The measurements of the televisions(TVs), with the new technologies, have created a bit of confusion in the consumer, who tends, erroneously, to make comparisons with the old cathode tube TVs.
The 16: 9 format, since the new millennium, has changed the perception of images and distances, with the direct consequence that it has affected the size of the monitors.
Let’s get rid of an erroneous concept that we often hear when choosing a new TV: “if I have an old 32-inch, I replace it with the same one because I have always felt comfortable”.
In light of what is expressed in the first lines, the speech is wrong because paradoxically you would find yourself buying a device that would have the smallest screen, since the format changes.
From a 4: 3 to a 16: 9 TV the dimensions change and therefore also the visual perception.
That’s why a 1995 32-inch is different from a 2019 32-inch, in this article we will explain:
What are the measurements of the televisions , so that you can choose a model with the dimensions suitable for the space you have available, we will also talk about the ideal distances to watch TV according to its inches by completing with information and questions that you might be interested in if the topic is to your liking.
Let’s start with a table that summarizes the objective of our article, with measurements in centimeters, inches and recommended distances for watching TV.
Here is the Table with the Measurements of the Televisions
| Dimensions Inches | Diagonal | Length | Height |
| 24 inch | 60 Cm | 56 Cm | 34 Cm |
| 32 inch | 80 Cm | 73 Cm | 44 Cm |
| 40 Inches | 100 Cm | 90 Cm | 51 Cm |
| 43 inch | 108 Cm | 97 Cm | 57 Cm |
| 49 Inches | 123 Cm | 111 Cm | 64 Cm |
| 50 Inches | 126 Cm | 112 Cm | 65 Cm |
| 55 inch | 139 Cm | 124 Cm | 73 Cm |
| 58 inch | 146 Cm | 130 Cm | 76 Cm |
| 65 Inches | 164 Cm | 145 Cm | 90 Cm |
| 75 inch | 189 Cm | 168 Cm | 96 Cm |
| 77 inch | 195 Cm | 172 Cm | 99 Cm |
Recommended Distances List in SD, HD and 4K
| Inch size | Recommended Distance SD | Recommended Distance HD | Recommended distance 4K |
| 24 inch | 2.10 Meters | 1.50 Meters | 0.90 Meters |
| 32 inch | 2.80 Meters | 2 Meters | 1.20 Meters |
| 40 Inches | 3.50 meters | 2.50 meters | 1.50 Meters |
| 43 inch | 3.80 Meters | 2.70 Meters | 1.60 Meters |
| 49 Inches | 4.30 meters | 10 foot | 1.80 Meters |
| 50 Inches | 4.40 Meters | 3.20 Meters | 1.90 Meters |
| 55 inch | 4.90 Meters | 3.50 meters | 2.10 Meters |
| 58 inch | 5.10 Meters | 3.70 Meters | 2.20 Meters |
| 65 Inches | 5.70 Meters | 4.10 Meters | 2.50 meters |
| 75 inch | 6.60 Meters | 4.80 Meters | 2.80 Meters |
| 77 inch | 6.80 Meters | 4.90 Meters | 2.90 Meters |
The importance of the diagonal
Measurements of televisions are universally expressed in inches and refer to the diagonal.
The concept is simple and recalls the notions of geometry learned in elementary school: the diagonal of a rectangle (the screen) is defined as the segment that goes from one corner to another that are not consecutive.
In a nutshell, the measure of the TV expressed in inches is given by the segment that joins the vertex at the bottom left, with the one at the top right.
Not only the measurements of the TV are important to understand the right viewing distance and to choose the ideal device, but also to understand the possibility of inserting it (or not) inside the shelves or furniture of the house.
One inch equals 2.54 cm and just multiply this value by the number of inches on the TV to determine the exact diagonal (for example, a 40-inch TV has a diagonal of 101.60 cm).
This applies regardless of the technology of the TV and its resolution.
By calculating the diagonal, however, you do not have useful data regarding the overall dimensions of the TV because this measurement does not take into account any bases and the frame.
When considering the inches of television, it is good to know that this figure refers to the actual size of the screen and not the device.
If there is a 2 cm frame, this measurement must be added to the right and left to calculate the correct real size.
