TV Mount Height Calculator

Enter your TV size and how high your eyes sit when seated to find the ideal mounting height — where the middle of the screen lands at eye level — plus the best viewing distance.

The single most important rule for mounting a TV is that the middle of the screen should sit at your eye level when you're seated — that's the most comfortable, neck-friendly viewing position. From there it's just arithmetic: work out how tall the screen is, and the bottom edge is half that below the center.

How to work out TV mounting height

Set the screen's center at your seated eye level (about 42 inches for a typical sofa). The screen's height is roughly 49% of its diagonal for a 16:9 TV, so the bottom edge sits half a screen-height below the center.

Screen height ≈ Diagonal × 0.49
Center height = Seated eye level
Bottom edge = Center − (Screen height ÷ 2)
InputTypical value
Seated eye level (sofa)40–44 in
Seated eye level (bar stool / kitchen)48–52 in
Screen height factor (16:9)0.49 × diagonal

Recommended bottom-edge height by TV size

Assuming a 42-inch seated eye level, here's roughly where the bottom of the TV lands.

TV sizeBottom edge above floor
43 in≈ 31 in
55 in≈ 28.5 in
65 in≈ 26 in
75 in≈ 24 in

Worked example

A 55-inch TV with a 42-inch seated eye level:

Screen height = 55 × 0.4926.9 in
Center at eye level42 in
Bottom edge = 42 − 13.528.5 in

How far away should you sit?

For comfortable viewing, sit about 1.5 to 2.5 times the screen's diagonal away — closer for a more immersive, cinematic feel, farther for relaxed everyday watching. The calculator shows that range in feet for your TV. Remember the mount's bracket sits behind the panel, so measure the bottom-edge height on the actual TV, not the bracket, when marking the wall.

Frequently asked questions

How high should I mount a 55-inch TV?
With a normal sofa (about 42-inch eye level), put the bottom edge around 28–29 inches above the floor so the center lands at eye height.
Should the TV be higher over a fireplace?
Fireplaces often force a higher mount, which can strain your neck. If you can, use a tilting mount and keep the TV as low as the mantel allows; otherwise angle it down toward the seating.
What eye level should I use?
Sit where you normally watch and measure from the floor to your eyes. Sofas are usually 40–44 inches; kitchen or bar seating is higher.
Does the aspect ratio matter?
This uses standard 16:9 TVs, where height is about 49% of the diagonal. Ultrawide or older 4:3 sets differ, so measure the actual panel height if unsure.

Related calculators

A comfort-based guideline, not a rule. Room layout, seat height and personal preference all shift the ideal position — hold the TV in place and check before drilling.
Written by the CalcPine team · Reviewed for accuracy · Last updated 11 July 2026 · Method: center-at-eye-level with 16:9 screen geometry.