How to choose the right TV size
The right screen size is about how much of your field of view the picture fills. The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers suggests the screen should fill about 30 degrees of your view for comfortable everyday watching. For a cinema feel, THX recommends closer to 40 degrees. The calculator measures that angle from your seating distance and suggests the closest standard size.
Modern 4K and 8K screens have such fine pixels that you can sit much closer than the old rules for HD sets suggested, so most people are happiest going one size bigger than they first planned.
TV size by viewing distance
| Seating distance | Everyday viewing | Movie and sport feel |
|---|---|---|
| 5 ft (1.5 m) | 43 in | 50 in |
| 6.5 ft (2 m) | 50 in | 65 in |
| 8 ft (2.4 m) | 65 in | 75 in |
| 10 ft (3 m) | 77 in | 98 in |
| 12 ft (3.7 m) | 98 in | 98 in or a projector |
How high should you mount a TV?
Aim for the center of the screen to sit at your eye level when seated, usually about 42 inches (107 cm) from the floor for a sofa. Mounting a TV high above a fireplace forces you to tilt your head back, which gets uncomfortable over a long film. If you must go high, use a tilting or pull down mount so you can angle the screen toward you.
Fitting a TV into your living room design
A large black screen can dominate a room, so balance it with art, shelving or a gallery wall, and choose a media console at least as wide as the TV. Plan the whole layout with our rug size calculator and wall art size calculator, and see our living room layout ideas for inspiration.
