Buying a new TV brings up one question almost immediately: what size TV should I get?
TVs have become considerably bigger over the years, with 55″ and 65″ screens now common choices for everyday living rooms. Larger 75″, 85″ and even bigger TVs are also becoming increasingly accessible. But bigger isn’t automatically better. The right TV size depends on where you’re going to put it, how far away you’ll be sitting and what you like to watch.
Whether you’re choosing a new TV for a living room, bedroom, kitchen or dedicated home cinema, this guide will help you find the right screen size for your space.
Jump to:
The Most Important Factor: Your Viewing Distance
What Size TV Is Best for a Living Room?
What Size TV Is Best for a Bedroom?
What Size TV Is Best for a Kitchen?
What Size TV Is Best for an Open Plan Room?
What Size TV Is Best for Gaming?
What Size TV Is Best for a Home Cinema?
Is a Bigger TV Always Better?
Don’t Forget the Physical Size of the TV
TV Size at a Glance
See the Difference in Person
Frequently Asked Questions
The Most Important Factor: Your Viewing Distance
It’s tempting to choose a TV based purely on the dimensions of the room, but viewing distance is much more useful. This is simply the distance between your usual seating position and the TV screen.
Modern 4K TVs allow you to sit closer to a large screen than older HD televisions without the picture appearing noticeably pixelated. This means a TV that might initially look surprisingly large in a showroom can feel completely natural once it’s installed at home.
As a general starting point:
| Viewing distance | Suggested TV size |
|---|---|
| Around 1.2–1.5 metres | 43–50 inches |
| Around 1.5–1.8 metres | 50–55 inches |
| Around 1.8–2.1 metres | 55–65 inches |
| Around 2.1–2.4 metres | 65–75 inches |
| Around 2.4–3 metres | 75–85 inches |
| 3 metres+ | 85 inches+ |
These aren’t strict rules – they’re a useful starting point when narrowing down your options. If you mainly watch films, sport or play games and want a more immersive experience, you may prefer a larger screen. For more casual viewing, a slightly smaller TV may feel more comfortable.
Quick Tip: Measure Before You Shop
Measure the distance from your main seating position to where the TV screen will sit. It’s also worth measuring the available width of your TV unit, alcove or wall. Remember that the advertised TV size is the diagonal screen measurement, not the width of the television.
What Size TV Is Best for a Living Room?
For many homes, the living room is where it makes sense to choose your largest TV. It’s likely to be used for everything from everyday television and streaming to sport, gaming and family film nights, so you’ll want a screen that’s comfortable for everyday viewing while still providing a sense of scale when you’re watching something special.
55“ TVs are a great all-round option for smaller and medium-sized living rooms, particularly where seating is relatively close to the screen.
If your sofa is around two metres or more from the TV, however, it’s well worth considering a 65″ TV; this has become an increasingly popular size because it provides a noticeably bigger picture without dominating most average living rooms. For larger spaces and longer viewing distances, 75″ and 85″ TVs can provide a much more immersive experience.
Don’t immediately dismiss a larger TV because it looks enormous in the shop. TVs are surrounded by other screens in store, which makes judging their scale difficult. Once you’ve measured your space, you may find that the larger option actually makes more sense.
What Size TV Is Best for a Bedroom?
Bedroom TVs are generally viewed from a shorter distance, so there’s usually no need to go as large as you would in the living room. For many bedrooms, 32″ to 43″ TVs provide a comfortable viewing experience. In a larger bedroom where the TV is positioned some distance from the bed, a 43″ or 50″ model could be worth considering. Think about the position of the TV too. A wall-mounted screen can be a particularly useful option where floor or furniture space is limited.
The most important thing is that you can comfortably see the picture and read menus or subtitles without the screen feeling overwhelming when you’re lying relatively close to it.
What Size TV Is Best for a Kitchen?
Kitchen TVs tend to be smaller because they’re often used for more casual viewing while cooking, eating breakfast or getting on with other jobs.
A 24“ to 32“ TV can work particularly well in a smaller kitchen, while 32″ to 43“ models may suit larger kitchen diners. Placement is especially important here. Consider where you’ll actually be watching from and whether the screen will be clearly visible from your usual position. You should also think about available worktop or wall space and avoid positioning your TV somewhere it could be exposed to excessive heat, steam or splashes.
