TV size to viewing distance calculator: choosing a TV

When it comes to choosing a new TV for your room, you will, as usual, be plagued by doubts, on the one hand, you want a TV as big as possible, but won’t it be huge, and what if it will be tiny and it will be uncomfortable to watch. In addition to the size of the TV in inches that the manufacturers specify, which is the screen diagonal, you will be interested in what width and height the TV will be of the correct size. I wrote an article on “TV and Monitor Screen Size, Height and Width Depending on Diagonal” regarding TV size; you can quickly determine the size of your TV using ready-made tables.

Use the size vs. distance calculator to determine what size TV you should buy based on how far you plan to sit from the TV screen.

How to determine the correct size distance for watching TV

It has been found that the optimal distance for the TV is when it occupies 30 to 40 percent of your field of view horizontally. How to understand this in practice, I thought about how it can be represented, and here’s my solution, stand in front of the door, take one steps back, that will be the approximate distance when the subject, in this case, the door will occupy 40 percent of the field of view. You might exclaim, but it’s very close, yes it is, but here it is supposed to get the most positive effect of watching TV. On the other hand, no one is stopping you from watching from a longer distance.

Tip: The minimum viewing distance of a cinematic video is easy to calculate, and I give two options, the first for those who use feet for measurements and the second for those who use meters.

TV size calculator based on room size

What size TV is suitable for you depends on the room size. This question is difficult to answer, as the room may be rectangular or square. Whether you plan to mount the TV on a stand or hang it on the wall, you can roughly add up the ratio of the area of the room to the required size of the TV. A calculator won’t be as handy, so here’s a table that will easily match your TV to the size of the room.

room size in square feet	room size in square meters	recommended TV size
50	6	32″
100	9	40-43″
130	12	40-43″
150	14	50″
170	16	55″
200	19	60″
250	23	65″
300	28	70-75″
350	33	85-87″
400	37	88″
450 and more	42 and more	98-100″

And to make it even easier to choose a TV for the room. Use the following recommendations for choosing a TV.

Small room: 32-43 inches TV size

Medium-sized room: buying a TV with a diagonal of 50-75 inches is better.

Large rooms: You should buy a TV with a diagonal of more than 75 inches for such rooms. 

The first way to calculate TV viewing distance (for those using American or English measurements)

For those who use feet, you should know that you only need to do the following because of the digitality of the measurement measures. Take the screen size of your TV and move the comma one digit to the left and take the resulting number as feet:
For a TV with 65-inch screen size, the minimum viewing distance is 6.5 feet.
For mixed content viewing, you can calculate as follows: add half a whole number to the TV’s minimum viewing distance, for example:
A TV with a 65-inch screen has a viewing distance of 6.5+3=9.5 feet.
Thus, the viewing distance for a 65-inch TV would be 6.5-9.5 feet. Similarly, with a 75″ TV.
The viewing distance of a 75” min is 7.5 feet + 3.5=10 feet.

The second way to calculate your TV viewing distance (for those using the metric system)

Multiply the screen size of your TV by 3 to get the minimum viewing distance, e.g., 65” TV
65*3=195, take this number in cm and move the comma two digits to the left to get meters; 1.95 m is the minimum viewing distance of a 65″ TV. The distance for mixed content multiplied by 4 65*4=260 cm =2.6 meters.

This is a very rough calculation, but you can use it for a quick calculation; if you want to get prepared data, use the tables I give in this article.

Viewing distance 4k TV

You should know that today the leading TV manufacturers have all but abandoned the production of televisions with a resolution of less than 4K. Only small TVs can come with Full HD resolution. Therefore, how far to watch a 4K TV is relevant to many people. The viewing distance of a 4K TV is the same; as I said, the TV should occupy 40 percent of your field of view for the most excellent effect.

TV viewing distance for gaming

You are using the TV as a monitor for gaming. If you plan to use the TV as a monitor for gaming, the recommended distance to the TV is the same as when watching movies, with the maximum fascination with what is happening on the screen. But you can choose the distance you feel most comfortable, and I’m not saying it will be a 40-degree field of view. This is where you have to decide how you like to play, and it has more to do with image detail and passion for the game.e.

Recommended viewing distance TV

Many people are searching for a TV distance calculator. Again, it is possible to calculate the distance of watching TV, but there are many variables in these calculations, which makes this task quite complicated. It is much easier to use ready-made tables.

