TV Mount Height & Viewing Distance
Turn TV size into mount height and distance
TV mount height and viewing distance FAQ
How does this calculator pick viewing distance?
The viewing distance range comes from field-of-view guidelines used in home theater design. For mixed TV and movie use, many sources suggest sitting so the screen fills about 30–40° of your horizontal view. Closer to the TV (larger angle) feels more cinematic; a bit farther back feels more relaxed for day-to-day TV.
Why does TV size matter so much?
A bigger screen fills more of your vision at the same distance. That means for a larger TV you can sit farther back and still get an immersive feel, while a smaller TV needs your seating to be closer so details don’t look tiny. The calculator uses your TV’s diagonal size as the anchor for both the distance range and the suggested mount height.
Where should the center of the TV be on the wall?
A simple rule is to keep the center of the screen close to seated eye height. That usually feels best for long sessions and lines up with guidance that you shouldn’t need to look up more than about 15°. The tool uses your eye height (or a typical value if you leave it blank) to estimate a practical center height and the approximate positions of the top and bottom of the screen.
Can I mount the TV higher over a fireplace?
You can, but the higher the TV, the more neck strain you may notice, especially during long movies. If the TV must sit high (for example over a fireplace), consider a tilting wall mount and aim the screen down toward the seating. You can still use this calculator as a reference and then test different heights with painter’s tape before you commit.
What if my sofa is already fixed in place?
Enter your current seating distance and TV size. The calculator will show whether your sofa is closer to the cinematic end of the range or the more relaxed, everyday-TV end. If you are much closer than the suggested minimum, the picture may feel overwhelming; if you are much farther, the screen can feel small and text may be harder to read.
Does screen resolution (4K vs 1080p) change the math?
Resolution affects how close you can sit before seeing pixels, but for most modern 4K TVs the distance range in this calculator works well. If you have a very large 4K screen and sit near the close end of the range, you generally get more detail without visible pixel structure than you would on an older 1080p TV at the same distance.
Should multiple rows of seating use the same height?
For casual living rooms, centering the TV on the main seating position is usually enough. In a dedicated theater with more than one row, installers often tilt the screen slightly or use stepped platforms so each row keeps a comfortable vertical angle. This calculator is aimed at a single primary row, but the numbers still give a useful reference.
How precise do I need to be?
Not very. Stud locations, furniture and cable routes all nudge the final position. Treat this tool as a ballpark planner: mark the suggested center height with tape, sit down, and move it up or down a little until it feels right before drilling. A few centimetres or inches either way is perfectly normal.
How to use this TV mount height & viewing distance calculator
This tool turns your TV size and seating position into a simple plan for where to sit and how high to mount the screen. The goal is a setup that feels cinematic but still comfortable for everyday use.
1. Choose units and enter TV size
Pick whether you want to work in US units (inches and feet) or metric (centimetres and metres). Then enter the advertised diagonal size of your TV. For example, if you have a 65 inch TV, type “65”, or if you prefer metric, enter the diagonal in centimetres.
2. Measure seated eye height from the floor
Sit in your usual spot and measure from the floor to the level of your eyes. In many living rooms this lands around 38–42 inches (95–105 cm). Enter that number so the calculator can suggest a mount height that keeps the screen center roughly at eye level. If you leave it blank, a typical value is used.
3. Add your current seating distance (optional)
If your sofa is already fixed, measure from where your eyes are to the wall where the TV will sit. Enter that distance so the calculator can tell you whether you are nearer the immersive or relaxed end of the recommended range. If you are planning the room from scratch, you can skip this box and simply use the distance range as a target.
4. Read the viewing distance range and mount height
Tap Calculate mount & distance to see:
- A recommended viewing distance range based on your TV size.
- A quick note showing where your current seating falls relative to that range.
- Suggested center-of-screen height from the floor for your main seat.
- Approximate top and bottom of screen heights so you can lay out the bracket.
The numbers are rounded to sensible values so marking them on the wall with painter’s tape is easy.
5. Test with tape before you drill
Use the Copy summary button to save the result in your notes app or share it. Then:
- Mark the suggested screen center on the wall with tape.
- Sit in your normal spot and check how it feels for your neck and eyes.
- Shift the tape up or down a little if needed before committing to bracket holes.
Treat this calculator as a quick planning shortcut. Your final mount position should reflect how the room actually feels once the TV is on the wall, lights are dimmed and you have real content on screen.
How the TV mount height & viewing distance math works
Underneath the friendly labels, this calculator uses a handful of standard home theater formulas so you can always sanity-check the numbers with your own calculator if you want to.
1. From diagonal size to screen width and height
Most modern TVs are 16:9 aspect ratio. From the diagonal size and that ratio, the tool works out the actual width and height:
Width = diagonal × 16 / √(16² + 9²)
Height = diagonal × 9 / √(16² + 9²)
This lets the calculator estimate the physical screen height, which is what really matters for mount height and vertical viewing angle.
2. Viewing distance from field-of-view
For mixed TV and movie use, many guides suggest a horizontal viewing angle between roughly 30° and 40°. In practical “sofa terms”, that works out to a viewing distance of about:
1.2 × diagonal (closer, more cinematic) to 1.6 × diagonal (farther, more relaxed)
The calculator uses this as a distance range and then converts it into feet and metres. If you enter your current seating distance, it checks whether you are inside, closer than, or farther than that range.
3. Mount height from eye height and screen height
For long sessions it is more comfortable if you do not need to look too far up or down. The tool assumes the ideal is to keep the center of the screen around seated eye height:
Center height ≈ seated eye height
Top of screen ≈ center + (screen height ÷ 2)
Bottom of screen ≈ center − (screen height ÷ 2)
If you do not enter an eye height, a typical value is used so you still get a useful estimate.
4. Comfort checks, not strict rules
The real test is how your neck, eyes and the picture feel in your actual room. The math gives a good starting point grounded in common design guidance; you then shift a few centimetres or inches up or down until it feels right on your sofa, with your furniture, in your space.
References and further reading on TV viewing distance and mount height
These resources expand on the guidelines behind this calculator:
- Rtings.com — TV Size to Distance Calculator — discussion of viewing angles and distance recommendations for different TV sizes.
- THX — Viewing guide FAQs — guidance on aligning your line of sight with the center of the screen and keeping vertical angles comfortable.
- Optimum HDTV viewing distance (Wikipedia) — summary of industry recommendations and how they relate to picture height and resolution.
Use these alongside your own comfort and room layout to fine-tune where you finally mount your TV and place your seating.