TV Size and Viewing Distance Calculator
Enter the screen size and its resolution. You get the screen width and height, a comfortable viewing distance, and the closest you can sit before you see the pixels. Add your seat distance for the best size.
These are guides. Room lighting, eyesight and what you watch all change what feels right.
Worked examples
A 55 inch 4K TV
55 inches, 16:9, 4K
1.22 m by 0.68 m, comfortable distance 1.7 to 2.3 m, pixels show inside 1.1 m
Based on a 40 to 30 degree view and one minute of arc.
About TV Size and Viewing Distance Calculator
A TV viewing distance calculator tells you how far to sit from a screen, or how big a screen to buy for your room. For films and TV, most advice is for a screen that fills between 30 and 40 degrees of your view, which gives a good picture without having to move your eyes constantly. For a 55 inch 16:9 screen that is roughly 1.7 to 2.3 metres. The width and height of the screen come from the diagonal and its shape.
Resolution sets how close you can sit. A person with normal eyesight can just make out something one minute of arc across, so if you sit too close you can see the individual pixels. A 4K screen has four times as many pixels as a 1080p one, so you can sit much nearer. Enter your seat distance in metres or feet and the tool shows how much of your view the screen fills and the sizes that would suit.
How to use TV Size and Viewing Distance Calculator
- Enter the screen size in inches and choose its shape and resolution.
- Read the width, height and comfortable distance range.
- Enter your seat distance to see the viewing angle.
- Check the sizes that would suit your distance.
Common uses
- Choosing a TV for a living room
- Placing a sofa
- Setting up a projector or a monitor
- Comparing 1080p with 4K
Frequently asked questions
How far should I sit from a 55 inch TV?
Between about 1.7 and 2.3 metres for a 30 to 40 degree view. A 4K screen of this size can be watched from as close as 1.1 metres before pixels show.
How big a TV for a 3 metre distance?
A screen that fills 40 degrees of your view at 3 metres is about 99 inches, and a 30 degree one is about 73 inches. Most people choose within that range.
Does resolution change the distance?
It changes how close you can get. A 1080p screen of 55 inches shows pixels inside 2.2 metres, while a 4K one shows them inside 1.1 metres.
What is a 16:9 screen?
The width is 16 units for every 9 units of height, which is the shape of most TVs. Ultrawide screens are 21:9, and older TVs are 4:3.
Are these rules strict?
No. They are guides. Room lighting, eyesight, and what you watch affect the best distance, and sports and games suit a bigger view than a drama.