What Size TV Should I Buy? Screen Size by Viewing Distance
From 9 feet away, a TV looks right at about 81 inches (the nearest size to buy is 83 inches). Anything from 66 to 90 inches suits that distance, depending on how immersive you like it. The chart gives the sizes for other distances.
Screen size by viewing distance
Diagonal in inches for a 16:9 screen, from comfortable (30° of your view) through cinema-like (36°) to the largest (40°):
| Distance | Comfortable (30°) | Cinema-like (36°) | Largest (40°) | Nearest size to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 ft | 37 in | 45 in | 50 in | 43 in |
| 6 ft | 44 in | 54 in | 60 in | 55 in |
| 7 ft | 52 in | 63 in | 70 in | 65 in |
| 8 ft | 59 in | 72 in | 80 in | 75 in |
| 9 ft | 66 in | 81 in | 90 in | 83 in |
| 10 ft | 74 in | 89 in | 100 in | 85 in |
| 12 ft | 89 in | 107 in | 120 in | 98 in |
| 14 ft | 103 in | 125 in | 140 in | 98 in |
How far to sit from each size
| TV size | Width × height | Distance range (40° to 30°) | Cinema-like distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 43 in | 37 × 21 in | 4.3 to 5.8 ft | 4.8 ft |
| 50 in | 44 × 25 in | 5.0 to 6.8 ft | 5.6 ft |
| 55 in | 48 × 27 in | 5.5 to 7.5 ft | 6.1 ft |
| 65 in | 57 × 32 in | 6.5 to 8.8 ft | 7.3 ft |
| 75 in | 65 × 37 in | 7.5 to 10.2 ft | 8.4 ft |
| 85 in | 74 × 42 in | 8.5 to 11.5 ft | 9.5 ft |
Enter your own distance, or a TV you are considering, in the TV size calculator.
How the numbers work
The sizes come from the angle that the screen fills in your view. Cinema and home theater standards put the comfortable range at about 30 to 40 degrees. The width of the screen is twice the distance times the tangent of half the angle, and a 16:9 screen is 0.8716 times its diagonal wide.
Choosing the size
- Check the space first. Measure the wall, the stand and the doorway the TV has to come through. A 75-inch TV is about 65 inches wide.
- Go bigger if you are on the fence. Most people end up wishing they had bought the next size up, and 4K lets you sit close without seeing the pixels.
- Think about the room. In a bright room with big windows, brightness and anti-glare matter more than a few extra inches.
- Mount it at eye level, with the center of the screen about 40 to 45 inches above the floor for a seated viewer.
- Budget for sound. A soundbar or speakers make a bigger difference to a movie night than the last 10 inches of screen.
Mistakes that cost people money
- Buying by price per inch without checking the viewing distance.
- Mounting the TV too high above a fireplace, which strains the neck.
- Choosing a TV that is too small for the wall and the room, then upgrading a year later.
- Forgetting the stand width: the feet of some TVs are wider than the cabinet.
Frequently asked questions
What size TV should I buy for a viewing distance of 10 feet?
Between about 74 and 100 inches, with 89 inches the cinema-like pick. In practice a 75 or 85 inch TV suits 10 feet, and a 65 inch is a comfortable choice if the budget is tight.
What size TV for 8 feet?
About 59 to 80 inches, with a cinema-like size of 72 inches. A 65 or 75 inch TV suits 8 feet.
How far should I sit from a 65-inch TV?
About 6.5 to 8.8 feet: 7.3 feet gives the cinema-like 36° view. Closer works with a 4K screen if you like it immersive.
Is a bigger TV always better?
No. Past about 40° of your view you have to turn your head to follow the action, and a very large TV in a small room can feel overwhelming. Pick the size for your distance.
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