How High to Mount a TV in Your Bedroom (& 7 Tips)

Are you shopping for a new TV? The thrill of buying that new 55" 4K model to replace your old 1080p TV is exciting. This is a chance for you to fix previous mistakes and really figure out how high to mount the TV in your bedroom.

There are plenty of brands and models to choose from in your quest to find the perfect TV. Whether you go for that new Samsung curve design or the traditional flat-screen setup, you'll need to mount it properly to get the best viewing experience.

Many modern TV's come with VESA functionality allowing for installation onto a wall mount. There are several benefits to mounting the unit on the wall. You don't have to rely on it resting on a cabinet or tabletop, and the swing arm on the mount lets you easily adjust the viewing angle.

How high should I place the mount is one of the biggest questions people have when installing their new TV on a wall-mount system. This post gives you everything you need to know.

Why the TV Mounting Height & Distance Matters

Most TV manufacturing brands and lifestyle designers recommend installing your TV mount at a specific distance and height to leverage the benefits of this setup. Going too low or too high has disadvantages for your viewing experience by altering your viewing angle.

Newer types of TVs have very wide viewing angles, though you may not enjoy watching them from an extreme angle. That's why most VESA mounts (VESA being the organization that controls some television standards) allow you to tilt a television into the right viewing angle.

Watching your new TV from the wrong distance, height, or viewing angle, places strain on your eyes and neck. If you want to avoid burning your eyes out or creating tension in your shoulders, upper back, and neck, it's best to follow the guidelines about using the right setup for your new TV.

Right Height & Distance for Each TV Size

The rule of thumb for mounting your TV says you should mount it at least 42 inches off the floor. Another good general rule is to keep it at eye level. However, eye level can be a deceiving metric as some people may have a different neck position when lying on the couch or sitting in the recliner, affecting their eye level with the screen.

The installation height also varies depending on the size of the TV screen. Here are some guidelines for the right installation height from the floor when fitting your wall mount bracket. We will show you how to think about and calculate this.

Remember, the general recommended installation height is 42” to 43” from the floor to the center of the screen. However, this metric changes depending on the size of the screen and the distance from the screen to the viewer.

Example 1 - For a 43 inch television, the overall screen height will be around 22 inches (because widescreen TV's are rectangular). Divide the height of the screen by two, which is 11 inches. To place the center of the screen around 42 inches off the ground, the bottom of the screen should be around 31 inches from the ground. This is because 31 inches (from the floor to the bottom of the TV) plus 11 inches (the bottom of the TV to halfway up the screen) equals 42 inches.

Example 2 - For a 60 inch TV, the screen height will be around 30 inches. Half of that height is 15 inches. To place the center of the screen at 42 inches, we will subtract 15 inches, which leaves us with 27 inches. This means we need 27 inches from the floor to the bottom of the screen, and then we will have 15 inches from the bottom of the screen to the center, which places the center at 42 inches on the wall.

So, the taller a wall-mounted TV, the lower its optimal mounting distance. Conversely, a low mounting position disturbs the contrast, leaving the viewer with a darker picture. You want to make sure you're viewing the TV from the right viewing angle.

Because, as discussed below, the minimum viewing angle should be 30 degrees and the maximum should be 40 degrees, that means the suggested viewing distance will be between 1.2 and 1.6 times the diagonal measurement of the screen. So the proper viewing distance of a 55 inch TV would be 66 inches to 88 inches (or 5 feet and 6 inches to 7 feet and 4 inches).

7 Tips for Installing a Wall-Mounted TV In the Bedroom

If you're installing your TV using a wall mount in the bedroom, the rule of thumb discussed earlier might not work for you. The furniture, bed height, room size, furniture height, space, and lighting all play a role in deciding on the right mounting distance from the floor to the screen's center. Let's unpack these factors in detail.

1) Room Aesthetics

Your bedroom is a personal space and might not have a wall aesthetic suitable for mounting the TV. Style is your first consideration, and it takes the place of functionality in the bedroom for aesthetically conscious individuals who care about bedroom feng shui.

Where you mount the TV in the bedroom depends on the room's shape, size, and space available. Furniture arrangements and port/outlet location are also top considerations so you don't have all kinds of video cables dangling everywhere.

The general rule for mounting the TV in the bedroom is to go with the area offering the best viewing height and angle. I've seen people (my parents) who know exactly how high to mount a TV in a bedroom choose the most horrendous height and angle because they didn't want to move a dresser or take down a mirror they never use. The right choice isn't the easy one!

