How High Should a Floating TV Be?

Floating TV units are versatile and much in demand. These are easy to set up even in smaller rooms, as they don’t occupy much space and sit on the wall. However, where you install the entertainment unit, matters the most. 

The primary question you should ask is- how high should a floating TV unit be? Installing it lower or higher than the ideal height can affect your viewing experience. It can also result in long-term issues like neck pain. 

In this post, we will determine the ideal height for a floating TV based on different factors, the unit beneath and why it is advisable to mount the TV rather than place it on a TV stand. 

Things to Consider when Determining the Height of the Floating TV Stand

The standard TV stand height is between 36 and 42 inches. That said, this will not work in all living rooms. The ideal height changes depending on the following factors: 

• The size of the room
• The size of the TV unit (actual width of the screen)
• The furniture’s layout 
• The positioning of windows and doors
• The height of the couch 
• The average family height 
• The individual height of family members 
• The distance between the couch and the wall 
• The dimensions of the floating TV stand 

A golden rule when installing the TV is to align its center with your eye level. This is calculated by measuring the height of the couch and your height. While it sounds easy enough, finding the exact height and position for a floating TV stand requires time and patience. 

After all, the ideal height for you will not be the same for your kids or vice versa. You can handle this difference by ensuring that the important part of the TV screen is in the line of vision for everyone in the house. 

Another aspect to consider is the correlation between the TV stand size and its distance from the floor. For example, a 42-inch TV stand should be at least 55 inches above the floor level. 

A large TV should also be away from the couch rather than close to it. The ideal viewing distance between a 55 to 60-inch television and the couch is 12 feet.

So, the first step in choosing the ideal TV stand height for a floating TV is to determine the size of the room. The next step is to choose a television of appropriate size and determine the height to install it on the living room wall.

What Height Should a Floating TV Unit be?

Of course, your personal preference is equally vital. But there are many things like – where do you want the motion wall mount to sit? Where do you wish to sit to enjoy the TV shows? Is the seating position aligned with the television screen?  

The viewing angle and distance play a crucial role in enhancing/ diminishing your experience. Designing the entertainment center sure requires work. Consider the following scenarios when installing a wall-mount floating TV stand with flat-screen televisions. 

You can try the below formula to calculate the height of the floating TV

TVH = WH + HWD * tan(Φ)

• TVH- ideal TV height
• WH- watching height (your eye level when sitting how you normally sit to watch the telly)
• HWD- horizontal watching distance 
• Φ- tilt angle of the screen 

Getting Ready for Reclining the Chair

Recliner chairs are different from sofas and standard couches. These chairs allow you to lean back diagonally, with your upper body closer to the floor. In such instances, the floating TVs should be at a higher level. This allows you to look straight at the television screen without dipping your head onto the chest. 

That said, mounting the TV too high will result in a distorted picture. The latest ultra HD LED TVs don’t give the same picture from all angles. The viewing angle (between your eye level and the TV’s center) should be 15 degrees. Anything less or more will result in distortion. 

The recliner chairs are usually around 39 to 43 inches in height (small to large). Measure the height of the chair. Sit down and recline to the angle you find comfortable. Look straight ahead at the wall and mentally mark the point of eye level. 

Go to the wall and highlight the mark (ask another person to do it to avoid mistakes). This marked spot should align with the center of the TV screen. It should be between 1/3 and 1/2 of the screen (measure the TV screen from the bottom). 

Using a Fireplace to Mount the TV

Floating televisions on the fireplace are the latest trend in the market. But this isn’t without issues. The average height of a fireplace is higher than the couch’s seating.

Placing the TV above this will further increase the height. You might have to tilt your head up to watch the television. This becomes even more difficult for kids who are smaller and sometimes sit on the floor to watch the TV. 

A larger room with more space provides the best viewing in this scenario. The angle between the TV center and your vision will reduce as you increase the distance between the wall-mounted televisions over the fireplace and the seating arrangement. You can also install bigger TVs. 