TV size inches	TV viewing distance (40 degrees)			TV viewing distance (30 degrees)			TV size inches
	inch	feet	meters	inch	feet	meters
19	22.8	1.9	0.58	31.9	2.66	0.81	19
20	24.0	2.0	0.61	33.6	2.80	0.85	20
22	26.4	2.2	0.67	37.0	3.08	0.94	22
24	28.8	2.4	0.73	40.3	3.36	1.02	24
26	31.2	2.6	0.79	43.7	3.64	1.11	26
32	38.4	3.2	0.97	53.8	4.48	1.37	32
38	45.6	3.8	1.16	63.8	5.32	1.62	38
40	48.0	4.0	1.22	67.2	5.60	1.71	40
42	50.4	4.2	1.28	70.6	5.88	1.79	42
43	51.6	4.3	1.31	72.2	6.02	1.83	43
48	57.6	4.8	1.46	80.6	6.72	2.05	48
49	58.8	4.9	1.49	82.3	6.86	2.09	49
50	60.0	5.0	1.52	84.0	7.00	2.13	50
55	66.0	5.5	1.68	92.4	7.70	2.35	55
60	72.0	6.0	1.83	100.8	8.40	2.56	60
65	78.0	6.5	1.98	109.2	9.10	2.77	65
70	84.0	7.0	2.13	117.6	9.80	2.99	70
75	90.0	7.5	2.29	126.0	10.50	3.20	75
77	92.4	7.7	2.35	129.4	10.78	3.29	77
80	96.0	8.0	2.44	134.4	11.20	3.41	80
83	99.6	8.3	2.53	139.4	11.62	3.54	83
85	102.0	8.5	2.59	142.8	11.90	3.63	85
86	103.2	8.6	2.62	144.5	12.04	3.67	86
90	108.0	9.0	2.74	151.2	12.60	3.84	90
95	114.0	9.5	2.90	159.6	13.30	4.05	95
97	116.4	9.7	2.96	163.0	13.58	4.14	97
98	117.6	9.8	2.99	164.6	13.72	4.18	98
100	120.0	10.0	3.05	168.0	14.00	4.27	100
105	126.0	10.5	3.20	176.4	14.70	4.48	105
110	132.0	11.0	3.35	184.8	15.40	4.69	110

TV resolution image quality and viewing distance

Even though it is so beautifully written, you should know that you will encounter a problem when watching videos shot in an inherently low resolution on your TV. These are movies or TV shows from the analog video era, that is, older TV shows. Because of the insufficient number of dots per inch, such a video is unclear, and you can see flaws in the picture when you look closely. This is due to the low pixel density; in other words, the picture quality is inferior, and even a 4K resolution TV cannot process such an image to maximum quality. In this case, it is recommended that you watch the TV from a greater distance. For example, if you’re watching a TV with a 50-inch screen from a distance of 5 feet (1.5 m), increase your viewing distance another 2.5 feet (0.75 m) and watch from a distance of 7 feet (2.3 m). When you are farther away from the screen, you will stop noticing individual details; visually, the image quality will improve. To give you an example from life, when you examine a car up close, you see all the scratches or dirt on it, move some distance away from the car, and it will seem perfect. That’s why you can only watch the initially good video at close range, but if the picture is poor, you have to increase the viewing distance.

You can watch 4K or Full HD videos on your 4K or Full HD TV from a distance shown in the chart above. But the recommended viewing distance will be slightly different if you have a Full HD TV or work mostly with mixed content low quality.

Recommended distance from the TV when watching mixed content

TV size inches	TV viewing distance (mixed content) min			TV viewing distance (mixed content) max			TV size inches
	inch	feet	meters	inch	feet	meters
19	34.2	2.8	0.85	45.6	3.8	1.1	19
20	36,0	3.0	0.90	48,0	4.0	1.2	20
22	39.6	3.3	0.99	52.8	4.4	1.3	22
24	43.2	3.6	1.08	57.6	4.8	1.4	24
26	46.8	3.9	1.17	62.4	5.2	1.6	26
32	57.6	4.8	1.40	76.8	6.4	1.9	32
38	68.4	5.7	1.70	91.2	7.6	2.27	38
40	72,0	6.0	1.80	96,0	8.0	2.39	40
42	75.6	6.3	1.88	100.8	8.4	2.51	42
43	77.4	6.4	1.92	103.2	8.6	2.57	43
48	86.4	7.2	2.15	115.2	9.6	2.87	48
49	88.2	7.3	2.20	117.6	9.8	2.93	49
50	90.0	7.5	2.24	120,0	10.0	2.98	50
55	99.0	8.2	2.47	132,0	11.0	3.29	55
60	108.0	9.0	2.69	144,0	12.0	3.59	60
65	117.0	9.7	2.91	156,0	13.0	3.88	65
70	126.0	10.5	3.14	168,0	13.9	4.18	70
75	135.0	11.2	3.36	180,0	14.9	4.48	75
77	138.6	11.5	3.46	184.8	15.3	4.60	77
80	144.0	12.0	3.59	192,0	16.08	4.78	80
83	149.4	12.4	3.72	199.2	16.5	4.96	83
85	153.0	12.7	3.81	204,0	16.9	5.0	85
86	154.8	12.8	3.85	206.4	17.1	5.14	86
90	162.0	13.4	4.03	216,0	18.0	5.38	90
95	171.0	14.2	4.26	228,0	18.9	5.68	95
97	174.6	14.5	4.35	232.8	19.3	5.80	97
98	176.4	14.6	4.39	235.2	19.5	5.86	98
100	180.0	14.9	4.48	240,0	19.9	5.98	100
105	189.0	15.7	4.71	252,0	20.9	6.27	105
110	198.0	16.4	4.93	264,0	21.9	6.57	110

Recommended TV viewing distance, UHD (4K) and mixed content

In this table, I gathered all the information in one place to quickly find the proper TV viewing distance.

