TV wall mounting · 8 min read · updated sep 2026
How High to Mount a TV: Height Chart by Size and Room
By the Pixl Canada install team
Quick answer
How high should you mount a TV? Put the centre of the screen at your seated eye level. For most living rooms that lands around 42 inches (about 107 cm) from the floor to the centre of the TV, the height Samsung suggests for an average adult on a standard couch. Measure your own eye height to fine-tune it.
What is the ideal height for mounting a TV?
The ideal height is where the middle of the screen lines up with your eyes when you sit in your usual spot. That is the eye-level rule, and nearly every TV and mount maker uses it as the starting point.
The numbers most people quote come from that rule:
- Samsung’s wall mounting guide suggests 42 inches from the floor to the centre of the TV for a living room, based on a person about 5 feet 6 inches tall on a standard couch.
- Vogel’s guide to the perfect TV height says the best height is at eye level or slightly below when seated, usually between 105 and 152 cm from the floor.
Treat these as guidelines, not rules. A deep, low sectional and a tall recliner put your eyes at very different heights.
How to find your own TV mounting height
Measure it instead of guessing. It takes two minutes and a tape measure.
- Sit where you normally watch, in your normal posture.
- Have someone measure from the floor to your eyes. This is your target centre height.
- Find your TV’s screen height (not the diagonal) in the spec sheet, or use the table below.
- Divide the screen height by two. Subtract that from your eye height to get the bottom edge of the screen.
- Check where the mount’s bracket sits on the back of the TV. The wall plate position is not the same as the screen centre, so mark the wall from the TV’s actual mounting holes.
Tip: tape a sheet of cardboard cut to your TV’s size on the wall and live with it for a day. It is much easier to move tape than drill holes.
TV mounting height chart by TV size
The centre height stays close to eye level no matter how big the TV is. What changes is how low the bottom edge sits, and how far back you should sit.
The chart below uses a 42 inch (107 cm) centre height, the common living room starting point. Screen heights are approximate for 16:9 TVs. Viewing distance uses Samsung’s simple formula: TV size divided by 0.55.
| TV size | Approx. screen height | Centre height (guideline) | Bottom edge at 42″ centre | Suggested viewing distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43″ | 21″ (53 cm) | 42″ (107 cm) | about 31″ (80 cm) | about 6.5 ft (2 m) |
| 50″ | 24.5″ (62 cm) | 42″ (107 cm) | about 30″ (75 cm) | about 7.6 ft (2.3 m) |
| 55″ | 27″ (68 cm) | 42″ (107 cm) | about 28.5″ (72 cm) | about 8.3 ft (2.5 m) |
| 65″ | 32″ (81 cm) | 42″ (107 cm) | about 26″ (66 cm) | about 9.8 ft (3 m) |
| 75″ | 37″ (93 cm) | 42″ (107 cm) | about 23.5″ (60 cm) | about 11.4 ft (3.5 m) |
| 85″ | 42″ (106 cm) | 42″ (107 cm) | about 21″ (54 cm) | about 12.9 ft (3.9 m) |
Notice the bottom edge on a 75″ or 85″ TV. It can end up right on top of a media console or soundbar. With very large TVs many people raise the centre a few inches so the screen clears the furniture, and that is fine as long as you are not tilting your head back to watch.
The viewing distances are a comfortable guide, not a hard rule. Sitting a little closer to a 4K TV is usually fine, and the room itself often decides where the couch goes.
Want it at the right height the first time? Our technicians level and mount it for you. TV mounting from $99.
How high should a 55 inch TV be wall mounted?
For a typical living room, aim for the centre of a 55″ TV at about 42 inches (107 cm) from the floor. That puts the bottom edge around 28 to 29 inches (about 72 cm) off the floor.
If your console is taller than that, or you plan to add a soundbar below the TV, raise the TV just enough to clear it. A 55″ screen is about 27 inches tall, so small changes in height are easy to feel. Sit down and check before you drill.
Is it better for a TV to be too high or too low?
Slightly low is usually better than too high. Looking a little down is a natural, relaxed posture. Looking up for a two-hour movie is what causes the sore neck people complain about.
Vogel’s says eye level or slightly below is best, and notes that the right height can help prevent neck strain. If the TV must go higher, a tilting mount that angles the screen down helps with both comfort and glare.
