The "TV Too High" Epidemic

If you browse interior design forums (or the ruthlessly funny subreddit r/TVTooHigh), you will notice a common theme: people mount their televisions way, way too high.

It is a natural instinct to treat a TV like a piece of art—hanging it at standing eye-level. But you don't watch TV standing up. You watch it sitting down.

Mounting your screen too high causes neck strain and poor picture quality. Whether you have a massive 85-inch screen or a modest 50-inch, the math for the perfect placement is always the same.

The Golden Rule: 42 Inches

For a standard living room setup, the center of your TV screen should align with your eye level when seated.

• Average Sofa Seat Height: 18 inches.
• Average Torso Height: 24 inches.
• Result: Your eyes are roughly 42 inches off the floor.

The Rule: The center of your TV should be 42 inches from the floor.

How to Calculate the Bracket Height

Knowing the center height is great, but you need to know where to drill the holes for the bracket. Here is the math:

1. Find the Center: Mark a spot on the wall 42" from the floor.
2. Measure the TV: Measure the total height of your TV. Divide by 2.
3. Find the Bottom Edge: Subtract that number from 42".
   • Example: A 65-inch TV is roughly 32 inches tall. Half is 16 inches.
   • 42" - 16" = 26 inches.
   • The bottom of your 65-inch TV should be 26 inches off the floor.

Cheat Sheet by TV Size

Don't want to do the math? Here are the approximate mounting heights (distance from floor to bottom of TV) assuming a standard 42" eye level.

| TV Size (Diagonal) | TV Height (Approx) | Mount Bottom Edge At | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 55-inch | 27 inches | 28.5 inches | | 65-inch | 32 inches | 26 inches | | 75-inch | 37 inches | 23.5 inches | | 85-inch | 42 inches | 21 inches |

Note: As the TV gets bigger, the bottom edge gets lower to keep the center at eye level.

The "Fireplace" Problem

The most common search query we see is: "Can I mount my TV above the fireplace?"

The Answer: You can, but you probably shouldn't. Most mantels are 50 to 60 inches high. If you mount a TV above that, the center of the screen is at 65+ inches—nearly two feet above eye level. This is the ergonomic equivalent of sitting in the front row of a movie theater.

The Fixes:

1. The MantelMount: Buy a pull-down mount that allows you to lower the TV over the fireplace when watching.
2. The Side Built-in: Place the TV on a low cabinet to the left or right of the fireplace.

The Bedroom Exception

Rules change in the bedroom. When you are lying in bed, your head is propped up on pillows, naturally gazing upward.

• Guideline: You can mount a bedroom TV significantly higher.
• Target: Aim for the bottom of the TV to be 30 to 36 inches off the floor (clearing the height of a dresser). Tilt the screen downward slightly (5-10 degrees) to meet your gaze.

Viewing Distance: 1080p vs. 4K

Mounting height is vertical; viewing distance is horizontal. With modern 4K resolution, you can sit much closer to the screen without seeing pixels.

THX Recommended Distances:

• 55-inch TV: 5.5 to 7.5 feet away.
• 65-inch TV: 6.5 to 8.5 feet away.
• 75-inch TV: 7.5 to 10 feet away.

Plan the Viewing Distance

Before you bolt anything to the wall, ensure your room layout supports these distances in RoomyLab.

1. Place your furniture: Drop your sofa and TV console into the plan.
2. Measure the Gap: Use the Measure Tool to check the distance between the front of the sofa and the wall.
3. Adjust: If you are 12 feet away from a 55-inch TV, it will feel tiny. You might need to float the sofa off the back wall to close the gap.

Fixing the layout on screen is easier than moving a mounted TV later.