TV size and viewing distance table
The first step in choosing a TV is measuring your room size and how far you’ll sit from the screen.
How to find the right TV
Choosing the right TV is just as important as picking the right display technology. The correct TV size for your room ensures a comfortable, immersive viewing experience without overwhelming your space. Whether you’re setting up a 4K smart TV in your living room or looking for the best TV for your bedroom. So, how do you pick your perfect screen?
We recommend starting your TV buying journey by measuring your viewing distance with a tape measure – that's the distance between your TV and sofa. This will give you a rough idea of your TV's ideal size. Then, decide your budget, preferred resolution and any must-have features.
| TV size | Optimal seating distance(feet) | Optimal seating distance(cm) |
|---|---|---|
| 32" | 4' - 6'6" | 122 - 198cm |
| 40" | 4'9" - 8'2" | 145 - 249 cm |
| 43" | 5'3" - 8'9" | 160 - 267 cm |
| 50" | 5' - 7'10" | 152 - 239 cm |
| 55” | 5'6" - 8'8" | 168 - 264 cm |
| 60" | 6' - 9'5" | 183 - 287 cm |
| 65" | 6'6" - 10'3" | 198 - 312 cm |
| 70” | 7' - 11' | 213 - 335 cm |
| 75" | 7'6" - 11'10" | 229 - 361 cm |
| 80" | 8' - 12'7" | 244 - 384 cm |
| 85” | 8'6" - 13'4" | 259 - 406 cm |
| 90" | 9' - 14'2" | 274 - 432 cm |
What are the standard TV screen sizes?
Currently, the most popular screen sizes are 43", 50", 55", 65" and 75". If you're entertaining the idea of a home cinema, you'll be glad to learn that some brands have designed screens between 90-100".
Some people like their existing TV's size and just fancy a newer model. So, if you want to measure it, grab one end of your tape measure and place it in the screen's top left corner. Then, read the distance in inches to the bottom right corner. And voila.
Using this method, a small 32'' TV is 32 inches when measured from corner to corner. It is 15.7" high by 27.9" wide. Or, when measuring in centimetres, it's 39.9cm tall by 70.9cm wide.
| Size | Width | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 32" | 27.9” (70.9 cm) | 15.7" (39.9 cm) |
| 40" | 34.9" (88.6 cm) | 19.6" (49.8 cm) |
| 43" | 37.5" (95.3 cm) | 21.1" (53.6 cm) |
| 50" | 43.6" (110.7 cm) | 24.5" (62.2 cm) |
| 55" | 47.9" (121.7 cm) | 27" (68.6 cm) |
| 60" | 52.3" (132.8 cm) | 29.4" (74.7 cm) |
| 65" | 56.7" (144 cm) | 31.9" (81 cm) |
| 70" | 61" (154.9 cm) | 34.3" (87.1 cm) |
| 75" | 65.4" (166.1 cm) | 36.8" (93.5 cm) |
| 80" | 69.7" (177 cm) | 39.2" (99.6 cm) |
| 85" | 74.1" (188.2 cm) | 41.7" (105.9 cm) |
Screen resolution
Next up is screen resolution. At first glance, this appears to be a jumble of numbers and letters, but they refer to the number of pixels within your screen. Ultimately, the more pixels, the clearer your image will be displayed.
You'll want to pick your resolution based on how you'll be using your TV. Will you be watching the odd soap opera on a weeknight? Binging boxsets on demand? Or enjoying 48-hour gaming sessions?
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720p
- Most broadcasters televise at 720p. This standard high-definition (HD) resolution boasts 1280x720 pixels.
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1080p
- 1080p TVs are also called Full HD (FHD) screens. They exhibit 1920x1080 pixels and share up to five times better image quality than 720p TVs. This resolution is ideal for small to medium-sized screens and perfect for watching ordinary TV programs.
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4K
- Also known as Ultra HD (UHD), 4K TVs have four times more pixels than 1080p screens. They deliver crisper lines, sharper colours and a superior depth of field, which is perfect for gamers. Unsure whether to upgrade from 1080p to a 4K TV? It makes a noticeable difference when watching native 4K video – content with an input resolution of 4K, rather than upscaled video.
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8K
- 8K TVs feature four times more pixels than 4K TVs and deliver extraordinarily natural-looking imagery and colours. However, few TV programs, films, games and apps are available in native 8K, and most of this content is simply upscaled from 4K.
