One of the most challenging parts of mounting your TV wall mount is finding the right optimal height.
Depending on whether you will be watching TV seated, standing, or both, you will need to determine the best viewing height for your situation.
We are here to help you find the most optimal height for your home setup and TV wall mount.
Step 1: Select Starting Height
TV Height is a subjective measurement, as there are no right or wrong answers. You want to view your TV at a comfortable level. If you are mounting above a fireplace or other obstruction on the wall, you may want to seek additional advice.
To find your optimal TV viewing height, place a piece of painter’s tape on the wall at 42″ from the floor where you are planning to mount your TV. The tape will represent the center of your TV.
Sit down on your couch and if your focus doesn’t naturally fall to where the tape is, move the piece of tape up or down until it feels comfortable.
*If you plan on viewing your TV in a standing position, you may want to mount your TV slightly higher*
When you are happy with where the tape is placed, write down the distance between the floor and the tape. For our example, we are using 42″.
Step 2: Measure the TV Mount Center Offset
Attach the mount’s TV brackets to the wallplate. Measure the distance between the center of the wall plate and the center of the brackets.
*On some mounts, the two centers will be aligned. If this is the case in your setup, move on to Step 3*
If the center of the TV brackets is LOWER than the center of the wall plate, ADD the difference to the height you wrote down in Step 1.
If the center of the TV brackets is HIGHER than the center of the wall plate, SUBTRACT the difference from the height you wrote down in Step 1.
In our example, the center of the TV brackets its 4″ lower than the center of the wall plate, therefore we added 4″ to the overall height of 42″, giving us 46″.
Step 3: Measure the TV Offset
Once you have determined the offset of the brackets and wall plate, install the brackets on the TV.
You are now looking to see if the center of the brackets is centered with your TV.
If the center of the TV brackets is LOWER than the center of your TV, SUBTRACT the difference from the height you calculated in Step 2.
If the center of the TV brackets is HIGHER than the center of your TV, ADD the difference to the height you calculated in Step 2.
In our example, the center of the TV brackets is 3″ lower than the center of the TV, therefore we subtracted 3″ from the height in Step 2, giving us a center point of 43″.
This final number represents the height of the CENTER of your WALL PLATE for installation.
If your mount comes with a drill template, align the center of the template with the height you calculated, and you are ready to drill.
If your TV doesn’t come with a wall template, measure the distance between the center of your wall plate and the center of the holes where the lag bolts go, or place the wall plate on the wall and mark the height of the lag bolt holes.
By taking the time to calculate these measurements before installing your TV wall mount, you can ensure your TV is in the optimal height position for your home.
If you are unsure about what TV mount you need, check out “How to Pick the Right Wall Mount for Your Home” here on our blog.
