How High should I Mount my TV?
Short Answer: You should be at eye-level between the center to the bottom 1/3 of your TV screen from your viewing position for most comfortable viewing and best cinematic experience.
But there are several other things to consider. It depends on your unique situation, where you intend to setup your TV, amount of area you’re given and obstructions that cannot be avoided around the TV.
This article is not about giving you a fixed answer because every situation is unique. It’s more of a guidance which focuses on what you should take into consideration to achieve the best TV viewing height & distance, aesthetics and other factors that you just cannot ignore.
Aesthetics vs. Functionality
Based on our experience with our clients, two ultimate decision making factors are; Aesthetics (Hanging TV high as if it’s a picture frame) vs. Functionality (Viewing at eye-level comfortably).
Many people think that TV will look too low on the wall if it’s mounted at eye level from their normal seated position. But you shouldn’t mount your TV too high like it’s a picture frame! (unless you intentionally bought the TV to display photos most of the time such as Samsung’s Frame TV).
Unlike a picture frame, TV screen is something you stare at for hours if you’re watching a movie or a football game. So, if your TV is mounted too high and watch it for long period of time, you’ll most likely experience some discomfort or pain in your neck.
Your Favorite Seat in a Movie Theater
Ask yourself – Where do you like to sit when you go to a movie theater for best viewing experience? If you answered ‘Middle Row & Center’ where your eye level is at the center of the screen, then you will definitely appreciate having the TV mounted at eye level so you can watch TV comfortably.
Have you ever been to a movie theater on a release date of a very popular movie and had to sit in the front row seat because rest of the seats are taken?
That’s probably because most people find it very uncomfortable to watch with their head tilted back. So you should keep that in mind before pulling the trigger and deciding to mount your TV too high.
Optimal TV height & viewing distance
| TV Screen Size (Diagnal) | TV Height (Floor to Center of the Screen) | 4K & 8K TV Viewing Distance | 1080p TV Viewing Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50" TV | 43" ~ 50" | 36.75" ~ 61.25" | 73.5" ~ 98" |
| 55" TV | 43" ~ 51" | 40.5" ~ 67.5" | 81" ~ 108" |
| 60" TV | 43" ~ 52.5" | 44.1" ~ 73.5" | 88.2" ~ 117.6" |
| 65" TV | 43" ~ 53.5" | 47.85" ~ 79.25" | 95.7" ~ 127.6" |
| 70" TV | 43" ~ 55" | 51.45" ~ 85.75" | 102.9" ~ 137.2" |
| 75" TV | 43" ~ 56.5" | 55.2" ~ 92" | 110.4" ~ 147.2" |
| 80" TV | 43" ~ 57.5" | 58.8" ~ 98" | 117.6" ~ 156.8" |
| 85" TV | 43" ~ 58.5" | 62.55" ~ 104.25" | 125.1" ~ 166.8" |
| 90" TV | 43" ~ 60" | 66.18" ~ 110.3" | 132.36" ~ 176.48" |
*Viewing distance above is calculated with following formula;
- 4K / 8K TV Minimum distance @ 1.5 x height of TV screen
- 4K / 8K TV Optimum distance @ 2.5 x height of TV screen
- 1080p TV Minimum distance @ 3 x height of TV screen
- 1080p TV Maximum distance @ 4 x height of TV screen
The chart above is helpful to determine the optimal TV height & viewing distance based on the screen size & resolution of your TV. This is a good starting point but continue reading for explanations below;
TV Height from floor to the center of the screen
You may have noticed that the minimum TV height from floor to center of the screen is the same across all different size televisions. That’s because 43″ from the floor is about the average height of most people’s eye level when you’re sitting down in your couch.
Maximum TV height should be determined by the size of the screen so your eye level is still within the bottom 1/3 portion of the TV screen. If you choose to mount your TV any higher than this, then it’ll start to get more uncomfortable the higher your go.
But when it comes to choosing the right height, it should actually depend on your viewing position instead of just going by the chart above. Golden rule is to be able to watch TV comfortably without having to tilt your head. So, you just have to find that sweet spot based on where you’re going to be watching the TV from.
For example, your couch might be lower or higher than others. Or you might recline back in your comfy recliner chair which makes you look up naturally. Or you might be watching from your bed instead. Or you might have a fireplace with a huge mantle underneath the TV. So, we recommend choosing according to your viewing position (e.g. sitting up straight, reclining back or lying down completely).
4K, 8K & 1080p TV Viewing Distance
According to Sony’s website, they recommend that 4K & 8K televisions should be viewed from minimum 1.5 times the vertical screen size of your TV.
For 1080p televisions, Sony recommends 3 times the vertical screen size of your TV as the minimum distance.
Their minimum distance recommendations are based on being able to watch the television with as much sharp details as possible without seeing individual pixels for most viewers.
In case you didn’t know, 4K TV has twice the resolution of 1080p TV & 8K TV has twice the resolution of 4K TV.
- 8K TV Resolution: 7680 (H) x 4320 (V) pixels
- 4K TV Resolution: 3840 (H) x 2160 (V) pixels
- 1080p TV Resolution: 1920 (H) x 1080 (V) pixels
Theoretically, you might think – if 4K TV should be viewed from minimum 1.5 times vertical screen size & 1080p TV being 3 times, then 8K TV should be at 0.75 times to see the best resolution without seeing the pixels.
Well, not necessarily. You still need to keep a minimum distance for optimal field of view. Sweet spot is between 30 ~ 40 degrees of field of view. So, if you have a 4K or 8K TV, we suggest that you stick to the higher number in the chart for the optimal distance instead of going with minimal distance for best results.
Objects Underneath the TV
One of the most common TV setups includes having a component stand / entertainment unit sitting below the TV to facilitate components such as cable box, game consoles, modem/router, etc…
If you haven’t purchased a component stand yet, then you should also consider the height of the component stand itself as well. Because they do come in different shapes & sizes and some of the taller ones will make your TV end up higher than you might like.
If you have a Soundbar or a home theater speaker, you have to take that into the total height equation as well, as it also takes up room below the TV (unless you plan to have it mounted above the TV instead).
Living Room vs Bedroom
Unlike in a living room where you should have your TV mounted at eye level, watching TV in your bedroom could be quite different. It depends on how you position yourself when watching from the bed.
If you like to lie down completely then you should have the TV mounted pretty high because you will be looking up naturally when lying down. But if you like to have your back against the headboard, then you might want to have the TV closer to your eye level.
If you think you’ll likely change positions from time to time, going from lying down to sitting up then you should have the TV mounted somewhere in the middle between eye-level to up-high.
Mounting TV over Fireplace – Effects on Viewing Angle & Aesthetics
Having a fireplace underneath the TV… It’s a love or hate thing. Some people love to have their TV mounted above a fireplace so it looks nice and cozy in the room. But some people just hate the idea of it because the TV will be way too high. Well, they’re both valid points.
But sometimes you just don’t have much choice because of lack of options available due to the layout of the room & spaces that windows take on the walls.
For whatever reason, if you plan to install your TV over a fireplace, you should keep the bottom of your TV only few inches above from the top of your mantle if possible. Because it’s already too high to begin with when you mount your TV over a fireplace.
In order to compensate for watching TV mounted high, viewing from further distance can help to relieve some strain on your neck if you have the room to push your couch back further away from the TV.