How Deep Should a Media Wall Be for an 85-Inch TV?

An 85-inch TV changes the scale of a wall. The screen alone is roughly six feet wide, so the wall around it, the fireplace below it and the depth of the build-out all need to be planned together. Here is how we think about the size of a media wall for a TV this big.

Final dimensions follow the TV and fireplace manufacturer’s installation manual. The numbers below are typical ranges for planning.

How big an 85-inch TV really is

TV sizes are measured diagonally. For a standard 16:9 screen, 85 inches works out to about 74 inches wide and 42 inches tall. Frames and stands differ by model, so check the spec sheet of the TV you buy before the design is final.

Media wall proportions for an 85-inch TV, front view. An 85-in 16:9 TV is about 74 in wide and 42 in tall — check your model's spec sheet; bezels vary. Final dimensions follow the TV and fireplace manufacturer's installation manual.

Width: give the TV room

A TV that runs almost edge to edge on a feature wall looks squeezed. As a rule of thumb, leave at least about a foot of wall on each side; more looks calmer. For an 85-inch TV that points to a feature wall of roughly 8½ feet or more. On a 10-foot wall, as in the drawing, you get about two feet on each side.

If the wall is narrower than that, consider a smaller TV, or let the finish run onto the side walls or the ceiling so the screen is not the only thing defining the wall.

Depth: set by what goes inside

How far the media wall comes out from the existing wall depends on what it has to hold.

Typical build-out depths for a media wall, side sections. Typical ranges; the fireplace you choose sets the minimum depth. A low-profile TV mount adds about 1–3 in. Final dimensions follow the TV and fireplace manufacturer's installation manual.

About 4–6 inches is enough for a frame that only hides the wiring and carries the TV mount: studs, blocking and a finished face.
About 8–12 inches suits many shallow linear electric fireplaces designed to recess into a wall.
About 14–18 inches is common for deeper fireplace units, display niches, or a built-in base with storage.

The fireplace is usually what decides it. The minimum recess depth is listed in its manual; the framing and the finish face are added to that. A low-profile TV mount then adds roughly 1–3 inches in front of the face.

Heat and ventilation

Electric fireplaces release warm air, usually from a vent at the top or front of the unit. That outlet has to stay clear, and some models specify ventilation openings or clearances to the TV and to materials above. These requirements differ between models, so the design follows the manual of your fireplace, not a general number.

Height on a big screen

A larger screen is also taller, so its top edge is further above your eyes. That makes the height above the fireplace more important with an 85-inch TV than with a 65-inch one. Our guide on TV height over a fireplace shows how to check the viewing angle.

Viewing distance

A big screen is easiest to enjoy from a reasonable distance. Many people find 7 to 10 feet comfortable for an 85-inch 4K TV. If the sofa is much closer, a smaller screen may suit the room better.

How we plan it

At the measurement visit we measure the wall, the ceiling height and the seating distance, and note the TV and fireplace you have in mind. The design then fixes the width, depth and heights, with the final numbers taken from the manufacturers’ installation manuals. Large media walls like this are usually built in 4–6 working days; all electrical work is performed by a licensed Florida electrician.

See real examples on our TV media walls page, and how the cables are routed in how wires are hidden in a media wall. Send a photo of your wall for a price range the same day.