A modern TV tends to be borderless making sure that the affective dimension is as close as possible to the length of the diagonal of the screen, but this does not mean that it is the exact one (usually a matter of a few mm).
The importance of the TV screen format
Speaking of TV dimensions, it is useful to deepen the theme of the screen format. The format of the television screen, the so-called aspect ratio, should follow what is the normal field of view of the human eye.
You must know that the human eye perceives a field of view very close to 4: 3. TVs according to this parameter should have a 4: 3 aspect ratio screen.
The human eye, however, is not a fixed camera, it is in fact able to rotate its gaze, to look to the right, to the left, to the top, to the bottom.
Extensive studies have shown that the human eye tends to look much more left and right than up and down. So, from a dynamic perspective, the field of view is widened horizontally and it is the 16: 9 format that represents the aspect ratio closest to the field of view of the human eye in movement.
Consequently, the choice of TV manufacturers to switch from the old 4: 3 format to the modern 16: 9.
If you remember well the cathode ray tube TVs were almost all in the 4: 3 format, only the very latest tube productions had the 16: 9 format. On the other hand, the new flat-screen televisions are almost all in the 16: 9 format, and only the first productions were in the 4: 3 format.
In practice, the transition from CRT TV to flat-screen TV coincided with the introduction of the 16: 9 aspect ratio.
The best-selling sizes of televisions
In this jungle, however, it is possible to have fixed points.
As in all things, it is the market that makes natural selection and consumers choose from the proposals that the manufacturers make available.
Televisions start from dimensions of 15 inches diagonally to reach even 100 inches in rare cases.
Obviously not all TV models have the same number of inches and not all models are offered in all possible variants.
The best-selling models are associated with some dimensions that are the most popular (a lot also depends on the brand).
- 22 inches with 55.88 cm diagonal
- 32 inches with a diagonal of 81.28 cm
- 42 inches with 106.68 cm diagonal
- 46 inches with a diagonal of 116.84 cm
- 50 inches with 127.00 cm diagonal
- 55 inches with 139.70 cm diagonal
- 65 inches with 165.10 cm diagonal
The speech has its own logic given that the tendency is to choose the size of the television based on the installation room.
To each environment its measure
You will hardly see a 50-inch TV in a kitchen and with just as much difficulty will you find a 22-inch TV in the living room.
Usually in the kitchen or in the dining room, TVs up to 32 inches are placed (in rooms that are a little more spacious). For the bedroom, the choice focuses on models that usually start at 24 inches (in smaller rooms and for positioning at the foot of the bed), but a very popular size is the 32-inch one.
These two dimensions are often found in hotel rooms.
Otherwise, the choice is for living rooms and attics, where real TV corners are often recreated.
In these cases, the preference must go beyond 40 inches, also because there is usually more space and the vision takes place from further distances.
How to choose the size of the TV
Choosing the size of the TV is a process that mainly depends on the viewing distance according to the room where the TV will be placed.
The general principle is that the larger the screen, the greater the viewing comfort, although it is useful to know the resolution, a decisive variable in the choice.
Watching a large screen from too close a distance is not advisable, nor is enjoying a TV show while watching a small screen from a distance.
The ideal screen size must therefore depend on the distance and resolution of the image.
Individual pixel dimensions are smaller in a Full HD screen than in an HD display, and even smaller are the pixels in a 4K resolution screen. (Here we explain in detail the difference between HD and Ultra HD)
This means that the smaller the pixels, the better the definition of detail.
This means that a 4K panel is observable from a shorter distance than an HD panel, without losing image fluidity.
Therefore, if the interest is for an HD TV it is possible to opt for a larger screen if you observe it from greater distances, but if the distances are shorter it is possible to choose a TV with a better resolution, also containing the dimensions and optimizing the perception of the images.
Taking an example with a 50-inch TV, it turns out that the ideal minimum viewing distance is 3.30 meters with Full HD resolution, 1.65 meters with 4K (Ultra HD) resolution.
Obviously, it is understandable that with a 4K resolution even moving away you do not lose detail (at least up to a certain point), this is because you benefit from a greater sharpness of shapes, outlines, colors, and images right from the source.
