Quick answer
The right TV size depends on how far the sofa is from the screen. For a comfortable picture, the distance should be about 1.5 to 2.5 times the screen's diagonal. At 2 m (6 ft 7 in) that means a 43 or 50 in TV, at 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) a 55 or 65 in TV, and at 3 m (9 ft 10 in) a 65 or 75 in TV. Then check that the wall is wide enough for the screen, which is about 87% of its diagonal.
When you move, the TV question comes up early. The old living room had the sofa 3.5 m from the screen, the new one has 2.5 m, and nobody can tell from a floor plan whether the 65-inch TV will feel like a cinema or like sitting in the front row. The room's square footage does not decide it. The distance from your seat to the screen does, and that is a number you can measure before moving day.
TV size by viewing distance
Measure from where your head is when you sit back on the sofa, not from its front edge. On a deep sofa the difference can be 60 cm (24 in) or more, which is a whole TV size.
| Sofa to screen | Comfortable screen size | Common sizes that fit | Cinema-style maximum |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 m (6 ft 7 in) | 31–52 in | 32, 43, 50 in | 65 in |
| 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) | 39–66 in | 43, 50, 55, 65 in | 82 in |
| 3.0 m (9 ft 10 in) | 47–79 in | 50, 55, 65, 75 in | 98 in |
| 3.5 m (11 ft 6 in) | 55–92 in | 55, 65, 75, 85 in | 115 in |
| 4.0 m (13 ft 1 in) | 63–105 in | 65, 75, 85 in | 130 in |
The comfortable range runs from 1.5 times the diagonal at the close end to 2.5 times at the far end. The close end is close to the SMPTE guideline of a screen filling about 30 degrees of your view, and it suits a 4K picture, where you can sit nearer without seeing pixels. The far end is a relaxed distance for news and everyday TV. The cinema-style column follows THX's recommendation of about 40 degrees, roughly 1.2 times the diagonal. It is immersive for films and games, and too much for most people for a whole evening.
Viewing distance by TV size
The same rule the other way around, for when you already own the TV and want to know where the sofa should go.
| TV size | Comfortable distance | Closest, cinema-style |
|---|---|---|
| 43-inch | 1.6–2.7 m (5 ft 5 in–9 ft) | 1.3 m (4 ft 4 in) |
| 50-inch | 1.9–3.2 m (6 ft 3 in–10 ft 5 in) | 1.5 m (5 ft) |
| 55-inch | 2.1–3.5 m (6 ft 11 in–11 ft 6 in) | 1.7 m (5 ft 6 in) |
| 65-inch | 2.5–4.1 m (8 ft 2 in–13 ft 7 in) | 2.0 m (6 ft 6 in) |
| 75-inch | 2.9–4.8 m (9 ft 5 in–15 ft 8 in) | 2.3 m (7 ft 6 in) |
| 85-inch | 3.2–5.4 m (10 ft 8 in–17 ft 9 in) | 2.6 m (8 ft 6 in) |
If the sofa cannot go further back than the close end of the range, the TV is too big for that seat, not the other way around.
Will the TV fit on the wall?
A TV size is a diagonal, so it tells you nothing about width until you convert it. A modern 16:9 screen is about 87% of its diagonal wide and 49% of it tall. The frame adds a centimeter or two.
| TV size | Screen width | Screen height |
|---|---|---|
| 43-inch | ~95 cm (37.5 in) | ~54 cm (21 in) |
| 50-inch | ~111 cm (43.5 in) | ~62 cm (24.5 in) |
| 55-inch | ~122 cm (48 in) | ~69 cm (27 in) |
| 65-inch | ~144 cm (56.5 in) | ~81 cm (32 in) |
| 75-inch | ~166 cm (65.5 in) | ~93 cm (37 in) |
| 85-inch | ~188 cm (74 in) | ~106 cm (41.5 in) |
Check the width against the wall you have in mind, between the corner, the door frame and the window. A screen that runs almost edge to edge on a narrow wall looks crammed even when the distance is right. On a stand, the furniture should be wider than the screen; the TV stand size guide has the widths to match.
How high to hang the TV
The center of the screen should sit near your eye level when you are seated, which is roughly 100 to 110 cm (39 to 43 in) from the floor on a standard sofa. For a 55-inch TV that puts the bottom edge at about 65 to 75 cm (26 to 30 in). The most common mistake is mounting it higher than that, over a fireplace or a tall sideboard, which means watching with your head tilted back.
A few other checks before you commit to a wall:
- Windows. A window directly opposite the screen reflects in it, and one directly behind it makes the screen hard to watch in daylight. Side light is easiest.
- Walkways. If the route through the room runs between the sofa and the TV, keep it clear at 90 cm (36 in), as in the living room layout guide.
- Seats at an angle. An armchair off to the side sees the screen at an angle, and a large TV makes that worse. Keep the main seats facing the screen.
Check the TV size on your own floor plan
A chart gets you to a shortlist. To see which size actually works in the room you are moving into, test it on the plan:
- Upload your floor plan in Layoutr and set the scale by clicking two points a known distance apart.
- Place your sofa at its real size, where you want it.
- Add a TV to the wall. The library has TVs of 43, 55, 65 and 75 in, and you choose the height it hangs at.
- Measure the distance from the seat to the screen with the measure tool, and compare it with the chart above.
- Look at it in 3D. Trace the room over the plan, then switch to Inside mode, walk to the sofa at your own height, and see how big the screen feels from there. Swap the 65 for the 55 and look again.
A sofa and a TV are two pieces, so this works on the free tier, which places up to 3 pieces per floor, with no account.
Frequently asked questions
What size TV do I need for my living room?
Measure from where your head is when you sit on the sofa to where the screen will be, then divide by 1.5 to 2.5 to get a comfortable screen diagonal. At 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) that is 39 to 66 in, so a 55 or 65 in TV. At 3 m (9 ft 10 in) it is 47 to 79 in, so a 65 or 75 in TV.
How far should I sit from a 55-inch TV?
About 2.1 to 3.5 m (6 ft 11 in to 11 ft 6 in). The close end suits a sharp 4K picture and films; the far end is a relaxed distance for everyday TV. Closer than about 1.7 m (5 ft 6 in) the screen fills more of your view than most people find comfortable.
How far should I sit from a 65-inch TV?
About 2.5 to 4.1 m (8 ft 2 in to 13 ft 7 in). If your sofa is less than 2.5 m from the TV wall, a 55-inch screen will usually feel more comfortable than a 65-inch one.
Is a 65-inch TV too big for a small living room?
Not by the room size, by the distance. A 65-inch TV is about 144 cm (56.5 in) wide, so it needs a wall at least that wide, and a sofa about 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) or more from the screen. If your sofa sits closer than that, go down a size.
How high should a TV be mounted on the wall?
Put the center of the screen near your seated eye level, roughly 100 to 110 cm (39 to 43 in) from the floor. Mounting it higher, such as over a fireplace, means tilting your head back to watch.
Can I see how big a TV will look in my room before I buy it?
Yes. In Layoutr you upload your floor plan, set the scale, place your sofa at its real size and put a TV from 43 to 75 in on the wall at the height you want. The measure tool gives you the exact viewing distance, and Inside mode lets you walk to the sofa at your own eye level and look at the screen from there. It is free and needs no account.
See which TV fits your living room
Upload your floor plan, place your sofa and a TV at real size, and check the viewing distance before you buy. Free to use, no account required.
Try Layoutr free