Here are rough starting points by seating type. Always confirm with your own eye-height measurement.
| Where you watch from | Starting point for screen centre | Mount to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Low sofa or deep sectional | A little under 42″ (107 cm); measure your eye height | Fixed or tilting |
| Standard couch | About 42″ (107 cm) | Fixed or tilting |
| Recliners or tall seating | Slightly above 42″; measure your eye height | Tilting |
| Bed | About 60″ (152 cm), per Vogel’s | Tilting or full-motion |
| Above a fireplace | As low as the mantel and heat allow | Tilting or pull-down |
How high to mount a TV in a bedroom
Higher than in a living room, because your eyes are higher when you sit up in bed. Vogel’s suggests around 60 inches (152 cm) from the floor to the centre of the screen when you watch from bed.
A tilting mount is a smart choice here. It angles the screen down toward the pillows, which feels more natural if you watch lying back. If the TV sits off to the side of the bed, a full-motion mount lets you aim it at you. Compare options in our post on fixed vs full-motion TV mounts.
What about mounting a TV above a fireplace?
A fireplace almost always forces the TV above eye level, so it is the big exception to the rule. Heat is the other concern: Samsung does not recommend mounting over a fireplace and says its TVs should never go above 104°F (40°C).
If you still want the TV there, test the wall temperature with the fireplace running, then use a tilting or pull-down mantel mount to bring the picture closer to eye level. Our full TV above fireplace guide walks through the heat test, mounts and costs.
How much space should be between a TV and a soundbar?
Leave a small gap, usually a few inches (roughly 5 to 10 cm), between the bottom of the TV and the top of the soundbar. That keeps the sound close to the picture without blocking the screen.
- Make sure the soundbar does not cover the TV’s remote sensor. Many TVs have it along the bottom edge.
- Plan the TV height and soundbar together. A wall-mounted soundbar needs its own space below the screen, which may push the TV up slightly.
- Check the soundbar manual. Some models have their own spacing or bracket guidance.
- Plan the wires too. See how to hide TV wires legally in Canada before you cut drywall.
My mounted TV is too high. What should I do?
You have three fixes: lower the mount, change the mount, or change the seating. Lowering is often the cleanest option.
- Lower it: move the wall plate down into the studs. The old holes can be patched and painted.
- Tilt it: swap a fixed mount for a tilting one to angle the screen down.
- Pull it down: above a fireplace, a pull-down mantel mount can bring the TV close to eye level.
DIY or hire a pro?
Getting the height right is easy to DIY. Getting the mount level, into the studs and at the exact height you marked is where things go wrong.
DIY pros: you save on labour and can take your time with the cardboard test.
DIY cons: larger TVs need two people, the bracket offset trips many people up, and weak anchors are a common reason mounts fail. See why TV mounts fail.
Hiring Pixl: TV mounting starts at $80 for TVs up to 60″ with your own mount. Mounts are $70 fixed, $80 tilting and $125 full-motion. Soundbar install is $50, and hiding wires in-wall is $99.50 with a fire-resistant HDMI included. Most mounts take 45 to 90 minutes, and you pay after the job.
Want it done right the first time? Book TV mounting with Pixl or call or text (587) 899-7495. We are open 7 days a week.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ideal height for mounting a TV?
Put the centre of the screen at your seated eye level. For most living rooms that is around 42 inches (107 cm) from the floor.
How high should a 55 inch TV be wall mounted?
Aim for the centre at about 42 inches (107 cm), which puts the bottom edge around 28 to 29 inches off the floor. Adjust up if you need to clear a console or soundbar.
Is it better for a TV to be too high or too low?
Slightly low is usually more comfortable. Looking up for long periods is what causes neck strain.
How far should I sit from my TV?
Samsung’s simple formula is TV size divided by 0.55. For a 65″ TV, that is about 118 inches, or just under 10 feet.
How high should a TV be in a bedroom?
Higher than in a living room. Vogel’s suggests around 60 inches (152 cm) to the centre of the screen when watching from bed, ideally on a tilting mount.
My mounted TV is too high. What should I do?
Lower the wall plate into the studs, switch to a tilting mount, or use a pull-down mount if it is above a fireplace. The old holes can be patched and painted.
Related TV mounting guides: VESA pattern and mount size chart and TV mounting prices by city. Part of our complete TV wall mounting guide. Written by the Pixl Canada install team: licensed technicians with $5 million liability insurance, installing TVs, security cameras, smart home devices and appliances across Canada.
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