This means that a good viewing result is obtained even if you take a few steps back from the minimum recommended distance.
There are formulas to calculate the right viewing distance and thus determine the correct size of the television.
These are only indications since there is nothing scientific and provable, but they are nevertheless useful to provide a good approximate indication.
- High Definition (HD): screen diagonal x 3.6 = recommended viewing distance in cm
- Full HD high definition (FHD): screen diagonal x 2.5 = recommended viewing distance in cm
- Ultra HD (UHD) 4K: screen diagonal x 1.5 = recommended viewing distance in cm
The factor is however subjective and the advice is to go to large retailers to try to observe live images of the model you are interested in or in any case with a monitor of the desired size and, consequently, get an idea.
This is because the theories and formulas that many propose in a slightly different ways are different (in some cases the multiplication coefficients of a few decimal places vary).
TV size: all TV sizes (selection guide)
In this guide, we will help you understand TV dimensions, explaining how to calculate them by converting inches to cm and, above all, how to evaluate this factor when purchasing. The measurements of television, in fact, are a criterion that should not be underestimated.
You could choose the most beautiful and expensive TV but if the screen size in inches were not proportionally correct in relation to the size of the room and the resolution, you would only be wasting your money (few or many).
Therefore, we can say that the TV size cannot be chosen at random or exclusively according to one’s wishes: if the TV is too small and the room too large, the eye has to struggle to try to focus the images. , while if the TV is too big and you do not have a sufficiently wide viewing distance, you lose the details and sharpness of the image (and even you see the pixels of the screen). In other words, either way, the purchase would disappoint you and you wouldn’t be able to make the most of your new TV.
So, how do you orient yourself on a new purchase starting from the size of the televisions? Below you will find all the information on TV sizes that you can find on the market and we explain the relationship between TV size and viewing distance so that you can choose the most suitable product for your space.
Read More: How to choose TV Size for a Room
TV measurements: how to calculate them?
TV measurements are conventionally calculated in inches and when we talk about TV dimensions in inches (for example, 32-inch TV, 40-inch TV, 65-inch TV) we refer to the measurement of the screen diagonal, i.e. the distance between the lower-left corner and the upper right corner (or vice versa, as long as it is diagonal).
Based on this unit of measurement, it is immediately clear that equal TV sizes in inches correspond to identical TV measurements for 16: 9: in other words, the (diagonal) measurement of a 40-inch Samsung TV will be equal to a 40-inch Sony TV size, and so on. Width and height if not identical, remain on very similar values (difference of 1-3 cm max); however, full measurements are often specified by manufacturers. In this regard, pay attention to the measurements with and without a pedestal.
TV diagonal: what is an inch?
Having said that, the main information you need to know how to calculate the inches of a TV is the value of the inch-cm TV conversion according to which1 inch = 2.54cm. Taking any measurement as an example, this means that the measurements of the 65-inch TV correspond to a TV with a 165.1 cm diagonal (ie 2.54 cm x 65 ”).
How to calculate the other dimensions of the TV?
To calculate the width and height instead (at least in an approximate way) you can use the following formulas for the 16: 9 format and therefore the most common:
Height = diagonal in inches x 1.245
Width = diagonal in inches x 2.214
For the 4: 3 format, the following calculation can be performed instead:
Height = diagonal in inches x 1.524
Width = diagonal in inches x 2.032
The thickness of a flat-screen TV
Another very useful piece of information to evaluate the space that a TV will occupy is the thickness of the device. In fact, although the contemporary flat screens are very different from the old and bulky TVs with the cathode ray tube screen, there is still a variable thickness from model to model.
This thickness is generally between 4 cm and 10 cm and must be taken into account in order to position the TV at a correct viewing distance.
Televisions dimensions: from TV inches to centimeters
Before seeing in detail the TV measurements of each format and the ideal ratio between TV size and viewing distance, we have created a summary table that shows all the sizes of televisions on the market.
