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TV Size Calculator: Best Screen Size for Your Viewing Distance
Find the TV size that suits how far you sit, using the SMPTE 30° and THX 40° viewing-angle recommendations, with a table of the best distance for common screen sizes and the distance within which 4K detail is visible.
TV Size Calculator: Best Screen Size for Your Viewing Distance: The tool works out the screen width that fills 30° (SMPTE) and 40° (THX) of your view, 2 × distance × tan(angle ÷ 2), and turns it into a 16:9 diagonal. From 2.5 m that is 61″ to 82″. The table also shows, for each size, the distance within which a viewer with normal vision can see the extra detail of 4K. Runs 100% locally in your browser with zero server file uploads.
- Category
- Home & family tools
- Runs
- In your browser
- Cost
- Free · no sign-up
- Availability
- Ready to use
Runs entirely in your browser
| Screen | Best distance, 30° to 40° | 4K detail visible within |
|---|---|---|
| 43″ | 1.3–1.8 m | 0.9 m |
| 50″ | 1.5–2.1 m | 1 m |
| 55″ | 1.7–2.3 m | 1.1 m |
| 65″ | 2–2.7 m | 1.3 m |
| 75″ | 2.3–3.1 m | 1.5 m |
| 85″ | 2.6–3.5 m | 1.7 m |
| 98″ | 3–4 m | 1.9 m |
The screen should fill a comfortable part of your view: SMPTE recommends about 30° for general viewing, and THX about 40° for a cinema feel. From 2.5 m that is a 60″ to 82″ 16:9 screen. The last column shows how close you must sit to see every pixel of a 4K screen with normal vision; further back, 4K looks no sharper than 1080p. Screen sizes are diagonals in inches.
Example
Sitting 2.5 m away, a 65″ TV fills about 32° of your view and a 75″ about 37°, both within the recommended range; a 55″ fills only 27°. A 55″ 4K screen shows its full detail only within about 1.1 m.
Other screen shapes
The sizes assume a 16:9 screen; for other shapes, work out the width and height from the diagonal with the aspect ratio calculator.
How to use it
- Measure from your eyes to where the screen will be.
- Enter the distance in metres or feet.
- Read the recommended size range and check the table.
Privacy & limitations
Everything is calculated in your browser.
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Frequently asked questions
Is bigger always better?
Up to a point: beyond about 40° you have to move your eyes or head to follow the action, which tires some people.
Does 4K matter from my sofa?
Only if you sit within the distance in the table; further back, your eyes cannot tell 4K from 1080p on that screen.
Are screen sizes the diagonal?
Yes, in inches, measured corner to corner across the picture.
Free tool · runs in your browser · no account required