How high should you mount a TV? A Montreal installer’s guide

For most living rooms, mount the TV so the centre of the screen sits at eye level when you’re seated, which works out to about 100 to 110 cm (40 to 42 inches from the floor). Bedrooms and walls above a fireplace usually end up higher, and that’s where a tilt mount helps. Here’s how we pick the right height on real jobs in Montreal homes, and what to know about wall mounting on the walls you find here.

How high should you mount a TV on the wall?

The recommended height is the center of the TV at the height of your eyes from where you normally sit. On a typical sofa that’s about 100 to 110 cm, so for most people the ideal TV height is 40 to 42 inches from the floor to the center of the screen, not to the bottom edge or the bracket.

To find the right height for your TV:

1. Sit on the sofa the way you usually watch TV, leaning back a bit.
2. Have someone measure from the floor to your eye height. That’s the target for the centre of the screen.
3. Take half of your TV screen height and subtract it from that number. That’s where the bottom edge goes.
4. Tape the outline of the screen on the wall and sit down again before anyone drills.

The tape test takes five minutes and tells you more than any formula. Most people find the height that looks right is a little lower than they expected.

Does TV size change the ideal mounting height?

Not much. The centre stays at eye level whatever the size of your TV, so a larger TV just sits with its bottom edge lower. A 55-inch TV is about 68 cm tall, so with the centre at 105 cm the bottom edge lands around 71 cm. A 65-inch TV is about 81 cm tall and a 75-inch TV about 93 cm, so they sit closer to the top of the TV stand or console.

What size does change is viewing distance. For a 4K TV, sit about 1 to 1.5 times the screen diagonal away:

• 43-inch TV: about 1.1 to 1.6 m
• 55-inch TV: about 1.4 to 2.1 m
• 65-inch TV: about 1.65 to 2.5 m
• 75-inch TV: about 1.9 to 2.9 m

If your sofa is further back than that, or the size of the room puts you far away, a bigger screen at the same eye level usually works better than hanging a small TV higher.

Why do people mount TVs so high?

Mostly because the wall looks empty at eye level, or a fireplace, console or radiator is in the way. A TV mounted too high makes you tilt your head back, and after a two-hour movie your neck will tell you. If the top of the screen is well above your eyes when you’re seated, the TV is mounted too high and the viewing angle is wrong. Lower it, or use a tilting mount if it has to stay up there.

How high should a bedroom TV be mounted?

A TV in a bedroom goes a bit higher than in the living room, because you watch from bed, propped up on pillows. A centre height of about 110 to 130 cm suits many beds, but it depends on your mattress and how you sit, so do the tape test from the bed to find a comfortable height. A tilt mount angled slightly down helps, and a full-motion arm is handy if you also watch from a chair.

How high should a TV be mounted above a fireplace?

Mount it as low as the mantel allows and use a tilting mount angled down toward the sofa. That still puts the centre well above the 100 to 110 cm rule, so a fireplace is a compromise, not the perfect TV placement. Before you pick this wall, check how warm it gets above the fireplace when it’s in use and what your TV maker says about heat.

Which TV mount should you buy: fixed, tilt or full motion?

Pick the mount for the way you watch. We don’t supply brackets, so you buy the TV wall mount and we install it.

• Fixed mount: keeps the TV flat, 2 to 4 cm from the wall. Best when the TV is at eye level and you always sit in front of it.
• Tilting mount: angles the screen down. Best for a TV higher up on the wall, above a fireplace or in a bedroom.
• Full-motion TV mount: an arm that pulls out and swivels. Best for corners and open-concept condos. It needs a solid wall because the arm puts more load on the anchors.

A mount that allows a little tilt costs about the same as a fixed one and gives you room to adjust once the TV is up.

What do VESA and weight ratings mean?

VESA is the spacing of the mounting holes on the back of your TV, in millimetres, for example 200 x 200 or 400 x 300. The bracket has to list your TV’s VESA pattern, and its weight rating has to be higher than the weight of your TV. Both numbers are in the manual or on the maker’s website. A mount rated barely above the TV’s weight is a bad bet, especially a full-motion arm.

How do you center a TV mount on a wall?

Center the TV on what you look at, usually the sofa or the furniture under it, not always the wall itself. In an older Montreal plex, the living room wall is often off-centre because of a door or window, so lining up with the console looks better. Most brackets let you slide the TV a few centimetres sideways on the wall plate, which helps when the studs aren’t exactly where you want to position the TV.

What wall types are common in Montreal, and does it matter?

Yes. The wall decides the anchors, the drill bit and how long the job takes.

• Drywall: common in condos and newer houses. We fasten into wood studs where we can. Many condos have metal studs, which need anchors rated for the load.
• Plaster on lath: found in older plexes in the Plateau, Rosemont, Verdun and NDG. It cracks if you drill carelessly, so we find the studs, pre-drill and go slowly.
• Brick: common in lofts. We drill into the brick with masonry anchors, not into the mortar joints.
• Concrete: common in high-rise condos and basements. It needs a hammer drill and concrete anchors. Some buildings have drilling rules, so check with your syndicate first.

Not sure what’s behind your wall? Send us a photo. Our TV mounting and installation services page explains how we handle each wall type.

Can you hide the TV cables inside the wall?

Yes. We run the HDMI and power cables inside the wall with an in-wall cable kit made for it, so nothing hangs under the wall-mounted TV. It works best on drywall and plaster. On brick and concrete, an on-wall cable cover is usually cleaner. Plan the cables before the TV goes up so it’s all done in one visit.

How much does it cost to have a TV mounted in Montreal?

We charge $60 per hour with a one-hour minimum, plus a $50 travel fee per visit, with no tax added to the hourly rate. A basic TV installation on drywall often fits in the first hour. Hidden cables, brick or a fireplace take longer. Our guide on handyman cost in Montreal explains how we bill, and our moving day checklist covers mounting the TV in a new place.

TV mounting height FAQ

Want us to mount your TV?

Send us a photo of the wall, the TV model and the bracket you bought, and we’ll give you a free quote. Call +1 (514) 757-1985 or reach us through our contact page. We work in English and French across Montreal, Laval, Brossard, Longueuil and nearby areas.