Different screen types
It's time to consider the different TV screens; flat versus curved.
Flat-screen TVs are exceptionally popular. They feature a thin screen, excellent picture, and are less prone to reflection than curved TVs. While curved displays offer an immersive viewing experience, particularly when viewed straight-on.
Once you've chosen a screen shape, consider your screen type. There are several kinds to bear in mind.
LED TVs
LED TVs are a type of LCD screen. They've been backlit with LEDs (light-emitting diodes), which allows them to be thinner, brighter and more efficient.
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QLED TVs
QLED (quantum light-emitting diode) screens are the next generation of LED TVs. Tiny quantum dots are integrated within the display to improve the brightness, colour quality and screen longevity.
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OLED TVs
OLED (organic light-emitting diode) TVs are the latest evolution of LCD screens. Instead of backlit LEDs, they feature a small, organic compound that emits light in response to electricity. This enables richer colours and deeper contrast. However, due to the finite lifespan of the compounds, these screens can suffer from burn-in and lose vibrancy over time.
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RGB Technology TVs
The key advantage of RGB technology is that the red, green, and blue light sources are controlled more precisely than in traditional LED TVs, resulting in superior colour accuracy and picture performance. RGB technology delivers a significant picture quality upgrade over conventional LED TVs by providing wider colour coverage, greater colour accuracy, higher brightness, and improved contrast. The result is a more vibrant, lifelike viewing experience with richer HDR performance, making films, sport, gaming, and streaming content look more immersive than ever.
SQD Mini LED TVs
SQD Mini LED technology combines Super Quantum Dot colour with advanced Mini LED backlighting to deliver deeper blacks, higher contrast, exceptional brightness, and incredibly lifelike colours. With precise local dimming, enhanced HDR performance, reduced blooming, and outstanding gaming capabilities, SQD Mini LED TVs provide a premium viewing experience that brings every scene to life with stunning realism.
QD Mini LED TVs
QD-Mini LED technology combines Quantum Dot colour with advanced Mini LED backlighting to deliver deeper blacks, brighter highlights, wider colour reproduction, and outstanding HDR performance. With precise local dimming, reduced blooming, and exceptional brightness, QD-Mini LED TVs provide a premium viewing experience that rivals OLED while offering superior brightness and excellent performance in any room.
Mini LED TVs
A Mini LED TV is a significant upgrade over a standard 4K LED TV because it uses thousands of much smaller LEDs to control brightness more precisely across the screen. This allows for deeper blacks, brighter highlights, and dramatically improved contrast, making movies, sports, and games look more realistic and immersive. Unlike a standard LED TV, where large sections of the screen share the same backlight, Mini LED technology can dim and brighten hundreds or even thousands of zones independently, reducing light bleed and improving shadow detail. Combined with 4K resolution, this delivers a sharper, more vibrant picture with superior HDR performance, making Mini LED one of the best choices for premium home entertainment.
What features should I look for?
Next, it's time to think about those tech-tastic features – think futuristic tech, ports and add-ons. Scroll down to see how you can enhance your next setup.
Dolby True HD
An extraordinary entertainment system featuring high-definition graphics and tantalising sounds compatible with a soundbar.
Dolby Vision
Incredible picture quality, fantastic colours, contrast, and greater depth.
Dolby Atmos
A superior 3D surround sound experience.
Dolby Audio
A dynamic 2D audio experience that produces an extraordinary sound.
Virtual Dolby
Enjoy a surround sound experience with two speakers.
Subwoofer
A speaker dedicated to producing powerful low-frequency audio – otherwise known as bass. If you're a gamer or film fanatic, you may be interested in a subwoofer.
Refresh rate
The higher the refresh rate, the smoother and less jumpy your viewing experience will be. 60 Hz is fairly standard, 120 Hz is good, but 240 Hz is exceptionally smooth and ideal for gaming.
USB
This is a popular port for transferring images, music and movies.
HDMI
This handy port connects a digital device to your TV and displays the content without losing quality. We recommend choosing a TV with several HDMI or HDMI 2.1 ports.
HDR
Look for a high dynamic range (HDR) screen to ensure the greatest contrast between the brightest whites and the darkest blacks. This way, graphics will appear even more lifelike.