Here is the transformation from inches to centimeters (diagonal) and the approximate calculation of width and height (16: 9 format):
| Inch TV | TV dimensions in cm (diagonal) | TV width | TV height |
| 24 “ | 60.96 cm | 53 cm | 30 cm |
| 28 “ | 71.12 cm | 62 cm | 35 cm |
| 32 “ | 81.28 cm | 71 cm | 40 cm |
| 40 “ | 101.6 cm | 89 cm | 50 cm |
| 43 “ | 109.22 cm | 95 cm | 54 cm |
| 48 “ | 121.92 cm | 106 cm | 60 cm |
| 49 “ | 124.46 cm | 108 cm | 61 cm |
| 50 ″ | 127 cm | 110 cm | 62 cm |
| 55 “ | 139.7 cm | 122 cm | 68 cm |
| 60 “ | 152.4 cm | 133 cm | 75 cm |
| 65 “ | 165.1 cm | 144 cm | 81 cm |
| 75 “ | 190.5 cm | 166 cm | 93 cm |
| 88 “ | 223.52 cm | 195 cm | 110 cm |
If you want to buy a TV, take a look at the bestsellers of the moment that you find for each format below and the dedicated buying guides, the result of our market research.
Recommended TV dimensions and TV distances
The relationship between TV size and viewing distance varies in relation to the resolution of the screen and, in part, also in the way the viewer processes the image since the human brain sees the image as a whole. composed of a set of pixels.
So let’s see how the TV dimensions and the optimal viewing distance change based on the resolution.
TV measurements and TV distance 4K and Full HD
For 4K and Full HD TVs, the optimal viewing distance is calculated roughly by multiplying the diagonal measurement expressed in cm by 1.5.
This means that for a 32-inch TV with 4K si video resolution, the optimal viewing distance is 1.20 meters, for a 55-inch TV with 4K si video resolution, 2.10 meters, and so on.
Based on this calculation, a large 4K TV is perfectly suited to even relatively small rooms.
Television size and viewing distance for 8K TVs
Given the higher pixel density present in 8K TVs, the correct calculation to identify the optimal viewing distance is different. In fact, in this case the height of the screen expressed in centimeters must be multiplied by a coefficient of 2.5.
This means that for a 32-inch TV with 8K video resolution, the optimal viewing distance is 1.10 meters, for a 55-inch TV with 8K video resolution, it is 1.82 meters, and so on.
TV size 24 inches
The dimensions of a 24-inch television are approximately 61 cm diagonal, 53 cm wide, and 30 cm high screen.
TV size 28 inches
The dimensions of a 28-inch TV are approximately 71cm diagonal, 62cm wide, and 35cm high screen.
TV size 32 inches
The measures of 32 inches in cm are approximate: 81 cm diagonal, 71 cm wide, and 40 cm high of the screen.
TV size 40 inches
The TV measurements of a 40-inch are approximately 101 cm diagonal, 89 cm wide, and 50 cm high screen.
43 inch TV size
The approximate size of a 43-inch TV is as follows: 109 cm diagonal, 96 cm wide, and 54 cm high screen.
TV size 48 inches
The dimensions of a 48-inch TV are approximately 121 cm diagonal, 106 cm wide, and 60 cm high screen.
TV size 49 inches
A 49-inch TV measures in cm: 124 cm (diagonal), 108 cm (width) and 61 cm (screen height).
50-inch size TV
A 50-inch TV measures approximately 127 cm (diagonal), 110 cm (width) and 62 cm (screen height) in cm.
TV size 55 inches
Here is the approximate measurement of a 55-inch TV in cm: 140 cm diagonal, 122 cm wide, and 68 cm high screen.
TV size 60 inches
The measurements of a 60-inch TV are approximately 152 cm diagonal, 133 cm wide, and 75 cm high of the screen.
TV measures 65 inches
The size of a 65-inch TV is approximately: 165cm diagonal, 144cm wide, and 81cm high screen.
75-inch size TV
The size of a 75 ″ TV is the following: 190 cm diagonal, 166 cm wide, and 93 cm high of the screen.
TV size 88 inches
An 88-inch TV measures approximately 223cm diagonal, 195cm wide, and 110cm high screen.
The right measurements for your TV
In light of what has been said so far, it is already clear that choosing the size of the TV to take home depends on many factors.
Many of these concern the placement of the appliance in the rooms. This usually goes like this: the kitchen TV is generally the smallest in the house, the bedrooms have medium-sized televisions and the living room has the largest television set.
