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Last updated on September 11th, 2024 at 09:30 am
Complete Fireplace Mantel Design Proportions Guide To Make Your Life Easier
About to build a new fireplace mantel and need all of the dimensions in one place? Well, look no further because I’ve got all of the fireplace mantel dimensions you’ll need!
| Section | Standard Dimension |
|---|---|
| Width of the mantel | 12 inches wider than the fireplace box up to the same width as the hearth |
| Thickness of the mantel (face of the mantel) | 5-1/2 to 7-1/2 inches |
| Depth of the mantel | 7 to 8 inches from the wall |
| Mounting height above the ground | 54 inches from the floor to the bottom of the mantel |
| Mounting height above the fireplace opening | 12 inches plus 1 inch for every 1 inch the mantel sticks off of the wall from the top of the fireplace box to the bottom of the mantel |
| TV mounting height above the mantel | 7 inches from the top of the mantel to the bottom of the TV |
Now that we’ve got that covered, let’s dive further into the specifics to help you measure out your fireplace mantel perfectly!
Let’s dive in!
Quick Navigation: Fireplace Mantel Dimensions
- Why Is Sizing Your Fireplace Mantel So Important?
- How Wide Should A Fireplace Mantel Be?
- How Deep Should A Fireplace Mantel Be?
- How Much Clearance Does A Mantel Need Above A Fireplace Opening?
- How Thick Should The Fireplace Mantel Be?
- How High Should A Fireplace Mantel Be Above The Ground?
- How High Above A Mantel Should You Hang A TV?
- How To Measure Out A Fireplace Mantel
- How To Make A Floating Mantel
- Final Thoughts
Why Is Sizing your Fireplace Mantel So Important?
The sizing of a fireplace mantel is important because it needs to be proportional to the pieces around it, including the hearth, TV, and fireplace box. Also, the mantel needs to be able to hold common-sized decor items and to be a safe distance from the hot fireplace box.
If your fireplace mantel is too large, it will overwhelm the fireplace and room. On the other hand, if your fireplace mantel is too small, it will be hard to hold decorations and make the fireplace look off-balance.
Getting an accurate dimension for your fireplace mantel is crucial, especially considering the fact that it’s going to be the most looked-at piece in the room.
It is also crucial to accurately size a mantel if you’re going to place other things around it, such as a flat-screen TV wall mount directly above it or decorations on the shelf.
You want the fireplace mantel to be large enough to both perfectly accentuate the fireplace and accommodate additional decor but also small enough to be proportional to the room.
How Wide Should A Fireplace Mantel Be?
The width of a fireplace mantel should be at least 12 inches wider than the width of your fireplace box all the way up to the width of your fireplace hearth box.
You can go wider if it fits from an aesthetic standpoint. Centered, a 12-inch difference will give you 6 inches on either side of the fireplace box.
Sizing the mantel this way will give the fireplace a balanced look that is proportionate to the second-largest piece – the fireplace hearth.
How Deep Should A Fireplace Mantel Be?
The depth of a fireplace mantel should be 7 to 8 inches deep. This depth will provide plenty of room for decorations, plants, or a soundbar below a mounted TV to sit on. Any larger and the mantel would protrude into the room, and any smaller and nothing could sit easily on the shelf.
How Much Clearance Does a Mantel Need Above A Fireplace Opening?
There are ordinances on how close to the top of the fireplace your mantel can be.
These laws are designed to prevent home fires and they’re not overly restrictive, but should be recognized and understood.
According to most fireplace codes, mantels need a clearance of 12 inches above the fireplace opening plus 1 inch for every 1 inch that the mantel protrudes from the wall. For an 8 inch deep mantel, the bottom of the mantel should be mounted at least 20 inches above the fireplace box.
This only applies to combustible material, however, so you have some leeway with stone, marble, and granite mantels.
The best method to measure the mantel clearance is to start at 12 inches above the top of your fireplace, then go an inch higher for every inch that the mantel protrudes from the wall.
For instance, a mantel that is 10 inches deep, should be 22 inches above the fireplace.
It doesn’t matter if you’re going with one solid mantel or a floating mantel. The mantel still has to be high enough above the fireplace opening so that the heat emanating from the opening cannot cause combustion.
How Thick Should The Fireplace Mantel Be?
The standard thickness of a fireplace mantel is 5-1/2 to 7-1/2 inches. This dimension pairs nicely with a 7-8 inch deep mantel and helps the entire piece look proportional and substantial above a fireplace without overwhelming the room.
Anything thicker than 8 inches, and the mantel will overwhelm the fireplace. And anything smaller, and it won’t accent the fireplace properly.
How High Should A Fireplace Mantel Be Above The Ground?
The standard height for a mantel is 54 inches from the bottom of the mantel to the ground. This distance provides plenty of clearance above the fireplace opening and helps decorations fall in line with the eyesight of an average height person.
If the mantel sits much higher from the ground than this, there likely won’t be enough room to hang a TV and still have enough space to display some decorations.
In addition, the decorations would sit too high for most people’s line of sight and detract from their looks.
How High Above A Mantel Should You Hang A TV?
The standard height for a TV to be mounted above a fireplace mantel is 5-7 inches. This height provides enough space for decorations to fit under the TV and still lets the TV stay within a good range for viewing while sitting on a couch.
Any higher than this and you’ll likely have to crank your neck to look up and watch TV, which is not ideal. And any lower than this, and you won’t be able to decorate your mantel with anything else.
How To Measure Out A Fireplace Mantel
To measure out your own fireplace mantel, follow these simple steps:
1. Measure 54 inches from the ground and make a mark on the wall. This is where the bottom of the mantel should be mounted.
2. Make sure that measurement is at least 20 inches above the top of the fireplace opening (if not, move your mark up and this new mark will be the true bottom of your mantel for mounting purposes).
3. Measure the width of your hearth and subtract an inch (or measure the width of your fireplace opening and add 12 inches, whichever way you prefer to measure for the width of your mantel).
4. Now plan out the dimensions for the mantel: Use the width you just measured in the last step as your mantel width, choose a thickness of 5-1/2 to 7-1/2 inches, and choose a depth of 7 to 8 inches. These are the dimensions for your new mantel – time to build one or buy one.
5. After you’ve mounted your new mantel and if you want to mount a TV, make sure the bottom of the TV measures 5-7 inches above the top of the mantel.
How To Make A Floating Mantel
The easiest way to save HUNDREDS of dollars is to make your own floating mantel.
Seriously, store-bought mantels can cost $300+ for a substantial one, which is just insane when you can build them yourself in a couple of days for $60-$80.
To see just how easy it is to build a gorgeous floating mantel for so cheap, check out my tutorial here.
Final Thoughts On Fireplace Mantel Dimensions
There you have it!
With these standard fireplace mantel measurements in hand, measuring out a fireplace mantel should be a piece of cake.
Now, instead of worrying about dimensions, you can get to building a mantel that will accentuate your home perfectly. How awesome!
Catch you in my next post!
By Christine
Christine is a blogger and DIYer who tackles home renovation and decorating projects alongside her husband, Adam, for their personal residence and rental properties. Although she successfully tackles large renovation projects to avoid expensive contractor fees and bring her vision to life now, her path to success was not easy.
Go here to read her story, “From a Clueless First-Time Homebuyer To A Confident DIYer Creating Her Dream Home One Project At A Time“.
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