TV size inches	TV viewing distance 4K and Gaming	TV viewing distance mixed content
19	1.9 - 2.66 ft (0.58-0.81 m)	2.8 - 3.8 ft (0.85 - 1.1 m)
20	2.0 - 2.8 ft (0.61 - 0.85 m)	3.0 - 4.0 ft (0.9 - 1.2 m)
22	2.2 - 3.08 ft (0.67 - 0.94 m)	3.3 - 4.4 ft (0.99 - 1.3 m)
24	2.4 - 3.36 ft (0.73 - 1.02 m)	3.6 - 4.8 ft (1.08 - 1.4 m)
26	2.6 - 3.64 ft (0.79 - 1.11 m)	3.9 - 5.2 ft (1.17 - 1.6 m)
32	3.2 - 4.48 ft (0.97 - 1.37 m)	4.8 - 6.4 ft (1.4 - 1.9 m)
38	3.8 - 5.32 ft (1.16 - 1.62 m)	5.7 - 7.6 ft (1.7 - 2.27 m)
40	4.0 - 5.60 ft (1.22 - 1.71 m)	6.0 - 8.0 ft (1.8 - 2.39 m)
42	4.2 - 5.88 ft (1.28 - 1.79 m)	6.3 - 8.4 ft (1.88 -2.51 m)
43	4.3 - 6.02 ft (1.31 - 1.83 m)	6.4 - 8.6 ft (1.92 - 2.57 m)
48	4.8 - 6.72 ft (1.46 - 2.05 m)	7.2 - 9.6 ft (2.15 - 2.87 m)
49	4.9 - 6.86 ft (1.49 - 2.09 m)	7.3 - 9.8 ft (2.20 - 2.93 m)
50	5.0 - 7. 0 ft (1.52 - 2.13 m)	7.5 - 10.0 ft (2.24 - 2.98 m)
55	5.5 - 7.7 ft (1.68 - 2.35 m)	8.2 - 11.0 ft (2.47 - 3.29 m)
60	6.0 - 8.40 ft (1.83 - 2.56m)	9.0 - 12.0 ft (2.69 - 3.59 m)
65	6.5 - 9.1 ft (1.98 - 2.77 m)	9.7 - 13.0 ft (2.91 - 3.88 m)
70	7.0 - 9.8 ft (2.13 - 2.99 m)	10.5 - 13.9 ft (3.14 - 4.18 m)
75	7.5 - 10.5 ft (2.29 - 3.20 m)	11.2 - 14.9 ft (3.36 - 4.48 m)
77	7.7 - 10.78 ft (2.35 - 3.29 m)	11.5 - 15.3 ft (3.46 - 4.60 m)
80	8.0 - 11.2 ft (2.44 - 3.41 m)	12.0 - 16.08 ft (3.59 - 4.78 m)
83	8.3 - 11.9 ft (2.53 - 3.54 m)	12.4 - 16.5 ft (3.72 - 4.96 m)
85	8.5 - 11.9 ft (2.59 - 3.63 m)	12.7 - 16.9 ft (3.81 - 5.0 m)
86	8.6 - 12.04 ft (2.62 - 3.67 m)	12.8 - 17.1 ft (3.85 - 5.14 m)
90	9.0 - 12.6 ft (2.74 - 3.84 m)	13.4 - 18.0 ft (4.03-5.38 m)
95	9.5 - 13.3 ft (2.9 - 4.05 m)	14.2 - 18.9 ft (4.26 - 5.68m)
97	9.7 - 13.58 ft (2.96 - 4.14 m)	14.5 - 19.3 ft (4.35 - 5.80 m)
98	9.8 - 13.72 ft (2.99 - 4.18 m)	14.6 - 19.5 ft (4.39 - 5.86 m)
100	10.0 - 14.00 ft (3.05 - 4.27 m)	14.9 - 19.9 ft (4.48 - 5.98 m)
105	10.5 - 14,7 ft (3.2 - 4.48 m)	15.7 - 20.9 ft (4.72 - 6.27 m)
110	11.0 - 15.4 ft (3.35 - 4.69 m)	16.4 - 21.9 ft (4.93 - 6.57m)

TV purchase budget and viewing distance.

For example, consider the following situation. I read your article. I need a 75″ TV, but my budget is only for a 55″ TV, what should I do? It would help if you understood that the sizes listed are recommendations for the best viewing experience. But no one is also stopping you from watching TV from a long distance. So if you buy a smaller TV, you can watch it; it just won’t have the same effect as a movie theater.
Another example is you want to buy a small TV for the kitchen, according to the recommendations you need a TV of 40 inches. But, as you understand, you do not require such a TV for the kitchen. Most likely, you are buying a TV to look at it occasionally, in which case, of course, you do not need a large TV; perhaps a 32-inch TV will be enough for you. If your budget doesn’t allow you to buy a big TV, as recommended, buy the giant TV you can afford.