Perfecting Proximity: Finding The Optimal TV Viewing Distance

Is bigger always better? There’s always been a sense of pride and accomplishment when purchasing a 50″ or larger screen.  While larger screens can help you see the image better, it’s possible they may be overkill when used in smaller rooms. When shopping for a new TV on sale, it may make sense to buy a smaller TV that better fits your room for the best viewing experience.

The key to a great viewing experience is to figure out the exact distance you should sit from TV. The better you do this, the better the picture will look and the less you’ll strain your eyes. Different types of TVs should be viewed from different distances, depending on their size and specific technology. But if you can figure out the right distance for your set, you’re sure to enjoy watching for the long haul.

Why TV Placement is Important

Just because you can afford an 80″ TV doesn’t mean it’s a good use of your money. A larger TV only improves your watching experience if you have enough space in your home to mount it and sit far enough away. If you’re cramped up close, you’ll have to deal with:

• Eye Strain– While it’s not true that you can go blind from sitting too close to the TV, you could strain your eyes. Not only does this hurt, but you’ll have to stop watching frequently so you can rest your eyes and recover. If you want to watch long movies and TV marathons without interruption, you have to find out the right distance for your screen.
• Image Clarity– Sitting too far from your TV makes it harder to make out details. But sitting too close also causes problems, especially if you have an older screen. Sit too close and you’ll start seeing the pixels that make up each image. Take it from a TV expert: there’s nothing that ruins a show quicker than finding out the images are just a bunch of colored lights.

For the sake of both your eyes and your watching experience, don’t cut corners on placing your TV. Unless you get this right, it doesn’t matter how much you pay for the screen.

Finding the Right Distance for Your TV

How far to sit from your TV depends on both its size and the type of screen you have. If your TV is a traditional 1080p HDTV unit, the TV size distance ratio is between around 1.5 and 2.5 times the diagonal width of the screen. This means that if you have:

• A 40’’ TV– You should sit between 5 and 8.5 feet away from the screen.
• A 43’’ TV– You should sit between 5.5 and 9 feet away from the screen.
• A 50’’ TV– You should sit between 6.5 and 10.5 feet away from the screen.
• A 55’’ TV– You should sit between 7 and 11.5 feet away from the screen.
• A 60’’ TV– You should sit between 7.5 and 12.5 feet away from the screen.
• A 65’’ TV– You should sit between 8 and 13.5 feet away from the screen.
• A 70’’ TV– You should sit between 9 and 14.5 feet away from the screen.
• A 75’’ TV– You should sit between 9.5  and 15.5 feet away from the screen.
• An 80’’ TV– You should sit between 10 and 16.5 feet away from the screen.
• An 85’’ TV– You should sit between 10.5 and 17.5 feet away from the screen.

Compared to 1080p HDTVs, you can watch the more advanced 4K ULTA HD TVs from a smaller distance without straining your eyes or seeing pixels. The ideal TV viewing distance 4K Ultra HD TVs is between about 1 and 1.5 times the diagonal width of the screen, which works out to the following distances:

• A 40’’ TV– You should sit between 3.5 and 5 feet away from the screen.
• A 43’’ TV– You should sit between 3.5 and 5.5 feet away from the screen.
• A 50’’ TV– You should sit between 4 and 6.5 feet away from the screen.
• A 55’’ TV– You should sit between 4.5 and 7 feet away from the screen.
• A 60’’ TV– You should sit between 5 and 7.5 feet away from the screen.
• A 65’’ TV– You should sit between 5.5 and 8 feet away from the screen.
• A 70’’ TV– You should sit between 6 and 9 feet away from the screen.
• A 75’’ TV– You should sit between 6.5  and 9.5 feet away from the screen.
• An 80’’ TV– You should sit between 6.5 and 10 feet away from the screen.
• An 85’’ TV– You should sit between 7 and 10.5 feet away from the screen.

Other Essentials for TV Placement

There’s a lot that goes into placing your television besides how far you are from it. Make sure you consider:

• TV Angle– The more directly you place the TV in front of your face, the better you will be able to see the picture and avoid straining your eyes. Ideally, you should not have to look more than 15 degrees upward or downward, or more than 40 degrees left or right, to see the screen.
• Lighting– Don’t place your TV directly behind any major sources of light. If you do, the different levels of brightness from those lights and the TV will strain your eyes and distract you from the picture.
• Balance– If you’re mounting a TV on your wall or on a stand, make sure that it is balanced from front to back and from left to right. When your TV isn’t balanced, the picture will be uneven. There’s also a greater risk that the screen will fall.

Audio Video Unlimited helps you make the most of your favourite shows and movies, both by offering you a broad selection of screens and by showing you how to set them up. For more information, find a store near you.