2) Ensure You Mount the TV at Eye Level

We determine eye level by the height of the furniture and the bed. When sitting in bed, it's good to have the bottom of the TV screen at eye level. This positioning prevents you from having to look down at the TV, making you lift your chin slightly to allow for proper breathing while viewing.

Provided you get the right "eye level" as described, you don't have to worry about the general guidelines mentioned earlier. Sit on the bed comfortably in your preferred viewing position and get your partner or a friend to mark the eye level on the wall. If you have a partner that watches TV in bed with you, go with the shortest person's eye level.

3) Best Viewing Angle

The viewing angle is the most technical aspect of choosing the right mounting height and position for the TV. Your viewing angle should not be below 30 degrees, per specifications outlined by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) association. It should not exceed 40 degrees, according to THX.

The average viewing angle for watching TV while sitting is around 10 to 15 degrees. When referring to the ideal viewing angle, the base of your TV should be approximately 25 inches higher from the ground. Therefore, you're getting an optimal height position between 30" to 35" inches, offering an optimal eye level of approximately 40".

4) Light Availability

Lighting plays a significant role in watching TV. The location of the windows in your room, the overhead lighting, and the table lamps all play a role in effectively mounting your new TV. A dark surrounding isn't ideal for watching TV for prolonged sessions. You don't want to mount a TV in front of a window, either.

This lighting design pressures the eyes, causing strain and visual fatigue. Dimmed lighting is the best option for watching TV. However, the mounting should not reflect the room lighting on the screen.

5) Bed-Center Installation

A bed-center installation is preferred for mounting a TV in the bedroom. With this setup, you're watching the TV with it directly in front of you where your feet are pointing, placing little strain on the neck, shoulders, and eyes.

This means you will be looking past your feet at the TV down the direction of the foot of the bed. It's the most comfortable option, but it's not always possible to mount the TV in this position due to furniture problems or cable/outlet issues.

6) Wall-Center Installation

A wall-center position is another popular choice. However, in this position, you might not have the TV positioned in the center of the bed. Typically, people use this position because they have aesthetic problems involving mounting the TV in the bed-center position.

A wall-centered mount has the best styling and a clean look in the room. This setup is the ideal choice for small rooms with equal dimensions, which help make it easier to arrange the rest of the furniture in the room.

7) Corner Installations

You can use this mounting style if you have a narrow, long bedroom design. This setup allows you to use the available space on the walls while still allowing you to hang décor. Choose the corner farthest from the door when using this mounting strategy. This only works well with much smaller TVs.

Choose the Height That is Comfortable

Most of the emphasis is on the recommended height from the floor when installing your TV. However, any height is suitable, provided it doesn't cause strain on your eyes, neck, or shoulders. Mounting the TV too high may cause you to strain to look up at it.

When you must look up with your eyes at the screen, it activates a part of the brain that keeps you awake. It may not be a good idea to mount it too high in the bedroom unless you want to experience trouble getting to sleep.

How Do I Choose the Right TV for My Room?

Now that we have the mounting issue out of the way with the proper height figured out, let's unpack what you need to know about choosing the right TV for your bedroom. Obviously, the screen size is the most important consideration.

While it might seem like a great idea to have the biggest screen size possible, that's not always the case. A huge screen in a small room can blast your eyes with too much light, making them strain to adjust to the screen and cover all the screen area.

Bedroom Size Vs. TV Size

We recommend a maximum screen size of 43" if you have a small bedroom. Any bigger than this will place too much strain on your eyes, leading to an uncomfortable viewing experience.

Mid-sized rooms can increase the screen size to a maximum of 55," and large bedrooms can go up to a 65" screen size before it starts affecting the viewing experience. I would consider the standard bedroom sizes to be medium-sized in most master bedrooms in the most common houses.

TV Resolution

The screen resolution of the TV also plays a significant role in the viewing experience in your bedroom. If you're using TVs over 40", don't opt for screen resolutions below 720p. Bigger screens need a minimum 1080p resolution, with 4K being preferable.

The higher the resolution, the less your eyes strain watching TV from a closer distance. Newer screen technology helps with this, too. Honestly, you shouldn't purchase anything under 1080p these days, regardless of how small the TV is.

That's How High to Mount a TV in Your Bedroom

Installing your TV correctly in your bedroom ensures an optimal viewing experience. If you don't set it up right, you'll place strain on your eyes, upper back, and neck. Follow our guidelines for the best installation heights for your screen and room size.

Whether you're using a center-bed, center-wall, or corner-mount design, choose the setup providing the right balance between room aesthetic and viewing experience. Remember to account for both of you if you live with a partner and get them to assist you in the setup assessment. And now you know how high to mount a TV in your bedroom. Enjoy!

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