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How high should a wall-mounted TV be?

The most common mistake with a wall-mounted TV is putting it too high. For comfortable viewing, the centre of the screen should be close to eye level when you're sitting down. Here's how to work out the right height for your room.

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Illustrated lounge with a wall-mounted television, soundbar and hidden cables

How high, and how far away?

Pick your TV size to see where we'd put it for comfortable viewing from the sofa.

TV size
Where's it going?
Seat distance
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Screen centre
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Bracket
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A guide for 4K sets. We'll fine-tune the height with you on the day, before we drill.

The basic rule

Your eyes are most comfortable looking straight ahead or slightly down. When you sit on a typical sofa, your eye level is roughly 100 to 110 cm from the floor. So the centre of the screen should be close to that height. Go much higher and you'll be tilting your head back, which gets uncomfortable over a long film or a football match.

Working out the height

  1. Measure your eye level. Sit where you normally watch, and measure from the floor to your eyes. Allow for everyone who watches.
  2. Find the screen height. A TV's diagonal size isn't its height. A 55-inch screen is about 68 cm tall; a 65-inch about 81 cm.
  3. Set the centre at eye level. Subtract half the screen height from your eye level to find where the bottom of the screen should be.

The calculator above does this for you, and shows the bracket position.

Rather talk it through? Call or WhatsApp and a local engineer will give you a straight answer.

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Seating distance and screen size

For a 4K TV, sitting at about 1 to 1.5 times the screen's diagonal works well. So for a 55-inch TV, about 1.4 to 2.1 m; for 65 inches, about 1.65 to 2.5 m. Sitting further back makes the picture feel smaller; much closer and you notice the edges of the screen. If you sit further back, you can mount a little higher without discomfort.

Other rooms

Bedrooms

Viewing from bed means your eye level is higher, and you're often reclining. A slightly higher screen, tilted down, is usually most comfortable.

Kitchens

If you'll mostly watch standing or sitting at a high stool, mount higher to suit.

Gardens and gyms

Mount to suit standing eye level, and use a weatherproof enclosure or outdoor TV outside.

Above a fireplace

A chimney breast is a natural focal point, but it usually puts the TV too high for comfortable viewing. Heat from a real fire or wood burner can also damage the TV, so check the manufacturer's guidance and the heat above the mantel. If you do mount above a fireplace, a tilting bracket angles the screen down, and a pull-down bracket brings it to eye level when you're watching.

Choosing a bracket

  • Flat: the slimmest look, best when the TV is at eye level and straight ahead.
  • Tilting: angles the screen down, useful when it's mounted a little high or to cut reflections from windows.
  • Full-motion: pulls out and swivels, good for corner positions, open-plan rooms and viewing from more than one spot.

Every bracket must be rated for your TV's weight and match its VESA mounting pattern.

Hiding the cables

A wall-mounted TV looks best without cables hanging below it. We chase cables into the wall and make good, or use a neat trunking, and can fit a power socket and aerial or satellite point behind the screen. On plasterboard walls, cables often run inside the wall cavity.

Fixings and wall types

Solid brick and block walls take standard heavy-duty fixings. Plasterboard needs the right specialist fixings or mounting into the studs. Older lath-and-plaster walls and chimney breasts need care. We check the wall, find any pipes and cables, and use fixings that suit the weight of the TV and bracket. See our TV wall mounting service.

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Need a hand? See our TV wall mounting service.

FAQ

Common questions

Speak to an engineer

Free advice, no obligation. Tell us your postcode and what's wrong.

Call 0800 151 2978
What height should the bottom of a TV be?

It depends on the screen size, so it's better to think about the centre. For most sofas, a screen centre around 100 to 110 cm from the floor puts it at a comfortable eye level. Use the calculator above for your size.

Is it OK to mount a TV above a fireplace?

It can work, but it usually puts the screen too high. A tilting or pull-down bracket helps, and heat from a real fire or stove can damage the TV. A fireplace with a wide mantel is often better used for a lower position on another wall.

Can any wall take a TV bracket?

Most can, with the right fixings. Brick and block walls are straightforward. Plasterboard walls need special fixings or fixing into the timber or metal studs, and very large screens may need extra support.

Picture problems or security worries? Talk to an engineer.

Call or WhatsApp for free advice and a price over the phone.

Call 0800 151 2978Book on WhatsApp