What this calculator works out
This calculator works out how far below seated eye level the centre of a screen should sit for a chosen downward viewing angle, and reports the height from the floor.
The principle is simple: the centre of the screen should be at or slightly below eye level when you are sitting in your usual seat. Most televisions are mounted considerably higher than that.
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Before you drill
- Measure seated eye height from the floor while sitting in the actual chair or sofa, not standing.
- Measure viewing distance from the seat to the wall, not to the front of the current stand.
- A downward angle of 0 to 10 degrees is comfortable. Above about 15 degrees, neck strain becomes noticeable over a long viewing session.
- Check the wall construction and find the studs before committing to a position. A television bracket is a high-leverage fixing.
The traditional position puts the screen centre well above seated eye level, often requiring a 25 to 30 degree upward look. It is a compromise driven by furniture layout rather than viewing comfort, and it is the most common reason people find long viewing tiring. A pull-down or tilting bracket mitigates it but does not solve it.
How this calculator works
Trigonometry from the seated eye position:
Drop below eye level = tan(angle) × viewing distance × 100
Screen centre height = seated eye height − dropThe distance is converted from metres to centimetres so the result matches the eye height input. A zero angle puts the screen centre exactly at eye level, which is the ergonomic ideal.
The figure is the centre of the screen. To find the bracket position, you need the screen height and the bracket's own offset — most brackets do not hold the screen centred on their mounting plate.
Worked example: 105 cm eye height at 2.5 m
Using the default figures — 105 cm seated eye height, 2.5 m viewing distance, 5 degree downward angle:
- Drop below eye level: 22 cm
- Suggested screen centre: 83 cm from the floor
83 cm is lower than most people expect and lower than most televisions end up. For comparison, a 55 inch screen centred at 83 cm has its bottom edge around 49 cm from the floor — roughly the height of a low media unit, and well below a typical fireplace. If that seems too low, the honest answer is usually that the room's furniture is dictating the position rather than the viewing.
Common mistakes
- Measuring eye height standing up. Seated is what matters.
- Mounting above a fireplace by default. It is a furniture decision, not a viewing one.
- Fixing into plasterboard alone. A bracket needs studs, masonry or a plywood pattress.
- Forgetting cable routing. Decide before drilling whether cables go through the wall or in trunking.
- Ignoring reflections. A screen opposite a window may need repositioning regardless of height.
Frequently asked questions
How high should a TV really be?
Screen centre at or just below seated eye level, which for most sofas puts it somewhere between 80 and 100 cm from the floor. Manufacturers and ergonomic guidance broadly agree that looking slightly down is more comfortable than looking up, because the neck flexes downwards more comfortably than it extends upwards.
What about mounting above a fireplace?
It is popular and it is a compromise. If the layout leaves no alternative, a pull-down or tilting bracket helps considerably, and sitting further back reduces the angle. Heat is a separate concern — check the manufacturer's operating temperature range and the heat output of the fire below.
Can I mount a TV on any wall?
No. Plasterboard alone will not carry a bracket, and dot and dab plasterboard needs fixings long enough to reach the masonry behind. Timber studs must be located and fixed into directly. If the studs are not where you need them, a plywood pattress spanning two studs gives a solid mounting surface.
How do I hide the cables?
Three options: surface trunking, which is cheapest and reversible; routing behind the plasterboard, which is neatest but needs care around cables and studs; or a recessed outlet plate behind the screen. Mains cable must not simply be pushed through a wall cavity — use an approved routing kit or have an electrician fit a socket behind the screen.
Is what I enter stored?
No. Measurements are processed in your browser and never transmitted or retained.
Related tools
References
- Health and Safety Executive — safe working practice, buried services and display screen ergonomics
- GOV.UK — Approved Document P and rules on electrical work in dwellings
Sources are checked at publication and can change — how I choose and check references.