What this calculator does
A tv mounting height calculator works from one simple guideline: for comfortable viewing, the centre of the screen should sit at roughly seated eye level, adjusted slightly downward for a natural viewing angle, rather than being mounted as high as the wall allows. Mounting too high is the single most common mistake, and it is the main reason a newly mounted TV can feel oddly uncomfortable to watch even though it looks fine on the wall from across the room.
Because the right tv height depends on the room, the seating and how far back people sit, this calculator treats the seated eye height and the downward viewing adjustment as editable figures rather than a single fixed rule. Enter your own seating measurements and preferred adjustment, along with the screen size, to get a mounting height suited to the actual setup rather than a generic average.
The formula
The screen centre is placed at seated eye height, minus a downward adjustment for a comfortable viewing angle rather than looking dead level. Screen height is estimated from the diagonal size using a standard 16:9 widescreen ratio, and that height is used to find the top and bottom edges around the recommended centre point.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Seated eye height | The height of a seated viewer's eyes above the floor, measured from the actual seating being used. |
| Downward viewing adjustment | How far below dead-level eye height the screen centre is placed, for a more natural, slightly downward viewing angle. |
| Screen height | The vertical height of the screen itself, estimated from its diagonal size assuming a standard 16:9 aspect ratio. |
The inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Seated eye height above the floor (cm) | Measure from the floor to eye level while seated in the actual chair or sofa the TV will be watched from. |
| Screen size (diagonal) (in) | The screen size as advertised, measured diagonally, in inches. |
| Adjustment below eye level for comfortable downward viewing angle (cm) | How far below dead-level eye height to place the screen centre. A commonly cited starting point is a modest downward adjustment rather than mounting exactly at eye level. |
When to use it
Mounting a TV above a standard sofa
Measuring seated eye height from the actual sofa cushion height, rather than assuming a generic figure, accounts for unusually low or high seating that a fixed rule of thumb would get wrong.
Choosing between a fireplace and a lower wall position
A TV mounted above a fireplace is often well above the recommended centre height; working out the gap in centimetres helps decide whether a swing arm, lower shelf, or a different wall position is worth considering instead.
Fitting a larger screen into an existing bracket position
A bigger screen is taller, which pushes its top and bottom edges further from the centre even if the mounting bracket stays in the same place, so rechecking the top and bottom edges matters when upgrading screen size.
Worked examples
Every figure in the tables below is produced by this page’s own calculator at build time, so the numbers and the tool always agree. Select any row to load that scenario.
How the recommended mounting height changes with screen size
A fixed seated eye height and downward adjustment, across a range of screen sizes.
| Screen size (diagonal) | Recommended screen centre height | Bottom of screen, approx. | Top of screen, approx. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 43 in | 99 cm above the floor | 72 cm above the floor | 126 cm above the floor |
| 50 in | 99 cm above the floor | 68 cm above the floor | 130 cm above the floor |
| 55 in | 99 cm above the floor | 65 cm above the floor | 133 cm above the floor |
| 65 in | 99 cm above the floor | 59 cm above the floor | 139 cm above the floor |
| 75 in | 99 cm above the floor | 52 cm above the floor | 146 cm above the floor |
| 85 in | 99 cm above the floor | 46 cm above the floor | 152 cm above the floor |
How the recommended mounting height changes with seating height
A fixed 55-inch screen and downward adjustment, across a range of seated eye heights.
| Seated eye height | Recommended screen centre height | Bottom of screen, approx. | Top of screen, approx. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 95 cm | 87 cm above the floor | 53 cm above the floor | 121 cm above the floor |
| 100 cm | 92 cm above the floor | 58 cm above the floor | 126 cm above the floor |
| 105 cm | 97 cm above the floor | 63 cm above the floor | 131 cm above the floor |
| 110 cm | 102 cm above the floor | 68 cm above the floor | 136 cm above the floor |
| 115 cm | 107 cm above the floor | 73 cm above the floor | 141 cm above the floor |
| 120 cm | 112 cm above the floor | 78 cm above the floor | 146 cm above the floor |
Questions
What is the best height for a TV?
The commonly cited guideline is that the centre of the screen should sit close to seated eye level, adjusted slightly downward for a natural viewing angle, rather than mounted as high as possible. The exact figure depends on the seating used and personal preference, which is why this calculator treats both as editable inputs.
Why not just mount the TV at exact eye level?
A screen mounted exactly level with the eyes can feel slightly uncomfortable over long viewing sessions, since it sits right at the edge of natural downward gaze. A small downward adjustment, placing the centre a little below dead-level eye height, is a widely cited refinement to that basic rule.
Does viewing distance matter as well as height?
Yes, viewing distance affects the ideal screen size and viewing angle, but the height guideline used here is based primarily on seated eye level rather than distance. A very close or very far seating position is worth factoring in separately when choosing screen size in the first place.
How is screen height estimated from the diagonal size?
Assuming a standard 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio, screen height works out to roughly 49% of the diagonal measurement. An unusual aspect ratio, such as an ultra-wide monitor, would give a different actual height than this estimate.
To work out how far back to sit from a given screen size, see the screen viewing distance calculator. For the actual width and height of a screen from its diagonal size, see the aspect ratio and screen size calculator.