Mount the center of the TV about 42 inches from the floor — that's seated eye level for most people in a living room. In a bedroom you'll usually go higher (about 48–60″ to the center), and over a fireplace you should mount as low as the mantel and clearance allow to avoid neck strain.
The rule: center of the screen at eye level
The single most important number is the center of the TV, not the bottom. You want the middle of the screen to land at your eye level when you're seated where you actually watch. For most sofas, seated eye level is around 42 inches from the floor, so that's the target for the center of the TV.
Why center and not bottom? Because as TVs get bigger, the same "bottom height" puts the middle of a 75″ way above your eyeline. Anchoring to the center keeps any size TV comfortable.
TV height by room
Living room
Center at ~42″ from the floor. If your sofa is very low (or you have a deep sectional you sink into), drop it an inch or two. Theater‑style seating that reclines can go a touch lower still.
Bedroom
You watch lying down or propped up, so go higher — center around 48–60″, or use a tilting mount so the screen angles down toward the bed. Tilt is the real fix in bedrooms.
Over the fireplace
Fireplaces force the TV up, which is why "TV over fireplace" so often means neck strain. Mount it as low as the mantel, heat clearance and your TV's manual allow, and use a tilting or pull‑down full‑motion mount to angle the screen toward your seats. If the only spot is high, a full‑motion mount is worth it.
Kitchen, gym & standing rooms
When you watch standing, raise the center to standing eye level (about 60″).
Mounting height chart by TV size
Based on a 42″ center height (seated living‑room viewing), here's roughly where the bottom and top edges of the TV land. Measure your own TV's height to be exact — bezels vary.
| TV size | Center from floor | Bottom edge ≈ | Top edge ≈ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 43″ | 42″ | ~31″ | ~53″ |
| 55″ | 42″ | ~29″ | ~56″ |
| 65″ | 42″ | ~26″ | ~58″ |
| 75″ | 42″ | ~24″ | ~61″ |
| 85″ | 42″ | ~21″ | ~63″ |
How to measure & mark it
- Sit where you watch and have someone hold the TV at different heights until the center feels right — trust your eyes over the chart.
- Measure your TV's total height, divide by two — that's the distance from the center to the bottom edge.
- Mark your center height (e.g., 42″), then measure down to find where the bottom of the TV sits.
- Remember the bracket sits a few inches below the top of the TV — measure where the mount's holes hit the studs, not where the screen sits.
- Always anchor into studs (or proper masonry anchors on brick/stone), never drywall alone.
Common mistakes
- Mounting too high — the #1 mistake, especially over fireplaces. If you're looking up, it's too high.
- Going by the bottom edge instead of the center, so big TVs end up sky‑high.
- Not leveling — a degree off is obvious on a big screen.
- Skipping the tilt in bedrooms and over fireplaces.
- Into drywall only — TVs come down. Find the studs.
FAQ
How high should I mount a 65‑inch TV?
How high should a TV be above a fireplace?
Is 42 inches to the center too low?
How high to mount a TV in a bedroom?
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