Ideal Height for Mounting Your Flat Screen TV

One common concern amongst flat screen TV owners is the height at which to mount their TV on the wall. The ideal height depends on two main factors:

1. Where in the room you wish to mount the TV.
2. Where you plan to sit while watching.

For example, a living room TV over a fireplace will be at a different height than a bedroom TV that you watch from bed instead of a chair or couch. An experienced TV installer can help you in choosing the correct height.

Mount a Flat Screen TV above your Fireplace

If you are mounting the flat screen TV above a fireplace, the best height will depend on the height of your fireplace mantel.

• If the mantel is less than 4 feet from the floor or your fireplace does not have a mantel, mount the flat screen TV around 12 inches above the mantel or fireplace itself.
• If your fireplace mantel is tall with a height of more than four feet ground up, mount the flat screen TV no more than 6 inches higher than the fireplace.

When mounting a flat screen TV on a wall above the fireplace, a slight downward tilt will make it easier to view from a seated position. You may also want to consider the viewing distance for an optimum viewing experience.
Safety Tip: If your fireplace is used actively for building fires, check how hot the wall above the fireplace gets before installing your television! If the wall regularly heats up to above 100 degrees, it could overheat your TV and damage it.

Mount a Flat Screen TV in Your Living Room

The optimum height to mount a flat screen TV on a plain wall in your living room is to hang it at eye level.
Most TV installers would recommend mounting the TV at eye-level. If the TV is too high you will strain your neck upwards to watch it and after a while this may cause you pain in your back and neck.
A good method to decide on the height is to sit down on your couch and stare straight at the wall where you wish to mount your flat screen. The top line of your TV screen should be aligned to where your line of sight meets the wall. If your household includes multiple people with different heights, consider asking your shorter or taller family members about their line of sight and finding a medium spot in between.

 

 

 

Mount a Flat Screen TV in your Bedroom

If you’re watching TV in the bedroom while lying down on your bed you should put it slightly above eye level so that you are comfortably looking up. The method for finding the exact height is similar to that above.

1. Again, find your most comfortable line of sight from whatever position you are likely to be watching in, whether that's lying down or propped up with pillows. Mount the top line of your television a few inches above your line of sight.
2. The TV needs to be tilted appropriately to avoid strain and to match the perfect viewing angle. With a tilting wall mounter, experiment with tilting the TV forward at different angles until you find the angle most comfortable for you.