This is because common sense leads to these solutions as the larger the TV, the greater the viewing comfort. It is therefore normal that we tend to place televisions according to the comfort of the room that hosts them.
In reality, things must be done following another criterion. The size of the TV display must be chosen according to the distance from which it will be viewed.
This is because it is true that a larger TV corresponds to greater viewing comfort, but it is also true that we must not exaggerate.
You too can realize that if you look at a large TV from the close range you can distinguish the individual pixels that make up the image and this is absolutely not good.
In this way, the image loses its naturalness and the visual comfort is poor.
I advise you not to exaggerate even in the opposite direction, it is obvious that if you watch a TV from a small screen from a considerable distance many details will not be visible and even in this case the visual comfort will be low.
Viewing distance and resolution of UHD screens – 4K
When calculating the size of the TV, distance is not the only parameter you need to consider, the resolution of the TV also counts.
One of the things to know is that the size of a single-pixel is smaller on a Full HD TV than on an HD. Even smaller is the size of a pixel on a 4K television. Consequently, the viewing distance decreases with increasing video resolution.
With modern 4K Ultra HD TVs, you can enjoy very high viewing quality even at short distances.
The involvement of the images produced by these TVs is a much more positive experience than in the past thanks also to the fact that you can observe them more closely.
Upscaling: Help is all in this strange term
Everything expressed up to now is largely correct.
But as in all things, there is always a “but” or a “but”.
What happens if lower resolution images are broadcast on a 4K TV?
The Ultra HD (UHD) technology of 4K transmits images with a resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels, while the Full HD is equal to 1920 × 1080 pixels.
This means that if a full HD image is projected on a UHD TV, the pixels will tend to enlarge and create a grainy effect.
Theoretically, you would have to move the sofa back or away from the TV in order to move the viewpoint. To overcome this problem, a system called upscaling comes into support.
Thanks to this technology (which each manufacturer creates and offers in their own way), an image filling is created that simulates a 4K effect, adding “artificially” pixels in order to get very close to the total resolution of the TV.
In practice, it is as if a Full HD image were transformed by the device software into UHD thanks to the television processor.
Let it be clear that this process does not give the excellent quality typical of Ultra HD, but recreates a similar effect, but nothing to do with a transmission that is born 4K from the beginning.
A “strange” theory on the viewing distance of 4K
We wrote earlier that a 4K resolution TV is fully exploited if you place yourself at a minimum distance and that by taking a few steps back you will not lose too much detail. Even this statement, although true, is ready to be denied by a “strange” theory.
A current of thought argues that moving too far away from the 4K screen the human eye would not be able to clearly perceive the greater details of the image. This means that we should therefore aim for greater thumbs-up, against an economic investment that is not always sustainable.
If so, if you have to watch 4-meter TV and want to buy a 50-inch UHD it would make little sense. Better to prefer a larger Full HD.
Even though this theory has nothing confirmed it was right to consider it. In light of this, it is even more important to personally observe the images on the televisions displayed in the electronics department stores and get an idea.
Correct TV viewing distances – HD – full HD – 4K
I hope that what I have explained to you so far is clear. Here then are the optimal distances for viewing television sets according to the size and resolution of the display.
Distance measurements are expressed in centimeters.
| INCHES | HD READY | FULL HD | 4K-UHD |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 148.59 | 99.06 | 49.53 |
| 19 | 188.21 | 125.48 | 62.74 |
| 20 | 198.12 | 132.08 | 66.04 |
| 22 | 217.93 | 145.29 | 72.64 |
| 32 | 316.99 | 211.33 | 105.66 |
| 40 | 396.24 | 264.16 | 132.08 |
| 42 | 416.05 | 277.37 | 138.68 |
| 43 | 425.96 | 283.97 | 141.99 |
| 46 | 455.68 | 303.78 | 151.89 |
| 47 | 465.58 | 310.39 | 155.19 |
| 50 | 495.30 | 330.20 | 165.10 |
| 55 | 544.83 | 363.22 | 181.61 |
| 58 | 574.55 | 383.03 | 191.52 |
| 60 | 594.36 | 396.24 | 198.12 |
| 65 | 643.89 | 429.26 | 214.63 |
| 75 | 742.95 | 495.30 | 247.65 |
| 80 | 792.48 | 528.32 | 264.16 |
| 84 | 832.10 | 554.74 | 277.37 |
| 90 | 891.54 | 594.36 | 297.18 |
Minimum distance to watch 4K TV
In the table above, the distances for optimal viewing of the 4K TV resolution are really very low, I would recommend that you understand these as minimum distances to see in 4K.
