If you’re thinking that hanging a wall-mounted tv is as easy as 1,2,3, you’re sadly mistaken. A lot goes into hanging tv mounts at the right height and location in any room. What complicates the matter is that once you’ve hung your TV, the last thing you want to do is move it because there will be visible holes in your wall from the screws for the mount.

When choosing the correct height for your wall-mounted TV, you want to consider the viewing angle, the TV’s size, the TV center, and much more. It’s essential to put some thought and planning into hanging your wall mount so that you don’t have to move it to a different location because you hung it at the incorrect height.

If you recently purchased a flat-screen TV that you plan to mount on a wall, you’ve come to the right place. This article will detail how to mount a TV, where, and how high to mount it. Mounting your new TV at the right height is extremely important for viewing enjoyment.

How High Should I Hang My Wall-Mounted TV?

The rule of thumb is that the ideal height for hanging a TV on a wall is around 42 inches from the floor to the center of the screen. However, this height can vary depending on the size of the TV and the distance from the floor to the ceiling. 42″ is the best height for your TV because it will direct your eyes in direct line with the center of the TV screen if you’re sitting on a couch or chair.

This height is also preferred to prevent neck strain and discomfort while watching your favorite shows or sporting events. Once again, 42″ isn’t set in stone by any means, and it’s primarily up to your preferences regarding how high you want your TV to get hung. For example, some people hang their TVs at different heights based on screen size alone. Here’s a table illustrating the recommended height for different TVs.

TV Screen Width in Inches	Height to the Center of the TV
42	56
55	61
65	65
70	67

A larger TV should get hung slightly higher than a smaller one. Once again, this is only how some people determine the height at which to hang their TV. If you want to go more in-depth and consider different factors, there’s nothing wrong with that.

How High to Hang a Bedroom TV on a Wall Mount

With a bedroom TV, there aren’t quite as many factors to consider when hanging your TV on a wall. You want to hang it directly across from where you will lie at night. You also want to hang the TV at eye level with your bed to avoid neck pain and for optimal viewing.

For most standard beds, this puts the height of the center of the TV at 43″ to 45″ off the floor. It’s essential to consider the TV size and personal preferences, but 43″ to 45″ is the typical mounting height for a bedroom TV.

How to Hang a Wall-Mounted TV

If you’ve already purchased your TV and are ready to hang it on the wall, this is the section for you. Here are some of the things you’ll need to get started.

A type of mount that will support your TV size and weight.
Tape Measure
Stud Finder
Small Drill Bit
Drill
Ratchet Set (if the screws are too big for your drill)
Pencil
A partner to help with the TV

Once you’ve gathered your materials, it’s time to get started!

Choose the Type of Mount You Want

The first thing you should do is select the type of mount that you want. Here are the different types of mounts.

Adjustable Brackets
TV Ceiling Mount
Full Motion Mount
Fixed TV Mount
Tilting TV Mount

Each of these mounts has different benefits and features, so make sure to choose the one that fulfills your needs.

Choose the Best Location for Your TV

Next, go into the room where you’re going to hang the TV and choose an appropriate location. You want a wall section close to a wall outlet and preferably in the center of the room. You also want to pick a spot away from sunlight which can severely impair picture quality. Finally, pick a spot on the wall where the TV will be the room’s focal point. It’s there to get watched, so make sure everyone in the standing or seating area can see it when it’s mounted.

Select Your Ideal TV Height

Once you have picked the general wall and spot, you’ll have to determine an appropriate height for your TV. Like we said before, you can either base the height of the TV size or go with 42″ no matter what. For this example, we’re going to hang the TV at 42″.

If you’re not hanging it at 42″, however, you want to choose a height where the TV center will be at the average eye level height of most of the people in the room when they’re in a seated position. This is more difficult when considering young children because their eye level is lower than adults. Do your best, however, to take everyone into account.

Find the Wall Studs

Once your general height and location get picked out, it’s time to put your stud finder to use and find wall studs. Depending on the size of your television, your wall mount might be holding up to 100 pounds or more. While modern TVs are lighter than old ones, they still weigh a ton if they’re big enough. Run your stud finder along the wall where you want to mount your TV until it detects solid structure behind the wall.

