What is the Best Height for a Wall-Mounted Flat Screen?

There are two schools of thought regarding the best height for a wall-mounted TV. The first is that a flat screen TV should be incorporated into the room as a piece of art and therefore mounted at an appropriate height. If you subscribe to this opinion, there are several factors to consider when determining the best flat screen TV wall mount height.

If you are mounting the flat screen TV above a fireplace, the best height depends on the size of your mantel. If the mantel is lower than four feet from the floor or your fireplace does not have a mantel, mount the flat screen TV between four and twelve inches above the mantel or fireplace itself. If your fireplace mantel is tall with a height of more than four feet, mount the flat screen TV no more than six inches higher than the fireplace.

If you are mounting a flat screen TV elsewhere in your home but still prefer the artwork height, measure 57" up the wall from the floor. This will place the flat screen at average eye level height. This should be the height for the center of the flat screen TV, so be sure to measure the TV itself and then hang the wall mount accordingly.

When mounting a flat screen TV on a wall at artwork-height, you will probably want to mount the TV at a slight downward tilt, which will make it easier to view from a seated position. You may also want to consider the watching distance for an optimum viewing experience.

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The second popular opinion regarding the best flat screen TV wall mount height is to hang it at eye level. There is no exact height measurement for this, as it will depend on where you will be viewing it. For example, if you want to mount a flat screen TV in your bedroom, you may want to place it at a height you will be able to view while reclining, which would be rather high and tilted downward. If you want to mount a flat screen on your living room or den wall you may prefer a lower height, since you will likely watch it sitting down.

To find the best height for your flat screen, have one person hold a piece of cardboard the same shape and size as the flat screen TV. The other person should then sit or recline in different seats or locations in the room while the first person holds the mock flat screen TV up to the wall. The best height will be one that suits the room and yet allows you to enjoy your flat screen TV without craning your neck!

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For tips on mounting your flat screen TV on a wall, read the Bright Hub tutorial How to Mount Your First Plasma/LCD Television.