Where should plywood backing be installed?

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Backing should be placed where it can provide a solid anchor behind the finished surface for the hardware that will be mounted and fastened to the wall. Installing plywood backing six inches above the finished floor positions the backing in the lower portion of the wall where many fixtures and mountings are anchored, giving you enough depth for screws to bite into sturdy material and staying clear of floor and ceiling boundaries. This location also helps protect the backing from foot traffic and moisture at the floor level while remaining accessible for installation.

Spacing it six inches below the finished floor would place the backing inside the subfloor or beneath the finish, which is inaccessible and not suitable for securing wall-mounted hardware. Six inches above the ceiling would place the backing in an area that's impractical to reach and not useful for typical lower-wall mounting. Placing it at floor level would expose the backing to damage and would not provide a reliable anchor behind the finish surface.