Room Planning guide
What size TV for my room? Viewing distance explained
The right TV size depends on how far away you sit. Two widely cited guidelines describe how much of your view the screen should fill: about 30° for comfortable everyday viewing, and about 40° for a more immersive, cinema-like picture.
The two guidelines
- SMPTE, about 30°. Works out to sitting roughly 1.6 times the screen diagonal away for a 16:9 TV.
- THX, about 40°. THX suggests a screen size of roughly 0.835 times your seating distance, which is about 1.2 times the diagonal.
Between the two is a comfortable range. Closer than the 40° distance and the screen fills more of your view than most people find relaxing; farther than 30° and a bigger screen would look more cinematic.
Seating distance by TV size
| Screen | Closest (40°) | Farthest (30°) |
|---|---|---|
| 43 in | 4.3 ft | 5.8 ft |
| 50 in | 5.0 ft | 6.8 ft |
| 55 in | 5.5 ft | 7.5 ft |
| 65 in | 6.5 ft | 8.8 ft |
| 75 in | 7.5 ft | 10.2 ft |
| 85 in | 8.5 ft | 11.5 ft |
TV size by seating distance
| Eyes to screen | 30° screen | 40° screen |
|---|---|---|
| 6 ft | 44 in | 60 in |
| 7 ft | 52 in | 70 in |
| 8 ft | 59 in | 80 in |
| 9 ft | 66 in | 90 in |
| 10 ft | 74 in | 100 in |
| 12 ft | 89 in | 120 in |
The math, if you want it
Screen width = diagonal × 0.872 (for 16:9)
Distance = (screen width ÷ 2) ÷ tan(angle ÷ 2)
Distance = (screen width ÷ 2) ÷ tan(angle ÷ 2)
Other things to consider
- Measure from your eyes, not the front of the couch.
- Higher resolution makes sitting closer more comfortable.
- Wide seating layouts: check the off-center seats, not just the middle.
- Glare from windows matters as much as size; curtains help.
References: THX: What size TV should I buy