How High to Mount a TV?: A Guide for Kansas City Homes

Nov 2

5 min read

TV mounted above a tiled electric fireplace with no visible wires

A new TV is exciting. But once it's time to put it on the wall, most people stop and ask the same question: how high should it go?

At Will Will Do It, we mount TVs in homes all over the Kansas City area, and we see the same problem again and again. The TV is too high. It looks nice when you walk into the room, but after one movie night your neck lets you know something is wrong.

The good news is that getting the height right is easy once you know what to look for. Here's how we do it.

The Quick Answer

The middle of your TV screen should be at the same height as your eyes when you're sitting down.

For most people sitting on a regular couch, that's about 40 to 42 inches from the floor to the center of the screen. That's a good place to start. From there, we adjust based on your furniture, your room and your TV size.

Why Eye Level Matters

TV on a pull-down mount above a fireplace in a living room, lowered to eye level for viewing

Think about how you sit when you watch TV. You lean back, get comfortable and relax. If the screen is too high, you have to tip your head back the whole time. That leads to a sore neck, tired eyes and headaches.

When the center of the screen lines up with your eyes, you can look straight ahead. No strain, no stretching, just comfortable viewing.

How to Find Your Perfect Height

You don't need special tools for this. A tape measure and a few minutes is all it takes.

1. Sit where you usually watch TV. Sit the way you really sit, not straight up like you're at a job interview. Lean back and get comfy.

2. Measure from the floor to your eyes. Have someone measure for you. That number is where the middle of your TV should be.

No one around to help? Measure from the floor to the top of your couch cushion, then add the distance from the cushion to your eyes while sitting. Add those two numbers together.

3. Figure out where the bottom of the TV goes. Measure how tall your TV is (just the TV, not the stand). Cut that number in half. Then take your eye level number and subtract that half.

Example: Your eye level is 42 inches. Your TV is 32 inches tall. Half of 32 is 16. So 42 minus 16 = 26. The bottom of your TV should sit about 26 inches off the floor.

Height Guide by Room

Every room is a little different. Here's a simple guide for where the center of the screen usually ends up:

Room	Center of TV From the Floor	Why
Living room	About 40–42 inches	Matches your eyes when sitting on the couch
Bedroom	About 48–60 inches	You're usually lying back or propped up on pillows
Kitchen	About 55–65 inches	People are usually standing
Game room or bar area	About 46–50 inches	Bar stools and tall chairs sit higher

Living Room

This is where the eye-level rule works best. A low, modern couch might put your eyes closer to 38 inches. A big, comfy recliner might put them closer to 44 inches. Go with the seat you use the most.

Bedroom

In bed, you're leaning back, so your eyes look up higher than they do on the couch. That's why bedroom TVs usually go higher on the wall. A mount that tilts down a little helps point the screen right at you.

Kitchen

If you mostly watch while cooking or standing at the counter, the TV should go higher. Just watch out for glare from windows and lights.

What About Mounting Above a Fireplace?

We get asked this one a lot. A TV over the fireplace looks great, but it's almost always higher than eye level. That means more looking up.

If the fireplace is the only good spot in your room, here's what we suggest:

Use a tilting mount so the screen angles down toward your seat.
Think about a pull-down mount. It lets you bring the TV lower when you're watching and push it back up when you're done.
Leave space above the mantel. We like to keep a few inches between the top of the mantel and the bottom of the TV.
Check the heat. Run your fireplace for a while, then feel the wall where the TV will go. If it feels hot, it's too hot for your TV.

Does a Bigger TV Need to Go Higher?

Not really. A bigger TV is taller, so the bottom edge will sit lower, but the center should still be close to your eye level. With a very large TV and a couch that's far away, you might raise it an inch or two. That's it.

Don't Forget the Soundbar

Planning to add a soundbar under your TV? Decide that before we mount. We'll leave a little space between the bottom of the TV and the top of the soundbar so it doesn't block the screen or the remote sensor. Trying to squeeze it in later is a headache.

Common Mistakes We See

Hanging the TV too high. This is the number one mistake, especially over fireplaces.
Centering the TV on the wall. It might look balanced, but it usually ends up too high to watch comfortably.
Drilling before testing. Holes are hard to hide.
Skipping the studs. Drywall alone can't hold a TV. The mount needs to go into the wood studs inside the wall.
Forgetting about new furniture. A new couch can change your eye level.

A Simple Trick Before You Drill

Cut a piece of cardboard the same size as your TV. Tape it on the wall where you plan to mount it. Sit down and look at it. Leave it there for a day or two.

If it feels right, great. If not, move it up or down until it does. It's much easier to move tape than to patch holes.

Let Will Will Do It Handle It

Mounting a TV seems simple, but there's more to it than drilling a few holes. You need to find the studs, pick the right mount, get it level and hide the cords so everything looks clean.

That's where we come in. Our team will:

Help you find the right height for your room and your furniture
Recommend the right mount (fixed, tilting or full-motion)
Mount your TV safely into the studs
Make sure it's perfectly level
Help keep cords neat and out of sight

Whether it's your living room, bedroom, game room or above the fireplace, we'll get it done right the first time.

Ready to mount your TV? Contact Will Will Do It today for a free quote. We proudly serve Kansas City and nearby areas, including Mission Hills and Parkville.