An average fireplace is about 29 inches in height and is raised 6 to 12 inches from the ground. That would be approximately 35 to 41 inches from the floor. You should maintain around 20 inches distance between the fireplace mantel and the floating TV. 

This would be 55+ inches. So, the floating TV should be roughly 60 inches high from the ground level if you mount it over the fireplace. 

Installing a Television in a Living Room

Things can change when you move to the entertainment space in the living room. People stand and watch the television in the entertainment area. The TV stand should be around 60 inches high from the ground. The exact height of the floating TV will change based on the height of the shortest and tallest members of your family.

Measure the average height in your family to determine the exact position of the floating TV. Make sure you feel comfortable viewing the screen when you stand in different parts of the room. 

For example, the TV should be at your eye level, whether you are close to it or on the opposite side of the room. This can be achieved by keeping the TV screen at a 90-degree angle from the floor. 

 The only factor to consider is the location of the power board. It should be closer to the TV to directly plug in the cord. The HDMI switch and antenna outlet should also be easily accessible. Double-check these before installing the stand.

Why Should You Mount Your TV?

What makes flat mount floating TV famous is the ease of setup and viewing experience. It is possible to get the best viewing angle with some calculations and adjustments.

Floating TV cabinets provide more storage space in smaller rooms. You can also determine the size range accordingly, as there are many options available in the market. 

Comfortable Viewing

Comfort is a priority, isn’t it? We should be able to watch the TV for as long as we want without feeling cramped or getting a kink in the neck. 

Mounted TVs allow you to sit back and relax when viewing the screen. The tilt option with robot arms allows you to adjust the angle at your convenience. This is particularly helpful when your family members have varying heights. The TV angle can be changed without much effort. 

Increased Safety

Electronic devices need to be kept away from water and heat. TV mounts on a fireplace are still safe as there’s a gap between both. The mantel on the fireplace acts as an insulator and prevents the heat from damaging the television unit. 

You can hide cords, electrical wires, a set-top box, etc., with floating TV stands. Cable concealers can be used to prevent the wires from hanging around. No more drunk uncle tripping on the cables.

Improve Health

There are quite a few health concerns of watching TV from the wrong angle. Eye strain, headache, neck pain, shoulder pain, and even back pain can be caused by incorrect sitting postures. 

Prevent these by mounting the TV on the wall and maintaining the distance between the screen and the furniture. Avoid health risks by taking a few precautions.

Classy and Elegant 

Finally, you cannot ignore the overall appearance of the entertainment centers or the living room. The TV should be the focal point but has to blend with the rest of the décor.

A floating TV stand with floating shelves provides additional storage and organization solution. Use the extra storage to organize the HDMI cables, gaming consoles, and other devices. Get rid of the clutter with ease. 

 Conclusion

Choosing a floating TV stand is a good way to enhance the room’s interiors and adjust the TV screen to the ideal height. Your local electronics store should give you the necessary equipment to set up a mounted TV.  

While it is easy to install it on your own, the process will be quicker and more comfortable when you hire certified TV mounting technicians from your region. They measure the distances and consider all aspects before finalizing the position and height of the floating TV. 

 FAQs

1.How to determine the viewing distance based on TV screen resolution? 

The TV screen contains n number of pixels. A standard-definition TV has fewer pixels than an ultra-HD model. TVs with fewer pixels should be watched from far while TVs with more pixels (HD, 4K, 8K, etc.) can be viewed from a closer distance. All those pixels make it easy on the eyes.

2.     Where do you hang a floating TV stand?

A floating TV stand is mounted on a wall. However, the arms, cables, etc., are not visible from the front. It appears as if the TV is defying gravity by sitting on air. You can hang it anywhere in the house as long there’s an electrical outlet nearby to plug the power cord. 

3.     When it comes to TV stands, what is the ideal height?

The average best height for a mounted TV stand is between 32 and 44 inches. Most TV stands will fit within these measurements, though there can be exceptions depending on the room size, TV size, etc. 

4.     How high should a TV stand be for a 55-inch TV?

A 55-inch TV should be at least 60 inches away from the ground. The gap between the TV stand and the floor is roughly 5-8 inches more than the TV size.