How to Measure a TV Screen

We’ve all heard it before: bigger is better. And in several cases, it's true: A large order of fries. A venti-sized glass of wine. A jumbotron serving of chips and salsa. So the old adage applies to food, sure. But can the same be said of TVs?

There is no shortage of options when it comes to TV dimensions. In the lightweight category, we have 32” models. On the other side of the ring we have Andre the Giant TVs with a whopping 120” spread. There’s no real right or wrong — your viewing space, relative distance from the screen, and ultimately, your own preferences are the guiding principles. We’ll walk you through a simple way to calculate the ideal TV size for your space. If you want to really get into the nitty gritty and determine how much eye strain you might experience at each screen size, there is a formula for that, too. I won't be using it. But you can, if you want.

TV screens are measured diagonally: from one upper corner, to the lower corner on the opposite side. You’ll achieve a truly immersive viewing experience when 40 degrees of your field of vision is occupied by the TV screen. A big screen and relative distance to the TV work in tandem to accomplish this. For most people, an ideal distance is one where you hold your neck comfortably and don’t feel eye strain.

This is the point of the exam where we recommend taking out your calculator. Unless you have imminent plans to move to a new residence, we’re going to go out on a limb and assume you aren’t planning on moving your couch closer to (or farther from) the TV. The moving variable, then, is the size of the TV.

Let’s fill in the formula:

Optimal distance from TV = TV screen size x 1.2

The seat of my couch is roughly 90 inches from where my TV sits. So my formula looks like this: 90 = TV screen size x 1.2

Are you getting war flashbacks to 10th grade algebra? It’s horrible, but we’re almost done.

Solve for “TV screen size” by dividing 90 by 1.2. 90/1.2 = 75

The ideal TV size for my space is 75 inches. Pencils down. I promise we won’t make you do math again.

Use the number you landed on to help you pick a TV. It doesn’t have to be exact — scale up or down at your leisure, but keep in mind the size that works best for your space.

Most Common TV Sizes

The sizes that most often fit an average viewing space are 55” and 65”, but, more and more people are looking to shift towards 75” and 85”. When it comes to size, Hisense runs the full gamut — we carry 32” screens, all the way up to 120”, and all of them deliver on quality. Plus, you don’t have to break the bank. Hisense takes advanced tech and makes it affordable. You can get a stellar TV without spending your entire tax refund.

Remember, as you size up, take a look at the TV resolution. As the screen gets bigger, the total pixel count should increase as well. Otherwise, you’ll have a behemoth screen with image resolution equivalent to Microsoft clip art. We have a range of 4K TVs and ULED TVs in several sizes so that no matter what you pick, the picture quality is top tier.

What’s ULED? I’m glad you asked. ULED, otherwise known as Ultra LED, is our proprietary tech that combines four key factors: Local Dimming, Wide Color Gamut, 4K Resolution, and Ultra Smooth Frame Rates to give you a rich, vibrant picture quality that makes everything — even C-Span — feel exciting.

Looking to surpass 75”? You’re in big-screen territory. 4K LED TVs really sing in larger sizes, and Laser TVs introduce deeper, richer colors that make your favorite movie feel brand new. Can your space fit a 90-120” screen? Do you want to feel like a Bond Villain? Get a Laser TV. They’re massive, fully immersive, and unspeakably cool.



Upgrade Your Living Space with the Perfect Size TV

If shopping for TVs was like building your own decadent froyo monstrosity, picking the right size is on par with picking a flavor. All the ancillary bells and whistles, like 4K, UHD, Dolby Vision, and more are the toppings. And to be frank, you can never have too many toppings. It all comes down to what you prefer, and what home entertainment means to you.

Maybe you like movies. Maybe you like putting on your headset and gaming. Maybe, like me, you enjoy parachuting towards hypertension by screaming at the TV when you’re watching the NBA conference finals. Whatever you’re into, Hisense has a TV that’s right for you.