TV Size Calculator
Enter how far your sofa is from the screen to get a recommended TV size, or enter a TV size to see the best seating distance.
How big a TV for your distance?
The film and TV engineering body SMPTE recommends that the screen fill at least 30 degrees of your field of view; THX recommends about 40 degrees for a cinema-like picture. The calculator turns your seating distance into a diagonal for both.
With 4K you can sit closer before you see individual pixels: about 1.5 times the screen height, versus 3 times for Full HD. That sets an upper limit, so most people end up between the SMPTE and THX sizes.
Seating distance for each TV size
| TV size | 4K closest | THX 40° | SMPTE 30° |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32 in | 2.0 ft | 3.2 ft | 4.3 ft |
| 40 in | 2.5 ft | 4.0 ft | 5.4 ft |
| 43 in | 2.6 ft | 4.3 ft | 5.8 ft |
| 50 in | 3.1 ft | 5.0 ft | 6.8 ft |
| 55 in | 3.4 ft | 5.5 ft | 7.5 ft |
| 65 in | 4.0 ft | 6.5 ft | 8.8 ft |
| 75 in | 4.6 ft | 7.5 ft | 10.2 ft |
| 85 in | 5.2 ft | 8.5 ft | 11.5 ft |
| 98 in | 6.0 ft | 9.8 ft | 13.3 ft |
TV size for each distance
| Distance | SMPTE 30° | THX 40° |
|---|---|---|
| 5 ft | 37 in | 50 in |
| 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 |
| 14 ft | 103 in | 140 in |
Frequently asked questions
What size TV for 8 feet away?
About 59 to 80 inches: the SMPTE 30° and THX 40° guidelines.
How far should I sit from a 65-inch TV?
About 6.5 ft for a THX-style 40° view and up to 8.8 ft for SMPTE's 30°. With 4K you can sit as close as 4.0 ft.
Is bigger always better?
Up to a point: if the screen fills more than about 40–50 degrees you have to turn your head to follow the action, and with Full HD you may start to see pixels.