Mirror Size Guide: How Big & How High to Hang

A mirror hung over furniture should be about two-thirds to three-quarters as wide as the piece beneath it, and hung so its bottom edge sits 4 to 10 inches above that surface. On an empty wall, center it around 57 to 60 inches from the floor. Those three numbers — width ratio, gap, and center height — cover most mirrors in a home.

Here's how they apply to each spot.

The width rule: two-thirds to three-quarters

A mirror that's as wide as the furniture below looks heavy; one that's much narrower looks lost.

• Aim for 2/3 to 3/4 of the furniture's width. Over a 60-inch dresser, that's a mirror about 40 to 45 inches wide.
• Never wider than the furniture unless it's a deliberate oversized statement on a large, bare wall.
• Tall and narrow works too — a vertical mirror a bit under half the width reads as intentional, especially with lamps on either side.

Placement	Furniture width	Mirror width to aim for	Gap above surface
Over a dresser	48–72 in.	32–54 in.	4–8 in. (or a mounted dresser mirror)
Over a console table	36–60 in.	24–45 in.	6–10 in.
Over a sofa	72–96 in.	48–72 in.	8–10 in.
Over a bathroom vanity	24–72 in.	a few inches narrower than the vanity	5–10 in. above the faucet/backsplash
Over a fireplace mantel	varies	2/3–3/4 of the mantel	4–8 in.

How high to hang it

• Over furniture: let the furniture set the height. Leave 4 to 10 inches between the surface (or the top of lamps and objects on it) and the bottom of the mirror.
• On an empty wall: center the mirror at about 57 to 60 inches from the floor — roughly eye level for most adults, and the same height galleries use for art.
• In a hallway or entry, where you actually check your reflection, make sure the mirror covers roughly 5 to 6 feet high on the wall so both shorter and taller people see their face.

Over a dresser

A dresser mirror is both functional and decorative. A mirror mounted to the dresser back or hung just above it should stay within the dresser's width. If lamps sit on the dresser, the mirror can be a little narrower so the lamps have breathing room. Our dresser guide covers dresser sizes to start from.

Over a console in the entry

In an entryway, the mirror is where people glance on the way out. Size it to 2/3–3/4 of the console, hang it 6 to 10 inches above, and keep its center near eye level. A round or arched mirror softens the straight lines of a console. For the rest of the setup — lamp, tray, hooks — see entryway styling.

Over a sofa

Above a sofa, a mirror bounces light around a living room. Keep it 8 to 10 inches above the sofa back so heads don't bump it, and 2/3–3/4 of the sofa's width. On a long sofa, a pair of matching mirrors or a wide horizontal one both work.

Bathroom vanity

• Keep the mirror a few inches narrower than the vanity so it doesn't overhang the counter edges.
• For a double vanity, either one wide mirror or two mirrors centered over each sink.
• Mind the lights: sconces beside the mirror or a fixture above it need room, so leave space for them before choosing the mirror width.

Full-length mirrors

A full-length mirror should be at least 50 to 60 inches tall so you can see most of your outfit when standing a few feet back. Lean one against a wall for a relaxed look, or wall-mount it on a door or narrow wall. In a small bedroom, a full-length mirror also makes the room feel larger — our small bedroom ideas include where to put one.

Shop this guide

• 35" Black Wood Square Mounted Framed Dresser Mirror
• 32" Black Aluminum Oval Adjustable Tilting Framed Accent Mirror
• 63" Black Metal Arch Freestanding and Wall Mount Framed Full Length Mirror

The short version

Choose a mirror about two-thirds to three-quarters the width of the furniture below it, hang it 4 to 10 inches above that surface, and center it near 57 to 60 inches on an empty wall. Keep vanity mirrors narrower than the vanity, and choose a full-length mirror at least 50 to 60 inches tall.

Ready to find the right size? Shop Mirrors and measure the furniture it will hang over first.