Craning your neck like an ostrich is only acceptable when you’re hailing a cab in New York. It’s frustrating when you want a good view of the TV as you binge the latest season of “Good Girls” with the squad.
With advanced technology including the innovation of the flat screen TV, you’d think that finding the standard height of a wall mounted TV is easy.
The truth is, there are several factors that affect the ideal height for mounting a TV in a room.
What Is the Standard Height Of Wall Mounted TV?
The average TV mount height is about 42 inches. For those watching TV on their couch, the distance from the floor to the center of the TV is usually about 42 inches. Of course, this may vary depending on:
What Is the Best Viewing Distance For My Wall Mounted TV?
In the past, if you sat too close to the old-school tube TV, the scan lines tended to distract you. If you sat too close to the earlier versions of the flat screen TVs, you’d zone out looking at those rows and columns of pixels that look like tiny dots.
Modern UHD TVs have resolved these shortcomings by using smaller pixels. If you sit too far away, you might not enjoy the whole immersive HD experience. You must consider the placement of the TV to avoid eye strain.
The ideal viewing distance ultimately depends on the size and type of your TV. There’s a formula for calculating the recommended viewing distance for different types of TVs.
What Is the Best Viewing Angle of Wall Mounted TV?
According to the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, 30 degrees is the ideal viewing angle for a wall mounted TV. You do not have to tilt your head up so high to see the top of your TV screen.
Ideally, you want your view to be at eye level to the center of your TV screen as this is where most of the action takes place.
To establish eye level:
Of course, consider whether there are other people in the room or house to avoid angry groans and glances! For multiple viewers, find a suitable range with the closest recommended viewing angle and distance from different parts of the room.
How High Should I Mount My TV?
Once you establish the recommended viewing angle and distance of your TV, it’s easier to calculate the ideal height for the best watching experience.
If you place the TV too high, you may find yourself staring upward for hours and it can lead to complications on your body such as back and neck pain, according to this physical therapist. For a rough estimate of the best height for TV mounting:
- Take the measurement you got when calculating eye level height (the distance from the floor to your eyes) and put a marker at the same height on the wall where you’ll be mounting your TV.
- Divide the TV height in half to get the measurement for the center.
- Measure the distance from where the TV will be mounted to the closest and furthest seats in the room.
- Use this TV mount height calculator to find the recommended mounting height for your TV
- Follow the wall mount instructions on your manual to set up your TV
Generally, a 42-inch TV should be mounted approximately 55 inches from the floor to the center of the TV. For a 55-inch TV, the best mounting height should be about 60 inches whereas a 65-inch and a 70-inch TV should be 65 inches and 67 inches, respectively.
To get the most out of your home theater experience, consider investing in a good sound speaker stand that will boost your speakers’ performance without harming your ears.
Does the Type Of Room Matter When Mounting A TV?
The layout of the room will obviously affect where and how high to mount your TV. In some areas, you may have to compromise the best mounting location to make the space aesthetically pleasing.
In a bar area, it is impractical to place the TV at eye level as the bartender will block the view while serving clients. Raising the height would help with avoiding obstructing viewers, but how do you find the best height to mount your TV?
Considering the height of the bar seats, you’ll need to make the necessary adjustments to get what the average adult would consider “eye level”. If the seats are 26 inches from the counter, for instance, you should add 26 inches to their actual height before calculating the recommended height for mounting the television.
The same applies to the kitchen, where storage takes precedence over the TV. You can install a small television at an elevated level where it won’t be blocked every time someone opens or closes a cupboard.
For a small bedroom or living room that does not provide the best viewing distance for the ideal mounting height, look for a spot with the closest recommended metrics.
Key Takeaways
Judging by the various factors involved, it is understandable to see why calculating the standard height of wall mounted TV can be confusing. Apart from the basic TV mount height guidelines and formulas, you must consider the nature and design of the room itself.
For maximum comfort, it all depends on your physical conditions, viewing environment, and the program or video you’re watching. Observe the lighting inside and outside the room, and how it is displayed on the wall at different times of the day before installing your TV.
Trust me, the last thing you want is to deal with an annoying glare in the middle of an exhilarating Sunday Netflix marathon!
