TV distance and height: where the screen should go
The screen is usually the first thing into the living room and the last thing we think about placing. The question has two parts: how far away you sit, and how high it hangs. The answer starts with its size.
The numbers at a glance
Distance follows size
The bigger the screen, the further back you sit. THX recommends about a 40° view for a cinema feel, roughly 1.2 times the diagonal. SMPTE recommends 30° for everyday viewing, roughly 1.5 times.[1]
| Size | Screen (width × height) | Right distance | Unit width |
|---|---|---|---|
| 43 inch | 95 × 54 cm | 1.3–1.7 m | 111–121 cm |
| 50 inch | 111 × 62 cm | 1.5–2 m | 127–137 cm |
| 55 inch | 122 × 68 cm | 1.7–2.1 m | 138–148 cm |
| 65 inch | 144 × 81 cm | 2–2.5 m | 160–170 cm |
| 75 inch | 166 × 93 cm | 2.3–2.9 m | 182–192 cm |
| 85 inch | 188 × 106 cm | 2.6–3.3 m | 204–214 cm |
Measure from where your eyes are when seated, not from the edge of the sofa. Screen sizes in the table are worked out from the diagonal of a 16:9 screen, so measure your own screen before choosing a unit.
Work out your screen
Choose the screen size and how far you sit, and see the distance, the height and the unit width, drawn to scale.
- The screen itself144 × 81 cm
- Right distance for this size2 to 2.5 m
- Your distanceabout 2.5 mRight for this screen size.
- Centre of the screen107 cmAbout 107 cm from the floor, at your eye level when seated.
- Bottom edge of the screen67 cm
- TV unit width160 to 170 cm8 to 13 cm wider than the screen on each side.
Height: the centre of the screen at eye level
Sitting comfortably, your eyes are about 107 cm from the floor, and that is where the centre of the screen belongs.[2] If you find yourself tilting your head back to see it, it is too high.[2]
The common mistake is hanging the screen high, halfway up the wall or above a tall sideboard. After an hour of watching, your neck will notice.
The unit: wider than the screen
Make the unit 8 to 13 cm wider than the screen on each side.[3] A 65-inch screen is about 144 cm wide, so it takes a unit of 160 to 170 cm.
If the screen stands on the unit rather than on the wall, the unit’s height is 107 cm minus the height from the screen’s base to its centre.[3] Measure that on your own screen before choosing a unit.
On the wall or on the unit?
- On the wall: the screen sits at the right height whatever the unit’s height, and the unit is there for storage and looks.
- On the unit: simpler to set up, but the unit’s height decides where the screen sits.
- The window: don’t place the screen directly opposite a window or with its back to one, because of reflections and glare.
Pieces in this article
Questions we hear often
How close can I sit to a 55-inch screen?
About 1.7 m for a cinema feel, and up to 2.1 m for everyday viewing.
How high should the screen hang?
With its centre about 107 cm from the floor. For a 55-inch screen that puts the bottom edge about 73 cm from the floor.
How wide should the unit be for a 65-inch screen?
160 to 170 cm, which is 8 to 13 cm wider than the screen on each side.
Can a large screen work in a small room?
The distance decides. Sitting 2 m away, the largest comfortable screen is about 65 inches. Anything larger needs you to sit further back.
Want a hand choosing?
Send us the room and door measurements, or a photo of the space, on WhatsApp and we’ll help you choose. If you’d rather sit on the piece first, both showrooms are open every day.
New Cairo Showroom
Street 26, New Cairo
Sat – Thu: 12:00 PM – 11:00 PM · Fri: 1:30 PM – 11:00 PM
Directions on the map ↗Nasr City Showroom
113 Mostafa El-Nahaas St., Nasr City
Sat – Thu: 12:00 PM – 11:00 PM · Fri: 1:30 PM – 11:00 PM
Directions on the map ↗Sources
The numbers in this article come from these references, and screen sizes are worked out from the diagonal of a 16:9 screen. They are common practice, not fixed measurements, and each NOAH unit’s own measurements are on its page.
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Home Theater Guide: Screen SizeViewing standards · Kaleidescape · summarising the SMPTE and THX recommendations. Used for: SMPTE’s 30° and THX’s about 40° field of view, and the guide’s formulas: size in inches ÷ 0.835 for a cinema feel, ÷ 0.65 for everyday viewing, giving a distance in inches.
Open the source on kaleidescape.com ↗ -
How High to Mount TV for the Ideal PlacementMounting guide · TaskRabbit · 27 July 2023. Used for: about 42 inches (107 cm) from the floor to the centre of the screen, at seated eye level, and that tilting your head back means the screen is too high.
Open the source on taskrabbit.com ↗ -
TV Stand Size Guide: Width, Height & Depth by TV SizeBuying guide · CHITA LIVING. Used for: a unit 3 to 5 inches (8–13 cm) wider than the screen on each side, and unit height = seated eye height minus the height from the screen’s base to its centre.
Open the source on chitaliving.com ↗
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