TV size and viewing distance calculator
Enter your screen size or how far you sit from the TV. The calculator shows the recommended distance range and the screen’s width and height.
How the calculation works
SMPTE recommends the screen fill about 30° of your field of view for general viewing. THX recommends about 40° for a cinema feel.
For a 16:9 screen, a 30° angle means sitting about 1.63 times the screen diagonal away; 40° means about 1.2 times.
With 20/20 vision you stop seeing individual pixels at about 1.6 × the diagonal for 1080p and about 0.8 × for 4K. That’s why 4K lets you sit closer or buy bigger.
Questions people ask
What size TV should I get for a 3 m (10 ft) viewing distance?
About 75 to 100 inches for a cinema feel, or around 75 inches for mixed use. Most people find 75–85 inches a good balance at that distance.
Is it bad to sit too close to a TV?
No, it doesn’t damage your eyes. If you see pixels or need to turn your head, move back a little.
Does 4K matter on a small TV?
Only if you sit close. Beyond roughly 1.6 times the diagonal, most people can’t tell 4K from 1080p.