When Is a TV Too Big for a Room?
- A TV can be too big for a room if the viewing distance is too short. For instance, for a 1080p 75-inch TV, the ideal distance is ten to fourteen feet away.
- According to the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE), the TV should occupy 30 degrees of your view. If it takes up more than this, it is considered too large for the room
TVs are a must-have when it comes to home entertainment systems since everyone loves to watch media on a large, high-quality screen.
And with new models coming out every year, it’s even easier to buy humongous TVs that can cover your whole wall for even more beautiful visuals.
However, is there such a thing as too large? When is a TV too big for a room?
We have found that a TV can be too big for a room depending on how far away you are sitting from it.
If a TV is too large, even with a high resolution, you may be able to see the pixels. To avoid this, you should measure your room and use a TV distance calculator to find the ideal TV size for you.
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When Is a TV Too Big for a Room?
Believe it or not, there are actually standards for TV sizes!
The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, also known as SMPTE, has declared that the TV should take up 30 degrees of your view.
Anything more than this is just unnecessary since there’s only so much you can take in with one glance and a static gaze.
What this means is that you need to calculate the ideal TV size for your room.
The diagonal size of your TV is the length measured from one bottom corner to the top corner on the opposite side. This is the preferred way of measuring your TV since TVs tend to have a variety of widths and heights, depending on the model and brand.
Is a 55, 75-Inch TV Too Big for a Room?
55 inches and 75 inches are some popular modern TV sizes.
But are these too big for a room?
Well, that depends on the size of your room and how far you are sitting from your TV!
In general, you want to sit at least six feet away from a 1080p 55-inch TV.
For a 1080p 75-inch TV the ideal distance is ten to fourteen feet away.
How to Determine Whether a TV Is Too Big for a Room?
The best way to tell if a TV is too big for a room is by using a TV size to distance calculator and seeing if you can comfortably sit the ideal distance away from the TV.
There are also general rules that you probably already know from common sense.
For example, if a TV can’t fit in a room, or can’t fit on the stand or table, it’s probably too big for your room. And if you have to strain your eyes to see, then the TV is too small for you.
How To Pick the Right TV Size for a Room?
First, measure the dimensions of your room and decide where you want to sit while watching media on your TV.
Measure the stand you’ll be using for the TV and decide where to place it. And if you’re mounting it on the wall, make sure the height is comfortable for your viewing experience.
Finally, measure the distance between where you’ll sit and where you’ll set up your TV.
From this, you can use a TV size-to-distance calculator to determine the best TV size for your room.
Another factor to take into account is the room’s function.
If you want it to be a snug area only used for watching shows, you only need to worry about the TV size in relation to your viewing distance.
But if it’s a multi-purpose space that will be used every day, you will likely prioritize a TV that can fit alongside your other appliances and furniture.
TV Size To Distance Calculator
No one wants to memorize the formula for calculating the ideal TV size in relation to the viewing distance, which is why there are various online calculators that do the job for you!
These calculators include one from RTings, which lets you adjust the distance by 0.5 feet increments.
There’s also the Cable TV’s calculator, which has dropdown menus so you can calculate the ideal TV size or viewing distance.
Finally, there is OmniCalculator, which allows you to input measurements for size and distance, as well as adjust your TV’s resolution.
Just remember to use your TV screen’s diagonal measurement!
Is Having a Big TV in a Small Room Bad?
Having a big TV in a small room is not necessarily bad.
It’s just that, in general, you want to sit far away from a big TV. This is because the closer you are to the screen, the more easily you can see the individual pixels. Plus, you could strain your eyes!
This may not be a problem if you have a very high-resolution TV, but you also want to sit far away enough to take in the whole screen at a glance.
You’ll probably be staring statically at the screen, so it’s best to avoid having to move your head from side to side.
Conclusion
A TV is too big for a room when it takes up more than 30 degrees of your view from the sitting area.
A TV is too big for a room if you can’t comfortably sit the ideal distance away from it. For example, a 55-inch or 75-inch 1080p TV isn’t too big for a room if you can sit at least six to eight feet away.
To choose the correct TV size for a room, use a TV size-to-distance calculator.
Having a big TV in a small room can make watching TV uncomfortable and might mean you’ll be able to see individual pixels on the screen.
We hope this article helped you!
Yesenia Achlim is a technical copywriter and editor with a focus on AV equipment. She aims to break down complicated topics and make technology accessible, no matter your technical expertise. When she’s not teaching you how to replace a projector lamp, you can find her reading and baking.