Moving away, in fact, no loss of image quality is perceived, even if the indicated value is increased by 50% . So a 40 ″ TV, even at a viewing distance of 2 meters, continues to give the best of UHD quality.
Broadcast at different resolutions – Upscaling
All that has been said so far is correct, but unfortunately, it is not quite everything. I have already explained to you that if you buy a 4K UHD TV you will be able to see it from close distances compared to a full HD.
But what if you watch a Full HD broadcast on your 4K?
It happens that you will be able to see the “pixels” that make up the television image as these are larger, in fact, it is as if you were in front of a full HD TV. And at this point what do you do, do you move the sofa to a greater distance?
Upscaling 4K TV
Fortunately, a technology called upscaling comes to meet us but does not completely solve the problem.
Especially 4K UHD TVs are equipped with it. This technology, thanks to software processing, reconstructs the missing pixels and harmonizes them in the images.
This way, even if you watch a full HD broadcast (or worse) on a very high-resolution device, you will not see individual pixels that make up the image.
The result in terms of quality is not exceptional, nothing to do with a true UHD transmission.
At least, however, the annoying inconvenience that would lead you to move away from the television set when it reproduces a transmission at a lower resolution is obviated.
4K TV Size – The Downside
Regarding 4K TVs, one aspect that is not too positive should be noted. For these TVs, the optimal distances have been significantly shorter.
Now it is possible to enjoy a 60-inch screen from two meters away, but the downside is that moving further away the eye cannot perceive the very high resolution offered by these devices.
If your sofa is 3 meters from the TV, in order not to miss a single detail, you have to take a 90-inch. A television set of this size does not always find space in the home and its costs are very high.
If your point of view is at a great distance from the TV, I advise you not to spend a lot of money on a 4Kit could prove to be an unnecessary waste.
More articles on television
Another parameter that you must take into consideration when choosing the size of the TV is whether it has the classic flat screen or the more modern curved screen, I have covered this topic in a special article that I published here, on my blog.
In this other article on the DocBuy website, I talked about other important aspects of choosing the TV. Aspects that can also help you understand if your current TV is really old to throw away or has nothing to envy the newer ones.
If you are looking for a TV on offer, I suggest you read this article to find out ways to understand if the discounted price of a TV is really affordable.
Before saying goodbye, I recommend one last article that I’m sure will come in handy, talk about the differences between the smart TVs you find on the market. I just have to thank you for reading my article TV Screen Sizes – Full HD and 4K UHD TV Tables.
Conclusion
After having drawn a general overview of what the size of a television is and how to choose it, we try to suggest some considerations regarding the size of the screens.
- 15-26 inches: these are televisions intended for utility rooms or children’s bedrooms.
- 29-32 inches: these are usually televisions that have a certain class and as such are typical of hotel rooms.
- 39-43 inches: These sizes are versatile and can meet different needs. Taverns, attics, and advertising monitors for trade fairs offer a lot and are an excellent compromise in not too large rooms.
- 46-50 inches: you begin to appreciate the image in its details and even the producer’s reserve, starting from this polliciaggio, the best possible technology to be able to appreciate fluid images, especially if you love sports, action films, and video games. (Here are some tips to TVs for Ps4 and Xbox One)
- 55-60 inches: the sport acquires a remarkable visual impact thanks to the technology inherent in the device and the dimensions that are even more engaging. (Here our recommendations for 55-inch Smart TVs)
- 62-65 inches: in addition to what is written for the previous size, you begin to appreciate the films. A 65-inch size performs excellently with a Home Theater System
- Over 75 inches: as you go up in size, viewing films offers incomparable and unique emotions, to the point that it will seem to be in the cinema.