A riser solves two problems that look different and are the same measurement. Either the screen sits too low for comfortable viewing, or the soundbar in front of it is blocking the bottom of the picture and the remote sensor.
Both come down to a few inches of height, which is far cheaper to add than to replace furniture over. Our note on what height a TV should be on a stand covers the target.
Types at a Glance
| Type | Height gain | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Monitor-style riser shelf | 3 to 5 inches | Small screens, storage underneath |
| Universal riser feet | 2 to 4 inches | Lifting the existing legs |
| Swivel riser base | 2 to 5 inches | Angle plus height |
| Adjustable-height stand | Wide range | Getting height exactly right |
| Soundbar shelf riser | 3 to 6 inches | Bar underneath the screen |
| Wooden riser box | Varies | Matching existing furniture |
How We Picked
Selections are grouped by how they lift the screen, since the mechanism determines stability and whether a soundbar can sit underneath.
Descriptions come from documented specifications rather than hands-on evaluation of every option.
1. A Riser Shelf With Clearance, Best Overall
Why It Stands Out
A flat platform on legs raises the screen and leaves usable space underneath, which is where a soundbar or a console can sit.
The single solution to the two problems people usually buy a riser for.
Worth Knowing
Check the stated weight capacity against the television, since some are sold for monitors.
The platform must be deeper than the TV base. Our note on putting a soundbar on a shelf below the TV covers the arrangement.
This suits most situations. Skip it if the stand is already at the right height.
2. Universal Riser Feet, Best Minimal Option
Why It Stands Out
Blocks or pads that sit under the existing TV feet add height without adding a visible platform, which keeps the setup looking unchanged.
Cheapest option available and requires no assembly.
Worth Knowing
Raises the center of gravity without widening the base, which reduces stability.
Only works with foot-style bases, not pedestals. Our roundup of anti-tip straps covers securing it afterward.
This suits small height corrections. Skip it for a large screen on narrow feet.
3. A Swivel Riser Base, Best for Angle
Why It Stands Out
Adds height and rotation together, which suits rooms viewed from more than one position without moving furniture.
Turning the screen toward a kitchen or dining area is a layout fix no fixed riser provides.
Worth Knowing
The rotating joint develops play over time and is the part that fails.
Needs clearance behind for the screen to turn. Our roundup of universal TV stand legs covers similar mechanisms.
This suits open-plan rooms. Skip it for a single fixed viewing position.
4. An Adjustable-Height Stand, Best Precision
Why It Stands Out
Adjustable columns let you match seated eye level exactly rather than accepting whatever a fixed riser provides.
Useful where the gap between current and correct height is unusual rather than a standard few inches.
Worth Knowing
Adjustment hardware adds height at the minimum setting, so it rarely goes as low as a fixed riser.
More components means more that can loosen. Our note on whether you can put a TV on any table covers furniture height.
This suits awkward height gaps. Skip it if a standard riser gets close enough.
5. A Soundbar Shelf Riser, Best for AV Setups
Why It Stands Out
Designed specifically so a soundbar fits underneath, with the clearance and depth measured for it rather than being a happy accident.
Solves the blocked remote sensor and the bar covering the bottom of the screen at the same time.
Worth Knowing
Sized around common soundbar dimensions, so an unusually tall bar may not fit.
Adds depth as well as height. Our note on whether a soundbar blocks the remote sensor covers that problem.
This suits a bar on the same surface as the TV. Skip it if the bar is wall-mounted.
6. A Solid Wooden Riser, Best for Appearance
Why It Stands Out
A wooden box or platform reads as furniture rather than as an accessory, which matters when the riser sits at eye level in the room.
Solid construction handles weight without the flex thin platforms show.
Worth Knowing
Heavier and harder to reposition than metal or plastic.
Matching existing furniture finish is difficult. Our roundup of TV stands and media consoles covers matching pieces.
This suits visible living room setups. Skip it if function is the only concern.
Work Out How Much Height You Need
Sit where you actually watch from, slouched into your usual position rather than sitting up straight for the occasion, and have someone measure from the floor to your eye level.
Then measure from the floor up to the center of the screen as it currently sits on the furniture, which is the number you are actually trying to change.
The difference between those two measurements is exactly what the riser needs to provide, and it is frequently a good deal smaller than people expect it to be.