Mark the Studs

Take your pencil and mark the stud’s location with a small dot at the height you plan to hang your bracket. Once the stud is marked, take a hammer and nail and gently tap the nail into the wall on your pencil mark until you feel resistance, indicating the presence of a stud.

Position the Mount

Once the holes get marked at the correct height, take your TV mount and position it on the wall. Line up the holes in the mount with the marks on the wall and move it sideways along the wall until you have it right where you want it. It’s essential to keep the center of the TV mount as close to the stud as possible for maximum strength.

Drill Pilot Holes

Once you know where you want the mount to be and how high it will hang, you can drill pilot holes with a drill and drill bit. The instructions with your TV should have a recommended drill bit size that correlates to the size of your mounting screws. Make sure to use a bit that isn’t too long and will go through the studs and out the other side of the wall.

Attach the Mount

With the pilot holes drilled, hold your TV mount in place and begin attaching it. Make sure you have it positioned at the pre-determined height so you don’t have to move it later. Holes in drywall are challenging to repair, especially when made with large bolts.

Before making any official attachments, use a level to ensure you’re hanging the mount straight. Nothing will infuriate you more than to finish the job, only to realize that you’re looking at your TV sideways because it isn’t straight.

Attach the TV to the Mount

There are many different types of wall TV mounts. Depending on the style you purchased, you will either attach separate mounts or brackets to your TV, then use those to hang the TV to the wall mount. This is the most common type of bracket because they allow you to hang the mount and TV separately, making for a much easier job.

Make sure you have someone helping you with the actual mounting of the TV. Depending on the size, you may need three people to position the TV on the mounts properly.

Considerations When Choosing Your TV Mounting Height

The Type of Room and Size of the Room

One of the first things to consider when deciding on the correct height for your TV is the type of room the TV is in. We’ve gone over the correct height for a bedroom, so let’s look at a few other room types.

Game Room

If you’re hanging a TV in a game room or indoor bar area, you’ll want to hang it higher than in other rooms. Most of the people in the room will be standing, which means their eyes will be at a higher level than if they’re sitting or reclining on a couch.

Living Room

In living rooms, it’s best to hang TVs at 42″ from the floor to the center of the screen.

Outdoor Kitchen

Outdoor kitchens are similar to bar areas and game rooms in that people will either be standing or sitting at bar stools. You also want to hang the TV higher so it’s out of harm’s way if people are walking and milling about.

Large Rooms

In large rooms, the height of the TV doesn’t matter as much as the size of the TV. Make sure you purchase one that fits the size of a room and doesn’t fill it up or get lost in the shuffle.

Small Rooms

With small rooms, the same concept applies to large rooms. You should opt for a smaller TV, so the bottom of the TV isn’t close to the ground and the top isn’t close to the ceiling.

Size of Your TV

If you mount the TV at 42″ to the center no matter what, the size of your TV doesn’t matter. However, if you’re planning to be flexible with the hanging height, it’s common for people with bigger TVs to hang them slightly higher, so they’re not so close to the ground.

Viewing Preferences

At the end of the day, how high you hang your TV depends on your viewing preferences. If you prefer to look up at a screen from a reclined position, hang your TV slightly higher than 42″. If, however, you prefer your TV lower to the ground because you have kids or prefer that view, hang your TV less than 42″.

Distance from the Floor to the Ceiling

If the top of your TV is too close to the floor or ceiling, it may look awkward. You should consider the distance between the floor and ceiling in small rooms and hang your TV accordingly.

Optimal Viewing Distance

You might think optimal viewing distance is entirely preferential, but there’s a formula. Take the size of your TV and divide it by .55 to determine the optimal viewing distance to your TV. For example, a 42″ TV divided by .55 equals 76, which means the optimal viewing distance is 76″ from your TV. You should consider this when deciding on the height of your TV.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, more goes into mounting a TV than meets the eye. It’s important to consider the size of your TV, the size of your room, and your viewing preferences. Using the information in this article and being patient and meticulous, you can choose the right TV and hang it at the right height for your viewing pleasure.