Are you tired of squinting at your teeny-tiny TV screen? Are you ready to upgrade to something a little more… impressive? Well, you’re in luck! There are all sorts of TV sizes out there, ranging from the petite to the gigantic.
Whether you want to fill your living room with a screen the size of a small planet, or just want something a little bigger than your phone, there’s a TV size for you. Just look at our TV sizes & size chart to find the perfect dimensions for your living room, bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, etc.!
TV Sizes
You’ve probably read somewhere that you should buy the largest TV you can afford. This is probably a good way of purchasing a brand-new TV for your home, but before you do that, you should probably figure out what TV size to get since, generally, the larger the TV, the pricier it is.
TV sizes are typically measured in inches and are given as the diagonal distance across the screen. Some common TV sizes include:
- 32 inches—This is considered a small TV size and is suitable for small rooms or for use as a secondary TV in a larger space.
- 43 inches—This is a medium-sized TV that is suitable for most living rooms or bedrooms.
- 50 inches—This is also a medium-sized TV that is suitable for larger living rooms or for use as a main TV in a smaller space.
- 55 inches—This is a large TV size that is suitable for larger living rooms or home theaters.
- 65 inches—This is a very large TV size that is suitable for large living rooms or home theaters.
- 75 inches—This is an extra-large TV size that is suitable for very large living rooms or home theaters.
The TV sizes mentioned above are just some of the most commonly found sizes. It won’t be too hard to find a TV between 32 and 40 inches or even TVs that go beyond 75 inches!
How to Calculate TV Dimensions
On the box, you’ll most likely find an inch figure that illustrates how large the TV is. This figure relates to the diagonal distance of the TV’s display—in other words, how many inches there are between the bottom-left and top-right corners.
As such, the X-inch figure won’t give you a precise figure regarding how much wall space it will take up. To do this, we first need to understand aspect ratios.
What Are Aspect Ratios?
The aspect ratio is the numerical representation of the ratio between the width and the height of a TV screen.
These days, 16:9 and 4:3 are the most popular TV aspect ratios. The 4:3 aspect ratio, also known as “standard definition,” is the original TV aspect ratio and is still used for some older TVs and content. The 16:9 aspect ratio (also known as “widescreen”) is now the standard, and is used in most modern TVs and displays.
The aspect ratio of a display is crucial because it controls image and video presentation on the screen. Widescreen images on a 4:3 aspect ratio TV will have black bars at the top and bottom, while those on a 16:9 ratio TV will not.
Calculating TV Dimensions
After knowing the aspect ratio of a TV, we can calculate its height and width by plugging in the known variables into the following formulas:
Height = Diagonal ÷ ((√Aspect Ratio squared) +1)
Width = Aspect Ratio × Height
For example, let’s say have your eyes set on a 55-inch, 16:9 TV. Here’s how you get its dimensions:
- Height = 55 ÷ ((√16:9) squared) + 1)
- Height = 55 ÷ (1.7778 + 1)
- Height = 19.7998 inches
- Width = (16:9) × 19.8
- Width = 35.2
- Dimensions = Height × Width
- Dimensions = 19.8 × 35.2 = 697 square inches
So, for a 55-inch TV with an aspect ratio of 16:9, you should have at least 19.8 × 35.2 inches of wall space, equaling 697 square inches.
TV Size Chart
The 2 most popular aspect ratios for TVs are 4:3 and 16:9. Below, you can find TV size charts based on these aspect ratios.