A screen sitting four inches too low is noticeably uncomfortable over a long viewing session while looking perfectly fine at a glance, which is precisely why the problem gets ignored for years. Our note on smart speakers covers the measurement.
Where Risers Beat Replacing Furniture
The alternative to a riser is usually a taller stand, and the comparison is worth making before buying either.
A riser costs a fraction of a new console and takes minutes rather than an afternoon to fit.
It also keeps whatever storage the existing furniture provides, since replacing a stand frequently means losing shelves or drawers that were doing a job.
Where a riser loses is appearance. A platform on top of a console reads as an addition rather than as a designed piece, which some people mind considerably.
The other case for replacing is when the existing furniture is genuinely the wrong depth or already unstable, since raising a screen on a poor stand makes a bad situation worse rather than fixing it. Our roundup of tv backlights that match screen color covers the replacement route.
Stability Is the Real Trade
Height raises the center of gravity
Every inch added makes the arrangement marginally easier to tip.
Base width matters more than weight rating
A riser narrower than the TV feet concentrates load and reduces stability.
Stacking is not the answer
Books and boxes under a television are a documented tipping hazard.
An anti-tip strap becomes more important
Adding height is exactly the situation a strap exists for.
The Soundbar Problem
A soundbar in front of a television frequently covers the bottom edge of the screen and the infrared receiver in the lower bezel.
Raising the television a few inches clears both problems at once, which is considerably cheaper than wall-mounting the soundbar separately and far less work than rearranging the furniture around it.
The clearance needed is the height of the soundbar plus a small margin for air and cables, which is a measurement to take rather than a figure to guess at.
Purpose-made soundbar risers account for this, and a general riser works too provided the clearance underneath is genuine rather than decorative. Our roundup of soundbars for small living rooms covers bar dimensions.
What Goes in the Space Underneath
A riser creates usable space that did not exist before, and how that space gets used affects the whole setup.
A soundbar is the most common occupant and the reason many people buy a riser in the first place.
Streaming boxes, consoles, and receivers fit there too, and they generate heat, so an enclosed riser traps warm air around equipment that would rather be in open space.
Cable routing becomes tidier, since leads can run under the platform rather than across the surface, and that is a small but real improvement in appearance.
Leaving the space empty is also a legitimate choice, since the height was the point and filling it reintroduces the clutter the riser was raising the screen above. Our roundup of surge protectors and power strips covers what usually ends up there.
What to Look For
A weight rating for televisions
Monitor risers are common and rated far lower than a TV requires.
A platform deeper than the TV base
Overhang at the back is unstable, since the panel weight sits behind the feet.
Genuine clearance underneath
Measure the soundbar rather than trusting a product photograph.
Non-slip contact surfaces
Both under the riser and under the television feet.
Those four cover it, and the first is the one people skip because a monitor riser looks identical to a television riser in a product photo while being built for a fraction of the load.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Improvising with books or boxes
Unstable, uneven, and a recognized tipping hazard.
Buying a monitor riser for a television
Weight ratings and platform depths are sized for something much smaller.
Ignoring the added instability
Raising a screen makes an anti-tip strap more necessary rather than less.
Guessing the clearance
Measure the soundbar height before ordering rather than after.
Recommended Reading
See our roundup of TV wall mounts, our note on using TV legs from another TV, our roundup of soundbars with HDMI ARC, and a note on choosing a soundbar.
TV Riser FAQ
Why would I need a TV riser?
Either the screen sits below seated eye level, or a soundbar in front of it is blocking the picture and the remote sensor. Both are height problems.
How much height do I need?
Measure floor to your seated eye level, then floor to the current center of the screen. The difference is what the riser provides.
Can a soundbar fit underneath?
With a riser that has genuine clearance, yes. Measure the bar height and add a margin rather than trusting a product photo.
Are riser feet as good as a platform?
Cheaper and less stable. They raise the center of gravity without widening the base, which matters on larger screens.
Can I use books or boxes?
Not advisable. Improvised stacks are uneven and unstable, and furniture tip-over involving televisions is well documented.
Does a riser affect stability?
Yes. Any added height raises the center of gravity, which makes an anti-tip strap more important rather than less.
What weight rating do I need?
Above the weight of your television. Monitor risers are widely sold and rated for far lighter loads than a TV.
Riser or wall mount?
A mount solves height and stability together and needs drilling. A riser is the answer where mounting is not an option.
