How High Should a Lowboard Be? Dimensions Guide

July 1, 2026

A classic lowboard has a height of 30 cm to 50 cm, ensuring that the television placed on it remains at the ideal eye level for an ergonomic sitting position.

Choosing the correct height and width for TV furniture is crucial for viewing comfort in the living room. An incorrectly sized piece of furniture leads to an unnatural neck posture. This guide explains which dimensions are relevant for TV lowboards & TV benches, how to match the furniture to the screen size, and what DIY enthusiasts need to consider during assembly and installation.

Dimensions & Suitability: Living Room Ergonomics

The height of the lowboard depends primarily on the sitting height of the sofa and the size of the television. The TV should sit at eye level like a painting, not high up like an electronic display board beneath the ceiling.

Sitting height: Modern sofas have a sitting height of around 40 cm to 45 cm.
Eye level: When sitting on the sofa, your eye level is usually between 95 cm and 105 cm above the floor.
Screen centre: The lower third or the centre of the television screen should sit precisely at this eye level.

This results in a standard height for freestanding lowboards of 30 cm to 50 cm. Taller furniture, such as a sideboard, would position the television too high up. The depth of the units usually ranges between 35 cm and 45 cm, providing sufficient space for receivers, games consoles, and an integrated cable grommet.

How to Choose the Correct Width?

Alongside height, width is the most important factor. As a rule of thumb, the lowboard should be at least 10 cm to 15 cm wider than the television on both the left and right sides. This provides visual balance and prevents the furniture from looking cramped underneath the device.

For TVs up to 55 inches (approx. 123 cm device width): A Lowboard 140 cm or a Lowboard 150cm is suitable here.
For TVs from 65 inches (approx. 145 cm device width): Choose a Lowboard 180cm or wider.
For TVs from 75 inches or long walls: To structure large wall expanses, a Lowboard 240 cm or a Lowboard 250 cm is the right choice. These long units also provide ample storage space for a HiFi lowboard arrangement.

Assembly and Wall Mounting for DIY Enthusiasts

When assembling lowboards yourself, you often have the choice between floor-standing models on furniture glides or legs and floating wall mounting.

Floor-Standing Assembly

Assembling a freestanding lowboard takes experienced DIYers around 1 to 2 hours. The carcasses generally consist of chipboard or MDF coated with a scratch-resistant decor finish. When assembling, make sure to nail or screw the back panel at a precise right angle, as this provides the necessary structural stability to the unit.

Wall Mounting (Floating Lowboard)

With wall mounting, you can determine the height freely. If the lowboard itself is 30 cm high and you want the top edge to finish at 45 cm, mount it with a 15 cm gap from the floor.

Required tools for wall mounting:

Drill or hammer drill (depending on wall construction)
Spirit level and folding rule
Cordless screwdriver
Suitable heavy-duty wall plugs (use dedicated cavity fixings for plasterboard walls)

Always inspect the load-bearing capacity of the wall before drilling. A fully loaded lowboard made of solid wood or heavy MDF including HiFi equipment quickly reaches a substantial weight.

Materials and Visual Appearance in the Room

The surface finish of the furniture strongly influences the room ambience. Light colours and minimalist designs make spaces appear larger. A TV lowboard in beige blends discreetly into warm, Scandinavian interior concepts. Those who prefer an industrial loft style often choose a concrete-look lowboard.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About Lowboard Height

How high should the television hang above the floor? The centre of the screen should be located approximately 100 cm to 110 cm above the floor. This corresponds to the eye level of an average-height adult sitting on a standard sofa.

Can I also use a lowboard as a bench? No, standard lowboards are not structurally designed to support the weight of people. The top panel and the connecting fittings are designed for the static load of televisions and HiFi equipment, not for concentrated, dynamic loads.

What is the difference between a lowboard and a sideboard? The difference lies in the overall height. A lowboard is at most 50 cm high and designed specifically for multimedia equipment. A sideboard is significantly taller (usually 70 cm to 100 cm) and serves primarily as storage furniture for crockery, files, or clothing.