HVA Pro Panels
An HVA Pro panel delivers a major picture quality upgrade over a standard LED TV, offering deeper blacks, higher contrast, improved HDR performance, and better shadow detail. When paired with QLED or Mini LED technology, HVA Pro panels create a more immersive viewing experience with richer colours, brighter highlights, and enhanced realism, making them ideal for movies, gaming, and premium home entertainment
HVA Pro Panels
TCL NXTVISION technology uses advanced AI picture processing to enhance colour, contrast, sharpness, and motion for a superior viewing experience. By intelligently optimising every scene, NXTVISION delivers more realistic colours, sharper details, smoother action, and improved HDR performance, helping you get the most from 4K movies, streaming services, gaming, and live sports.
Smart TV
These TVs feature a powerful computer. Smart TVs let you download your favourite apps, like Netflix, Disney+ and Spotify. And allow you to stream music, watch videos and use social media.
Voice activation
This is a common feature of most Smart TVs. With it, there's no need to use the remote; just speak a command and let your virtual assistant do the work. Popular assistants include Google, Amazon Echo and Bixby.
Check out our best TVs
The TV with the best sound
The Sony Bravia XR A90J is a top-of-the-line television known for its exceptional sound quality. It features Sony's Acoustic Surface Audio+ technology, which uses actuators to vibrate the TV panel and create sound from the entire screen, making for a truly immersive experience.
Overall, the sound quality on the Sony Bravia XR A90J is unmatched, making it an excellent choice for those who prioritize audio quality in their home entertainment setup.
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The TV with best picture quality
The LG Evo G4 TV series is known for its outstanding picture quality. These TVs feature LG's OLED technology, which delivers perfect blacks, infinite contrast, and exceptional color accuracy. Additionally, LG's Alpha 9 Gen 4 processor powers the G3 series, which enhances the TV's color, clarity, and motion handling. This processor also enables the TV to upscale non-4K content to near 4K quality, resulting in a sharper and more detailed picture.
Overall, the picture quality on LG Evo G4 TVs is top-notch, making them an excellent choice for those who value exceptional visual performance.
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The best TV to buy
The Toshiba UK3C TVs feature 4K Ultra HD resolution and HDR support, which ensures stunning picture quality with vivid colors and deep blacks. Additionally, the UK3C series includes Dolby Vision, which enhances the HDR performance, providing a broader range of colors and more significant contrast. The Toshiba UK3C also has built-in Amazon Alexa capabilities, enabling users to control the TV with their voice.
Overall, the Toshiba UK3C TVs offer a range of advanced features and excellent picture quality, making them an attractive option for those looking for a high-quality TV.
Shop now »Soundbars
Soundbars are a great addition to home entertainment systems because they provide a high-quality audio experience that enhances the overall viewing experience. Unlike built-in TV speakers, soundbars offer better clarity, deeper bass, and a wider soundstage, making it easier to distinguish between different sounds and fully immerse oneself in the content being played. Additionally, soundbars are generally compact and easy to install, making them a convenient option for those who want to upgrade their audio without investing in a full surround sound system.
Overall, soundbars offer an affordable and effective way to elevate the audio quality of home entertainment systems.
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What are the best TV brands?
Unless you're shopping for a specific brand, searching for a TV by its manufacturer can feel daunting. There are hundreds of brands to choose from, and each manufacturer delivers its idea of a great experience. Take a peek at our top-selling TV brands.
As one of the world leaders in tech, Samsung is at the forefront of new product developments. They create some of the best TVs, particularly its QLED screens.
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These TVs are known for their premium build. They offer fantastic levels of brightness and contrast, plus excellent imagery upscaling.
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These TVs offer a wide range of well-built budget models with a simple operating system.
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TCL TVs deliver vibrant picture quality, smart technology, and sleek designs. All at a price that fits your budget.
Shop TCL »Frequently asked questions
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How many years does a
TV last?
The average television lasts four to ten years, depending on how frequently it's used. This is equal to 40,000-100,000 hours of screen time.
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What are the signs of an ageing TV?
Vertical lines, a dull or fuzzy screen, warped or fading imagery, dead pixels and low sound quality are all symptoms of a TV going out. LED and OLED screens can also suffer from image burn-in, which is irreversible.
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Will leaving a TV on
all the time damage it?
Leaving your TV on all the time will quickly reduce the screen's lifespan. This is because it dims the colours and can affect the sound quality.
