How High Should I Mount My Flatscreen TV?

You’ve gotten a new flatscreen TV and you’re just about ready to mount it on the wall for the first time, but you’ve never mounted a TV before. That’s alright, we’ve all been there. Looks like you’ll need some guidance to get it done correctly (and safely).

There are a few factors that go into figuring out how high your TV should be on the wall and below we go into everything you’ll need to know to mount your flatscreen. 

As movie night approaches, let’s go over what height you should mount your TV at, as well as a few others to remember so you can have the perfect space to kick back and enjoy your newly mounted TV.

 Viewing Distance

The best viewing distance depends on the size of the television. This will calculate the perfect distance away from the TV screen where you will be sitting when you watch. The equation for viewing distance is your TV size, divided by 0.55. As a quick reference, for a 50” television, the optimal viewing distance is 91 inches away (2.3 meters). 

Getting the Best Height

 To calculate the optimum height, then you just need to work out where the centre of the TV would be when you are sitting down. To get this, measure the height of your TV and then divide that by 2 to work out where the centre of your TV is. Next, sit down, take the ruler or measure stick and measure the height of your eye level as you sit in your viewing position. Now measure the height of your eye level while in your preferred viewing position on the sofa. Once you have this measurement simply deduct half the TV height measurement and that’s where the bottom of the TV should be. 

Here are some examples of typical TV sizes and heights:

  • A 55” TV should be around 61 inches from the floor to the center of the TV screen.
  • A 65” TV should be around 65 inches from the floor to the center of the TV screen.
  • A 70” TV should be around 67 inches from the floor to the center of the TV screen.

Best Height in Bedroom

Because beds are different heights than TVs and you normally lay in bed while watching TV, you wouldn’t want to use the same equation as above. Best idea is to incorporate a tilting mount in the bedroom so you can adjust the height and angle of the TV to accommodate you laying or sitting up in bed. General rule of thumb is that the TV will be about 6”-12” higher in your bedroom than your living room, but experiment to see what works best for your comfort. 

Best View Above The Fireplace

Mounting a TV above a fireplace seems like the perfect spot — the fireplace helps add character and life to the rigidity of electronics. Besides aesthetics, sometimes above the fireplace is your only choice in some rooms, depending on the space you have. 

If you plan to install your new TV above a working fireplace, make sure the heat doesn’t reach the TV. Excessive heat can negatively affect electronics, especially those with displays. This is just one of the reasons it is a great idea to install an articulating tilt and swivel bracket so the TV can be angled away from the wall. Not only does it help to remove the TV from a potentially warm section of the wall, but also to help if the fireplace is at an odd angle or not properly aligned with your sofa.

Keep Out of Reach of Children

One very common reason that many people choose to mount their TVs is that it helps keep the TV and its cords out of a child’s reach. Young children and toddlers are naturally curious and can easily tip a flat screen if given the chance. This can cause great harm to the child if the TV were to fall on them. Mounting the TV eliminates that possibility altogether. 

Another great idea when mounting your TV is to get a cord box or the like to help hide the cords hanging down after you finish installing the TV on the wall. This may mean a bit of extra work on the installation, but it is well worth it for the peace of mind knowing that no cables are going to get pulled, tripped on, or unplugged. Having your TV at a safe height not only looks great, but it can mean safety and security for your family as well. 

Design and Comfort for the Perfect Night In

At MMT Furniture Designs, all of our wall brackets and cantilever TV stands are designed to fit into your home securely and seamlessly. Style and function are at the heart of every piece we create, whether in the living room, bedroom or any other room in your home. We have a vast selection of TV stands with mounts and sleek wall brackets that will open up any space you place them in.

Browse our unique and hand selected gallery of TV stands and mounts and change up your space with trendy room fittings from MMT Furniture Designs.

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