Ideal TV Size Calculator Explained

By Last updated: March 09, 2024

Ideal TV Size Calculator

What is an ideal TV-size calculator?

An ideal TV-size calculator is essential to help you find the best TV screen size based on your seat distance and recommended viewing angle to provide the best viewing experience.

How do you measure a TV's size?

When describing the size of a screen, it is typically measured diagonally in inches. The current standardized aspect ratio for high-definition television (HDTV) is 16:9, a widescreen format suitable for viewing video and entertainment content.

16:9 ratio sizing information
Standard TV has a 16:9 aspect ratio.

When deciding on the size of your TV for your room, relying solely on the diagonal measurement may not be sufficient. Our screen size calculator can help you determine the rest of your television's dimensions.

What is a TV's Field of View?

A TV's field of view (FOV)[1] is the visible area that can be seen on a TV screen within your line of sight. It is typically calculated by measuring the angle between the viewer's eyes and the edges of the screen. When watching from the same position, a large TV provides a wider field of view than a smaller one, resulting in a more immersive experience.

What is a TV's field of view?
What is the TV's field of view?

How does TV size affect your field of view?

When choosing a television, the screen size must be considered. The size of the TV directly affects the amount of visual information that the viewer can perceive. A larger screen can provide a more immersive and engaging viewing experience, but only if proportional to the viewing distance.

The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) recommends a field of view of 30 degrees for optimal viewing of different types of content. For those seeking a more immersive experience, THX suggests a broader field of view of 40 degrees. This can enhance the viewing experience and make the content more engaging and immersive.

TV Size and Field of View Relationship
As the size of the TV increases, the field of view becomes more expansive.

Ideal TV Sizes for an optimal viewing experience

The table below displays the optimal TV sizes for different distances to ensure the best viewing experience. Our recommended TV sizes are based on the 30° viewing angle suggested by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE).

TV SizeDistance (ft)Distance (m)
32"4.34 ft1.32 m
40"5.42 ft1.65 m
43"5.83 ft1.78 m
50"6.78 ft2.07 m
55"7.45 ft2.27 m
60"8.13 ft2.48 m
65"8.81 ft2.69 m
70"9.49 ft2.89 m
75"10.16 ft3.1 m
80"10.84 ft3.3 m
85"11.52 ft3.51 m
98"13.28 ft4.05 m
Table of standard TV sizes and recommended viewing distance for optimal experience.

Ideal TV sizes for a theater-like experience

The table below displays the recommended viewing distances for standard TV sizes to ensure the best immersive viewing experience. Our recommended distance is based on the 40° viewing angle suggested by the THX.

TV SizeDistance (ft)Distance (m)
32"3.19 ft0.97 m
40"3.99 ft1.22 m
43"4.29 ft1.31 m
50"4.99 ft1.52 m
55"5.49 ft1.67 m
60"5.99 ft1.82 m
65"6.49 ft1.98 m
70"6.98 ft2.13 m
75"7.48 ft2.28 m
80"7.98 ft2.43 m
85"8.48 ft2.59 m
98"9.78 ft2.98 m
Table of standard TV sizes and optimal viewing distance for the most immersive viewing experience.

User Guide

This guide provides step-by-step instructions for using our calculator.

Ideal TV Size Calculator

How do you use a TV-size calculator?

To find a perfect TV size for your living room or bedroom with our calculator, follow the steps we outlined below:

Fill in the information

Step 1—Measure the distance between the TV and where you would like to sit to watch it.

Ideal TV Size Calc - Preview

Step 2—Choose from the View Distance presets or enter a custom value.

Ideal TV Size Calc - Enter Viewing Distance

Step 3—Select a TV screen resolution from presets or select Custom to enter a custom one.

Ideal TV Size Calc - Choose Screen Resolution

Understanding the results

When you complete filling in all the information, our ideal TV-size calculator will calculate and show the three different results:

Result 1—a recommended small TV screen size for your preferred viewing distance that covers 30 degrees of your viewing angle.

Result 2—a recommended large TV screen size for your preferred viewing distance that covers 40 degrees of your viewing angle.

Ideal TV Size Calc - Recommended Small and Large TV Screen Size

Result 3—The largest TV screen size you can get to prevent seeing the individual pixels based on your TV screen resolution.

Ideal TV Size Calc - Maximum TV Size for Pixel Free

Ideal TV Size Calculator

Ideal TV Size Calculator App

About this app

Our Ideal TV Screen Size calculator has all the features you need to quickly find the best screen size for your TV based on your seat distance and the TV screen resolution.

App availability

You can use the calculator for free as a PWA web app online or install it locally on any modern operating system, including Android, iOS, Windows 11/10, and macOS.

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References

1 Source

  1. ⬆️ Wikipedia Contributors. Field of view. Wikipedia. Published April 29, 2024. Accessed May 1, 2024.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Field_of_view