3:4
| TV Size (in.) | Height (in.) | Width (in.) | Surface Area (sq. in.) |
| 32 | 13.7 | 18.3 | 250.8 |
| 40 | 17.1 | 22.9 | 391.8 |
| 43 | 18.4 | 24.6 | 452.8 |
| 50 | 21.4 | 28.6 | 612.2 |
| 55 | 23.6 | 31.4 | 740.8 |
| 60 | 25.7 | 34.3 | 881.6 |
| 65 | 27.9 | 37.1 | 1,034.7 |
| 70 | 30.0 | 40.0 | 1,200.0 |
| 75 | 32.1 | 42.9 | 1,377.6 |
| 80 | 34.3 | 45.7 | 1,567.3 |
| 85 | 36.4 | 48.6 | 1,769.4 |
| 90 | 38.6 | 51.4 | 1,983.7 |
| 100 | 42.9 | 57.1 | 2,449 |
| 105 | 45.0 | 60.0 | 2,700 |
16:9
| TV Size (in.) | Height (in.) | Width (in.) | Surface Area (sq. in.) |
| 32 | 11.5 | 20.5 | 235.9 |
| 40 | 14.4 | 25.6 | 368.6 |
| 43 | 15.5 | 27.5 | 426.0 |
| 50 | 18.0 | 32.0 | 576.0 |
| 55 | 19.8 | 35.2 | 697.0 |
| 60 | 21.6 | 38.4 | 829.4 |
| 65 | 23.4 | 41.6 | 973.4 |
| 70 | 25.2 | 44.8 | 1,129.0 |
| 75 | 27.0 | 48.0 | 1,296.0 |
| 80 | 28.8 | 51.2 | 1,474.6 |
| 85 | 30.6 | 54.4 | 1,664.6 |
| 90 | 32.4 | 57.6 | 1,866.2 |
| 100 | 36.0 | 64.0 | 2,304.0 |
| 105 | 37.8 | 67.2 | 2,540.2 |
What Is Viewing Distance?
The phrase “viewing distance” describes how far away from the screen you’ll be while seated or standing. The optimal TV size for the room and the sharpness of the image both depend on how far away the screen is from the viewer.
In order to get the best possible picture from your TV, you should sit at a distance that’s at least 3 times the screen’s diagonal size or the size printed on the box. Based on screen size, here is the suggested viewing distance:
| TV Size (in.) | Optimal Viewing Distance (ft.) |
| 32 | 8 |
| 40 | 10 |
| 43 | 10.75 |
| 50 | 12.5 |
| 55 | 13.75 |
| 60 | 15 |
| 65 | 16.25 |
| 70 | 17.5 |
| 75 | 18.75 |
| 80 | 20 |
| 85 | 21.25 |
| 90 | 22.5 |
| 100 | 25 |
| 105 | 26.25 |
Other Viewing Distance Factors
Other factors can also affect the optimal viewing distance aside from the screen size. For a quick summary, consider the following:
- TV resolution— The viewing distance can be affected by the TV’s resolution or the number of pixels used to create the image. It is possible that a higher resolution TV’s image clarity and detail will be more apparent from a closer viewing distance. Common TV resolutions include standard (480p), high-def (720 or 1080p), UHD (2160p or 4K), and 8K.
- Curvature— A curved TV screen has the potential to provide a more enveloping viewing experience by wrapping around the viewer and expanding their field of view. This effect, however, is likely to be more pronounced on larger TVs with a steeper curvature than on smaller TVs or TVs with a flatter curvature.
- Personal preference— Don’t forget to take your personal preferences into account. While some may prefer a closer viewing distance in order to make out finer details, others may find that a further distance allows them to feel more immersed in the action.
- Room size— Take into account the size of the TV screen relative to the overall size of your room. It’s possible that a shorter viewing distance would be preferable in a smaller room so as to not make the TV too dominant, but a larger room would allow for a farther viewing distance.
- Intended use—If you’re using the TV for gaming, for instance, you might prefer a closer viewing distance in order to make out all the finer details. However, when watching movies, a greater viewing distance can help you feel more immersed in the action on the screen.
Different TV Technologies
Not only do you need to pay attention to how much wall space your TV will take up, but it would be a good idea to look at the various TV technologies available to you.
LCD
TVs with a liquid crystal display (LCD) rely on tiny liquid crystals to produce moving pictures. Despite their popularity and low cost, their picture quality may not be as good as that of more advanced technologies. LCD TVs typically fall into one of two categories, depending on the source of their screen illumination: light-emitting diodes (LEDs) or cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs).
OLED
OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) TVs form an image by applying an electric current to organic materials that emit light. The deep blacks, wide viewing angles, and rapid refresh rates make OLEDs stand out. The cost of an OLED TV may be higher than that of an LCD TV.
QLED
QLED (Quantum Dot Light-Emitting Diode) TVs use small semiconductor particles to create more vivid and accurate colors on the screen. Quantum dots improve color performance, making them similar to LED-backlit LCD TVs in all but the name. QLED TVs may not have the same deep blacks as OLED TVs, but they are known for their excellent picture quality and wide color gamut.
Plasma
A plasma TV’s screen is actually a grid of tiny cells, each of which contains a different gas. Although they have a reputation for excellent picture quality thanks to their deep blacks and wide viewing angles, they are not as widely available as other technologies and may not be as energy efficient. You can only usually pick up plasma TVs on the secondary market.
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