The Simple Formula to Finding the Perfect Mount Size for Your TV

It’s easy to misjudge the size of mount you need for your TV. Maybe you bought a stand that’s too narrow or not long enough for your TV, making it look unstable or heavy, or maybe you bought one that’s too high or too low to the ground, causing neck strain or uncomfortable viewing. But buying the wrong size TV stand can also pose a safety risk, because a stand the same size or smaller than the width of your TV (including its frame) can cause it to fall.

Luckily, there’s a simple formula that can help you find the perfect mount size for your TV, whether it’s a 55-inch Hisense U8QG or a 77-inch LG B4 OLED. By measuring the actual width of your TV (not just the screen size listed on the box) and the height of your gaze when watching, you can determine the best size mount to ensure optimal comfort, safety and aesthetics. Or, if you want to estimate how big a TV will fit on a stand you already own, the same type of calculation can help you determine that, too.

First of all, you need to determine the height of your TV stand to avoid neck pain. Your TV stand should be at a height that places the center of the TV screen at approximately eye level. To find the right size for you, measure the distance from your floor to the average eye line from where you would look at the screen. So, for example, if you usually sit on a couch, measure from the floor to your eyes while you’re sitting on that couch, or do the same for other members of your household.

Next, measure the height of your TV from top to bottom and divide that number by two. You then subtract this number from the eye height to get the perfect TV stand height. For example, if you have a 65-inch (screen size) TCL QM8, which is 35.6 inches tall, and your viewing height is 36 inches, you would divide 35.6 by two to get 17.8, then subtract it from 36 to get 18.2 inches – which is the ideal height your TV stand should approximately be, give or take an inch or two.

Now you need to know the width of your TV. The advertised size of a television does not reflect its actual size. Rather, it is a measurement of screen size, taken diagonally, without taking into account the frame of the TV. So, to determine the actual width of your TV, you need to use a tape measure to measure the horizontal size of the TV, including the frame around the screen. If you haven’t purchased your TV yet, you can find this information on the product listing pages.

The width of your TV stand should be at least a few centimeters wider than your TV to ensure that the TV does not appear too large for the stand and that it is sufficiently stable. So, using the same TCL model from before as an example, the actual width is around 57 inches – so you should ideally get a TV stand that is at least 60 inches wide, and possibly wider.

Combining your results to determine the ideal TV stand height and width, you will find that your 65-inch TCL QM8 needs a stand that is at least 60 inches wide and approximately 18 to 20 inches high. Just be sure to check that this media size will actually fit the room you plan to use it in.

To know how far to position the TV and stand from where you usually sit to get the ideal viewing distance, experts recommend doubling your TV’s screen size (the advertised one). So if your TV is 65 inches, you should be sitting 130 inches from the screen.

Of course, all of these steps and recommendations will get you closer to your optimal viewing experience. You’ll need to tweak your exact setup to get the most out of it, taking into account the layout of your room, other people who will be watching TV with you, and your personal preferences.