV hung too high
VIA Reddit

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.

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 leave it up to the audio installers. They hung my speakers for optimal theater sound versus the TV. Needless to say, I was not thrilled when I arrived home from work that day.

TV art for Samsung Frame
ArtWORK For Your ART TV

Discover More Eclectic Home Decor Ideas And DIY Interior Design Tips

If you want to make your home a bit smarter, check out the best smart home devices I’ve tested and my post about smart lighting for your home.

If you want to spruce your backyard, check out this round-up of the best outdoor patio furniture.

Ever second guess yourself on what rug size to buy for a living room? Here lie the answers you desire.

Rounding up the best home decorating books – if you’re looking for gift idea inspiration for a home decor obsessed loved one, this post is for you! And don’t miss the round-up of best coffee table books as well!

If you love wallpaper but fear commitment, check out this round-up of best peel and stick wallpaper – it even includes a couple of modern murals.

Love plants as decor but have a black thumb? No worries! I have a rounds ups of the best faux olive trees and my favorite faux fiddle leaf fig trees.

Affordable Modern Home Decor – if you’re on a budget but want to refresh your space. Try these tips!

Decorating With Neutrals, it’s a beautiful beige world. Discover my favorite black, white, tan, taupe, and brown home decor.

I recently gave my 80s brick fireplace a makeover, and now that we’ve finished the renovation, I’ve whipped up a few mantel decor ideas you can try.

Looking for something out of the ordinary? Check out these unique modern vases that add a touch of artistry and elegance to your home decor.

Purple decor is trending! Check out my top picks in purple, lilac, violet, and more!

TAGS:Design Ideasframe tvhow toThe Frame
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Kyla Herbes

Kyla Herbes is an interior designer and home decor content creator based in Chicago, IL. She shares daily doses of home decor, corners of her home, interior styling tips, and will inspire you to do it yourself. House Of Hipsters has been featured in Architectural Digest, Apartment Therapy, House Beautiful, HGTV, The Huffington Post, Refinery29, Rue Magazine, and Style Me Pretty Living. Kyla has also made appearances on BravoTV and WGN TV and was named a Better Homes and Gardens Style Maker 3 years in a row.

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  • blank
    Merlyn
    March 9, 2023

    For sitting area tv viewing, shouldn’t eye level be the seated, not standing, measurement? Center of TV at 42″ or thereabouts.

    Reply
    • blank
      Kyla Herbes
      Merlyn
      March 10, 2023

      You 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.

      Reply

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