Mounting height calculator
How high should the screen go on the wall?
The centre of the picture belongs at the eye height of the people who watch it. Enter the size and who is watching to get the height of the centre, the bottom edge and the top edge, then check the angle from where people sit or stand.
Angle and clearance
Mounting height chart, 16:9 screens
The height of the centre of the picture above the floor, with the bottom and top edges under it. Each size has its own page with a drawing to scale, overhead mounting distances and the accessibility limits.
| Size | On a sofa eyes about 42 in up | At a meeting table eyes about 48 in up | Standing eyes about 60 in up | Overhead, 80 in clear below people stand at least |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32 in 15.7 in high | Centre 42 in 34.2 to 49.8 in | Centre 48 in 40.2 to 55.8 in | Centre 60 in 52.2 to 67.8 in | 8.7 ft (2.6 m) away |
| 40 in 19.6 in high | Centre 42 in 32.2 to 51.8 in | Centre 48 in 38.2 to 57.8 in | Centre 60 in 50.2 to 69.8 in | 9.3 ft (2.8 m) away |
| 43 in 21.1 in high | Centre 42 in 31.5 to 52.5 in | Centre 48 in 37.5 to 58.5 in | Centre 60 in 49.5 to 70.5 in | 9.5 ft (2.9 m) away |
| 50 in 24.5 in high | Centre 42 in 29.7 to 54.3 in | Centre 48 in 35.7 to 60.3 in | Centre 60 in 47.7 to 72.3 in | 10 ft (3.1 m) away |
| 55 in 27.0 in high | Centre 42 in 28.5 to 55.5 in | Centre 48 in 34.5 to 61.5 in | Centre 60 in 46.5 to 73.5 in | 10 ft (3.2 m) away |
| 60 in 29.4 in high | Centre 42 in 27.3 to 56.7 in | Centre 48 in 33.3 to 62.7 in | Centre 60 in 45.3 to 74.7 in | 11 ft (3.3 m) away |
| 65 in 31.9 in high | Centre 42 in 26.1 to 57.9 in | Centre 48 in 32.1 to 63.9 in | Centre 60 in 44.1 to 75.9 in | 11 ft (3.4 m) away |
| 70 in 34.3 in high | Centre 42 in 24.8 to 59.2 in | Centre 48 in 30.8 to 65.2 in | Centre 60 in 42.8 to 77.2 in | 12 ft (3.5 m) away |
| 75 in 36.8 in high | Centre 42 in 24.0 to 60.8 in | Centre 48 in 30.0 to 66.8 in | Centre 60 in 41.6 to 78.4 in | 12 ft (3.6 m) away |
| 77 in 37.8 in high | Centre 43 in 24.0 to 61.8 in | Centre 49 in 30.0 to 67.8 in | Centre 60 in 41.1 to 78.9 in | 12 ft (3.7 m) away |
| 83 in 40.7 in high | Centre 44 in 24.0 to 64.7 in | Centre 50 in 30.0 to 70.7 in | Centre 60 in 39.7 to 80.3 in | 13 ft (3.8 m) away |
| 85 in 41.7 in high | Centre 45 in 24.0 to 65.7 in | Centre 51 in 30.0 to 71.7 in | Centre 60 in 39.2 to 80.8 in | 13 ft (3.9 m) away |
| 86 in 42.2 in high | Centre 45 in 24.0 to 66.2 in | Centre 51 in 30.0 to 72.2 in | Centre 60 in 38.9 to 81.1 in | 13 ft (3.9 m) away |
| 98 in 48.0 in high | Centre 48 in 24.0 to 72.0 in | Centre 54 in 30.0 to 78.0 in | Centre 60 in 36.0 to 84.0 in | 14 ft (4.2 m) away |
Planning figures for a first mark on the wall, measured to the lit picture. The seated rows keep the bottom edge at least 24 in up for a low cabinet and 30 in up for a table top, which raises the largest sizes above eye level. Measure the eye height of your own seats where you can, and check the bracket position on the drawing of the exact model.
How we work it out
The centre goes at eye height: about 42 inches for a sofa, 48 inches for a desk or meeting chair and 60 inches for an adult standing. The bottom edge is half the picture height below the centre and the top edge half above. If that puts the bottom edge behind a cabinet or a table, the screen moves up until it clears.
For a screen above eye level, a common comfort rule keeps the centre no more than 15 degrees above the eye line. That is about 3.2 inches of extra height for every foot of distance, so from 10 feet the centre can sit 32 inches above the eyes.
In a public space
In the United States, the 2010 ADA Standards limit anything on a wall with its leading edge more than 27 and not more than 80 inches above the floor to 4 inches of protrusion into a circulation path, and call for 80 inches of headroom. Touch targets belong between 15 and 48 inches from the floor.
A screen recessed into the wall meets the protrusion limit at any height; the flush mount guide shows how. To pick the size first, use the viewing distance calculator for signs or the meeting room calculator for a room where people sit, and the screen size calculator for width and height.
Questions
How high should a TV or display be mounted?
Put the centre of the picture at the eye height of the people who watch it: about 42 inches from the floor for people on a sofa, about 48 inches for people at a desk or meeting table, and about 60 inches for people standing. Then check that the bottom edge clears whatever sits under it.
Is above a fireplace or a door too high?
It depends on how far back people sit or stand. A common comfort rule keeps the centre of the picture no more than 15 degrees above the eye line. For someone seated 9 feet away with eyes at 42 inches, that tops out at a centre about 71 inches from the floor. Higher than that, tilt the screen down or expect people to look up.
How far can a wall-mounted screen stick out in a public corridor?
In the United States, the 2010 ADA Standards limit objects on a wall to 4 inches of protrusion into a circulation path when their leading edge is more than 27 and not more than 80 inches above the floor. That counts the screen and its bracket together. A screen recessed into the wall, or one with its bottom edge at 80 inches or higher, avoids the limit. Ask your local code official about your building.
How high should a touch screen be?
Anything people must press has to be within reach. The 2010 ADA Standards put an unobstructed reach between 15 and 48 inches above the floor, so keep buttons and other touch targets in that band, even when the picture itself extends higher.