You might recognize this situation. You’ve just bought a new TV or TV mount, and it’s time to attach it to the wall. You’re already looking forward to having a new TV hanging there. Now the question is: how high should I hang my TV? You don’t want to have to look up too much, but a TV that’s too low isn’t comfortable either. For this reason, we often get asked by our customers how high they should mount their TV on the wall. Unfortunately, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. The correct height for your screen depends on your own position and seating height.
However, there is a guideline so you know approximately how high the TV should be mounted. You can see this guideline in the image below. When you look at your screen, it’s divided into three zones. The screen should be mounted so that the top third of these three parts is at eye level. The height at which you should hang the screen depends heavily on your own height, the height of your sofa or armchair, and your sitting position.
Keep in mind, though, that this is only a guideline. In some situations, it’s deliberately chosen to hang the TV a bit higher. For example, so that small children or pets can’t easily reach the screen.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Ideal TV Height
How high should my TV hang in the living room when I’m sitting on the sofa?
For the living room, where you often watch sitting on the sofa, the ideal height for your TV is so that the top one-third of the screen is at eye level when you’re sitting comfortably. This means the center of the screen is often somewhere between 90 and 110 cm from the floor, depending on the height of your sofa and your own height. Keep in mind that TVs are getting bigger; where 42 inches used to be the standard, you now often see 50 inch, 65 inch, and even 70 or 75 inch TVs in living rooms. The bigger the TV, the more important it is that the viewing angle remains comfortable. For a 65 inch TV, the center is often around 100 cm, while for a 75 inch TV this can be a bit higher, around 110 cm, depending on the viewing distance.
What is the best height for a TV in the bedroom?
In the bedroom, you usually watch lying down. The ideal height here is often higher than in the living room to avoid straining your neck. The center of the TV is then often between 140 and 180 cm from the floor, depending on the height of your bed and how comfortably you lie. Try to place the TV so that the top one-third of the screen is at eye level when you’re in your favorite lying position. Many people choose a smaller TV in the bedroom, for example 32 or 40 inches, but even here you increasingly see larger screens. A tilting TV mount can provide extra comfort in this case.
How high should I hang my TV if I’m sitting far away, for example in a large room?
In large spaces, such as an open-plan kitchen-living room or a presentation room, where the viewing distance varies, it’s important that everyone can see the content clearly. The guideline remains that the top one-third of the screen is at eye level for the average viewer. However, at greater distances, a larger screen is essential. For example, a 70 inch TV requires a minimum viewing distance of about 2.2 to 3 meters, while a 50 inch TV is comfortable to watch from 1.6 to 2 meters. It’s crucial to choose a TV that’s large enough for the furthest viewer and adjust the height accordingly so the images are clear and comfortable to follow, even for those sitting further away.
Are there differences in ideal height for large or small TVs?
Yes, there definitely are differences! For smaller TVs (for example up to 40 inches), the exact height is less critical because your field of view is smaller. You can still easily see the entire TV. For larger TVs (from 55 inches and especially 65 inches and larger), the height becomes much more important. If a large TV hangs too low, you have to look down too much. If it hangs too high, it becomes tiring for your neck and eyes. For a 65 inch TV, a center height of 100-110 cm is often comfortable, while for a 75 inch TV this can quickly go up to 110-120 cm, always in relation to the seating position and viewing distance. Viewing distance is crucial; for a 75 inch TV, a distance of 2.5 to 3.5 meters is ideal, and for a 50 inch TV it’s about 1.6 to 2.5 meters. Make sure the TV doesn’t fill your entire field of view if you sit close, as that is uncomfortable.
Does the type of TV mount affect the ideal mounting height?
The type of TV mount indirectly affects the ideal mounting height. A fixed or tilting TV mount offers less flexibility after installation, so the initial height determination is extra important here. With a swivel or extendable TV mount, you have more room to adjust the viewing angle and height after installation, which can be especially useful in dynamic spaces or when you watch from different positions (for example, from the dining area and the seating area in the same room). Although the physical height of the TV mount is fixed, you can optimize the perception of height for your viewing comfort by swiveling or tilting.