The space you sit out of your TV performs a big position in getting an immersive expertise. In case you sit too shut, chances are you’ll discover pixel-level imperfections or pressure your eyes, however in case you sit too far, chances are you’ll miss smaller particulars.
The Supreme TV Viewing Distance
However in case you search for a super TV viewing distance, there isn’t a single really helpful customary. As a substitute, many recommendations on the subject, together with these from business teams and producers, supply how a lot of the human subject of view a display ought to cowl. Primarily based on this, you’ll be able to calculate the best distance for display dimension.
Tip: In case you’re uncertain how large your TV is, learn to correctly measure a TV display.
For instance, one of the vital generally cited suggestions comes from the Society of Movement Image and Tv Engineers (SMPTE). It recommends a distance from which a show would occupy a 30-degree subject of view. This distance comes out to round 1.62 instances the show dimension of a TV. So in case you personal a 55-inch tv, it’s best to sit round 89.1-inch or 7.42 toes out of your TV.
Display dimension | SMPTE really helpful distance |
30-inch | 4.1 toes |
35-inch | 4.8 toes |
40-inch | 5.5 toes |
45-inch | 6.1 toes |
50-inch | 6.8 toes |
55-inch | 7.5 toes |
60-inch | 8.2 toes |
65-inch | 8.9 toes |
70-inch | 9.5 toes |
75-inch | 10.2 toes |
80-inch | 10.9 toes |
85-inch | 11.6 toes |

Equally, THX, identified for its high-fidelity audio-visual requirements, suggests a minimal distance from which the display covers 40 levels of your subject of view and the utmost distance from which the protection is 28 levels. Due to this fact, to calculate the space as per THX advice, you’ll have to multiply 1.2 by the display dimension for the minimal and 1.8 by the display dimension for the utmost distance.
Display dimension | THX’s really helpful minimal distance |
THX’s really helpful most distance |
30-inch | 3 toes | 4.5 toes |
35-inch | 3.5 toes | 5.25 toes |
40-inch | 4 toes | 6 toes |
45-inch | 4.5 toes | 6.75 toes |
50-inch | 5 toes | 7.5 toes |
55-inch | 5.5 toes | 8.25 toes |
60-inch | 6 toes | 9 toes |
65-inch | 6.5 toes | 9.75 toes |
70-inch | 7 toes | 10.50 toes |
75-inch | 7.5 toes | 11.25 toes |
80-inch | 8 toes | 12 toes |
85-inch | 8.5 toes | 12.75 toes |
Whereas SMPTE and THX suggestions present a fairly first rate estimate of how far it’s best to sit from a display and are nice for a snug viewing expertise, each have been issued for cinemas. In order that they don’t bear in mind the high-resolution nature of contemporary TVs. To see and benefit from the element UHD TVs present, you have to sit comparatively near the display. In any other case, the upper decision received’t matter.
Sony is likely one of the few TV producers providing a viewing distance advice primarily based on each display dimension and determination. In keeping with the corporate, the best distance for watching a 4K TV is 1.5 instances the vertical dimension of the display. So primarily based on this, in case you personal a 55-inch 4K TV, try to be sitting round 39.36-inch (3.28 toes) away.
Equally, in response to Sony, the really helpful distance for HD and full-HD TVs is 3 times the vertical display dimension and 6 instances for normal definition (SD) TVs. As Sony doesn’t supply a viewing distance for 8K TVs, the advice for 4K TVs is an effective start line.
Amongst different producers, Panasonic sides with Sony and has the identical distance suggestions.
Display dimension | Vertical dimension | Sony’s really helpful distance for 4K TVs |
Sony’s really helpful distance for HDTVs |
Sony’s really helpful distance for SD TVs |
32-inch | 15.7-inch | 2 toes | 4 toes | 8 toes |
40-inch | 19.6-inch | 2.4 toes | 4.9 toes | 9.8 toes |
43-inch | 21.1-inch | 2.6 toes | 5.2 toes | 10.4 toes |
50-inch | 24.5-inch | 3.1 toes | 6.2 toes | 12.4 toes |
55-inch | 27-inch | 3.4 toes | 6.8 toes | 13.6 toes |
60-inch | 29.4-inch | 3.7 toes | 7.4 toes | 14.8 toes |
65-inch | 31.9-inch | 4 toes | 8 toes | 16 toes |
70-inch | 34.3-inch | 4.3 toes | 8.6 toes | 17.2 toes |
75-inch | 36.8-inch | 4.6 toes | 9.2 toes | 18.4 toes |
80-inch | 39.2-inch | 4.9 toes | 9.8 toes | 19.6 toes |
85-inch | 41.7-inch | 5.2 toes | 10.4 toes | 20.8 toes |
TCL’s suggestions for HD televisions are much like Sony’s however not the identical, as the corporate suggests a spread slightly than a hard and fast distance. Moreover, it asks TV viewers to sit down near the TV for small sizes. TCL doesn’t share a 4K TV viewing distance however notes that you could select to sit down nearer than the really helpful HDTV distance to benefit from the greater decision.
Display dimension | TCL’s really helpful distance for HDTVs |
40-inch | 3-3.5 toes |
43-inch | 3.6-5.4 toes |
50-inch | 4.2-6.3 toes |
55-inch | 4.9-6.9 toes |
60-inch | 5-7.5 toes |
65-inch | 5.4-8.1 toes |
70-inch | 5.8-8.75 toes |
75-inch | 6.3-9.4 toes |
80-inch | 6.7-10 toes |
85-inch | 7.1-10.6 toes |
The draw back to Sony, Panasonic, and TCL’s suggestions is that in case you watch lower-resolution content material on a higher-resolution TV, you’ll simply discover pixel-level imperfections. And this may be fairly widespread on 4K TVs in case you watch cable, DVDs, YouTube, and older content material. So it’s best to preserve this in thoughts.
RELATED: What Is “Upscaling” on a TV, and How Does It Work?
Different Key Components

Whereas the display dimension and determination present a great baseline for choosing probably the most appropriate viewing distance, there are a pair extra elements that it’s best to take into account earlier than deciding, comparable to what you might be watching and with whom you might be watching.
It’s vital to bear in mind what you steadily watch in your TV. For instance, chances are you’ll wish to sit near your TV in case you play quite a lot of video video games or watch motion pictures to get probably the most immersive and cinematic expertise. However in case you sometimes watch TV exhibits or information, you don’t want to sit down very shut. Equally, in case you devour fast-moving sports activities whereas sitting very near the display, chances are you’ll endure from non permanent eye pressure or really feel nauseated.
Furthermore, in case you watch with a bunch of household or associates, and your seating is just too near the display, folks seated on the perimeters might not get the perfect expertise due to their viewing angle. So transferring your seating association barely farther will enable everybody to benefit from the content material equally.
RELATED: Improve Your TV and Gaming Expertise With These Bias Lights
Which Advice Ought to You Select?
As you’ve seen to this point, all kinds of suggestions exist. So it’s a good suggestion to take these suggestions as normal pointers and a place to begin slightly than agency guidelines. And, primarily based in your private desire, eyesight, and different associated elements, you’ll be able to select the best distance for you.
The SMPTE and THX suggestions are appropriate for individuals who aren’t searching for probably the most immersive expertise or wish to take up each element supplied by high-resolution pictures. However if you’d like each of these issues, Sony and TCL’s suggestions are higher for you.