A wall-mounted TV unit should be at least as wide as your screen, mounted so the centre of the screen sits at seated eye level (1,000 to 1,100 mm off the floor in most lounges), fixed into drywall, brick or concrete with fixings that suit that wall, and ported so every cable drops down one channel. This guide works through each of those decisions with real sizes, using the units we build in our Lanseria workshop as examples.
How wide should a TV unit be?
Start from the screen, not the room. A 16:9 television is about 87% as wide as its quoted diagonal:
| Screen | Approximate width | Minimum unit width we recommend |
|---|---|---|
| 43 inch | 950 mm | 1,200 mm |
| 50 inch | 1,110 mm | 1,320 mm |
| 55 inch | 1,220 mm | 1,500 mm |
| 65 inch | 1,450 mm | 1,640 mm |
| 75 inch | 1,660 mm | 1,800 mm |
| 85 inch | 1,880 mm | 2,000 mm |
Most rooms look best with 100 to 300 mm of unit showing on either side of the screen. A unit narrower than the screen looks top-heavy and, on a freestanding unit, leaves the TV's feet hanging over the edge.
Our two wall-hung units, the Strand and the ONE, are made in a 32 to 50 inch size (1,320 to 1,340 mm wide) and a 55 to 65 inch size (1,640 mm wide). Our freestanding units run from 1,500 mm (Mid-Century Modern) through 1,800 mm (Kuad, Industro) and 2,000 mm (Haenertsburg, Drakensberg) to 2,500 mm (Element XL).
How high should a wall-mounted TV unit be?
Sit on your couch and measure from the floor to your eyes. That number, usually between 1,000 and 1,100 mm, is where the centre of the screen should be. Mount the TV too high and you watch with your chin up for two hours; it is the most common mistake we see when we arrive to install a unit under a TV that was mounted earlier.
With a wall-hung unit, the unit height follows from the screen height: the Strand and ONE hang below the screen with a drawer section and, on the Strand, a 125 mm soundbar shelf. In Gauteng our installation team sets the final height to your seating on the day. With a freestanding unit the TV sits on top, so choose the unit height (400, 450, 600 or 800 mm in our range) that puts the screen centre near eye level.
Where do the cables, the multiplug and the router go?
Every Timbur unit is ported so cables drop through a single channel rather than fanning out across a shelf. On the wall-hung Strand and ONE, the centre drawer front flips down to hide the multiplug. On the freestanding Haenertsburg, Kuad, Element XL and Mid-Century units, drop-down or flip-down doors open onto ported compartments sized for a decoder, console or router. If you are having the wall chased for a power point behind the TV, do it before the unit goes up.
Which walls can take a floating TV unit?
Drywall, brick and concrete all work, provided the fixings suit the wall and the wall is sound. Every wall-hung unit ships with brackets and fixings. The one thing to check before ordering is what your wall is made of; if you are not sure, tell us and we will advise. In Gauteng, installation is included with delivery. Elsewhere in South Africa the unit arrives with step-by-step instructions, and any handyman can fit it.
Floating or freestanding?
A wall-hung unit clears the floor, removes the tip-over risk entirely, and runs cables down one channel, which suits small lounges and homes with small children. A freestanding unit needs no drilling, moves with you, and carries larger screens and more equipment, which suits renters and big-screen rooms. We make both, in the same timbers and finishes, so the choice is about your room rather than your taste.
Timber, finish and lead time
Every unit has solid French Oak or Kiaat fronts or tops, sealed rather than painted so the grain stays visible, over a cabinet sprayed in Satin White, Satin Light Grey, Satin Dark Grey or Flat Black. Each one is made after you order, in our Lanseria workshop; the current lead time is on the lead times page and on every product page.
See all TV units, with a size-by-screen table and current prices.
Written by the Timbur workshop team, Lanseria. Updated 3 November 2026.
