The centre of your TV should sit at eye level when you are seated — for most sofas and standard room setups, this means mounting the centre of the screen approximately 100–110cm from the floor. That puts the bottom of a 55-inch TV at roughly 75cm from the floor — just above a typical sofa arm. This guide explains why, with height recommendations for every common TV size.
Why mounting height matters more than most people think
A TV mounted too high forces you to crane your neck upward for an hour or more of viewing. This causes real discomfort — neck strain, shoulder tension, and headaches during longer sessions. It is one of the most common complaints we hear from customers who mounted their TV themselves and then ask us to remount it lower.
The rule from ergonomics and display standards (including SMPTE and the ITU-R) is consistent: the centre of the screen should be at seated eye level, or tilted very slightly downward — never above.
Seated eye level: what that actually means
Average adult seated eye level is around 100–115cm from the floor, depending on sofa height and the person. A standard UK sofa seat height is 40–45cm. Seated spine height adds approximately 55–65cm. This gives a seated eye level of around 95–110cm.
We recommend aiming for the centre of the screen at 105cm as a reliable default for most living rooms. Adjust up by 5cm if your sofa is particularly high, or down by 5cm if you have a low-slung sofa or floor seating.
TV height guide by screen size
The table below shows the recommended mounting position for each TV size, assuming a centre height of 105cm. TV screen height is calculated from the standard aspect ratio (16:9) and the screen diagonal.
| TV size | Screen height (approx.) | Centre at 105cm | Bottom of screen | Top of screen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32" | 40cm | 105cm | 85cm | 125cm |
| 43" | 54cm | 105cm | 78cm | 132cm |
| 50" | 62cm | 105cm | 74cm | 136cm |
| 55" | 69cm | 105cm | 71cm | 140cm |
| 65" | 82cm | 105cm | 64cm | 146cm |
| 75" | 94cm | 105cm | 58cm | 152cm |
| 85" | 107cm | 105cm | 52cm | 159cm |
For large TVs (75"+), the bottom of the screen can get close to skirting board height. In practice this is fine — the bottom of the screen is not where your eye is drawn. If you have a media console you want to keep underneath the TV, account for its height (typically 40–55cm) when choosing your mounting position.
The one exception: above a fireplace
Mounting a TV above a fireplace is extremely popular, but it almost always means the TV ends up higher than the ergonomic ideal. If your fireplace surround is 90–120cm tall, the bottom of the TV will be at that height — pushing the centre well above 105cm.
There are two ways to handle this. First, use a full-motion or tilting bracket that lets you angle the screen downward, partially compensating for the extra height. Second, for a clean, integrated look with the TV lower on the chimney breast, consider a flush chimney breast installation with the cables routed through the wall and a floating shelf for devices — this brings the TV 15–20cm lower than a standard bracket allows.
We cover this in detail in our above-fireplace mounting guide and our chimney breast specialist page.
Bedroom mounting: a different rule
Bedrooms are different because you watch TV from a lying or semi-reclined position. Looking straight ahead from a pillow means your eye line is lower and the angle is shallower. For bedroom TVs, we recommend mounting the centre of the screen at 130–150cm from the floor — higher than the living room rule.
The exact position depends on your bed height and how reclined you watch. The best method is to lie down in your usual watching position before drilling and have someone hold a mark on the wall at your eye level.
Viewing distance also affects the ideal height
If you sit very close to the TV (2–2.5m), a small vertical angle change has a bigger perceptual effect than if you sit far back (3.5m+). For close viewing, getting the height right is more important. For large rooms where you sit further away, a TV mounted slightly higher than ideal is more forgiving — the angle from eye level is a smaller proportion of your total field of view.
Can a tilt bracket fix a TV that is too high?
A tilting bracket can compensate for a TV that is 15–20cm higher than ideal. It will not fix a TV that is 40–50cm too high — the geometry just does not work. Tilt also changes the reflections on screen, which can help or hurt depending on your room lighting. Full-motion arms let you pull the TV away from the wall and angle it further down than a basic tilt bracket allows — useful for rooms where the wall space forces the TV higher than you would like.
What to check before drilling
- Sitting height test — sit on your sofa and hold a tape measure to your eye level. Mark this on the wall. The centre of the TV should be within 5cm of this mark.
- Obstruction clearance — make sure the bottom of the TV will clear any furniture, skirting boards, or sockets below.
- Wall structure — know whether you are drilling into brick, plasterboard, or a chimney breast. The wall type affects the fixings needed and the maximum safe TV weight. See our guide to TV mounting on plasterboard.
- Cable routing — plan where the cables will go before you drill. It is much easier to route cables before the bracket is up.
FAQ
What is the ideal height to mount a 55-inch TV?+
For a 55-inch TV, mount it so the centre of the screen is approximately 105–110cm from the floor. This positions the bottom of the TV at around 75cm, placing the viewing area at comfortable seated eye level.
Should a TV above a fireplace be at the same height?+
No — a TV above a fireplace is nearly always higher than ideal. If the fireplace surround is over 90cm tall, the TV will be uncomfortably high for long viewing. Consider a full-motion tilt bracket to angle it down, or a flush-mount chimney breast installation with an integrated media shelf. We explain the options in our fireplace mounting guide.
How high should a TV be mounted in a bedroom?+
In a bedroom where you watch from a lying or semi-reclined position, mount the TV higher than you would in a living room — around 130–150cm to the centre. This reduces neck strain when watching from bed.
Can I remount my TV if it is at the wrong height?+
Yes. We remount TVs that are too high or too low regularly. We fill the original holes, repaint if needed, and re-drill at the correct height. The job takes under 90 minutes on most walls.
Does mounting height change for very large TVs (75"+)?+
Large TVs are tall — a 75-inch screen is about 95cm tall. This means if you mount the centre at 105cm, the bottom of the screen will be at around 58cm, which is fine for most sofa heights. The top will sit at around 152cm, which is well within comfortable upward viewing angle.
If you want a professional opinion on mounting height for your specific room, get a free estimate — we are happy to advise before you book. We serve London and surrounding areas across the South East. See our full pricing page for installation costs.