What Size TV Is Best for an Open Plan Room?
Open plan kitchens and living spaces present an interesting challenge because the TV may need to be visible from several different areas. A smaller television can easily become lost in a large open plan room, particularly if you’re viewing it from a kitchen island or dining table as well as the sofa.
Depending on the viewing distances involved, 65“, 75“ or larger TVs can work particularly well. Rather than judging the TV against the size of the wall, think about the furthest position from which you’ll regularly watch it.
You may also want to consider viewing angles. If people will regularly watch from different parts of the room, picture performance from off-centre positions can become an important consideration alongside screen size.
What Size TV Is Best for Gaming?
If your TV is going to be used regularly with a PlayStation, Xbox or other games console, screen size can make a huge difference to the experience. A 55“ or 65“ 4K TV is an excellent starting point for many living-room gaming setups. Larger 75″ screens can provide an even more immersive experience if you’re sitting further away. Size isn’t the only consideration, though. If gaming is a priority, look at features such as:
- 4K resolution
- 120Hz or higher refresh rates
- HDMI 2.1 connectivity
- Variable Refresh Rate (VRR)
- Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM)
- Low input lag
A slightly smaller TV with better gaming features could ultimately be a better choice than simply buying the biggest screen your budget allows.
What Size TV Is Best for a Home Cinema?
If you’re creating a dedicated home cinema or simply want a more cinematic experience in your living room, this is where going bigger really starts to make sense. A 65“ TV can deliver an excellent film-watching experience in a smaller room, while 75“ and 85“ TVs can bring you much closer to that big screen feeling. At longer viewing distances, an 85″ screen might not feel anywhere near as enormous as you expect.
Picture quality matters, too; OLED TVs are particularly popular for film viewing thanks to their excellent black levels and contrast, while premium Mini LED TVs can combine a very large screen with impressive brightness.
Is a Bigger TV Always Better?
Not necessarily, but many people are more likely to regret choosing a screen that’s too small than one that’s slightly larger than expected. There are still several reasons to choose a smaller TV. A large screen can feel overwhelming if you’re sitting very close to it and lower quality television broadcasts can make picture imperfections more obvious. Your available furniture or wall space may also put a practical limit on screen size.
Budget matters too; rather than stretching your budget purely to gain another ten inches of screen size, consider the overall specification. A better quality 55″ or 65″ TV could be a smarter purchase than a basic 75″ model, depending on what matters most to you.
Don’t Forget the Physical Size of the TV
One easy mistake is assuming that a 65″ TV is 65 inches wide. TV sizes are measured diagonally across the screen, from one corner to the opposite corner. The actual width and height vary between models, although modern TVs have very slim bezels.
Before ordering, check the manufacturer’s dimensions and measure:
- The width of your TV stand or furniture
- Available wall space
- The position of windows, fireplaces and shelving
- Space required for a soundbar
- The width of doors or awkward access points if you’re buying a particularly large TV
If you’re wall mounting, it’s also worth thinking about viewing height. Ideally, the screen should sit at a comfortable height when you’re in your normal viewing position rather than forcing you to continually look upwards.
TV Size at a Glance
| Room or use | Good starting point |
|---|---|
| Kitchen | 24–43 inches |
| Bedroom | 32–50 inches |
| Small living room | 43–55 inches |
| Average living room | 55–65 inches |
| Large living room | 65–85 inches |
| Open-plan space | 65–85+ inches |
| Gaming | 55–75 inches |
| Home cinema | 65–85+ inches |
Remember, these are starting points rather than fixed rules. Viewing distance should always be your main consideration.
See the Difference in Person
Choosing a TV size from measurements and specifications alone can be difficult. Sometimes the best way to decide is simply to stand in front of the screen and see how it feels. At HBH Woolacotts, you can compare a wide range of TV sizes from leading brands and get advice from our knowledgeable teams about the right screen for your room, viewing distance and budget.
With stores across Cornwall and Devon, you can see TVs in person and compare different screen sizes and technologies before making your decision. Whether you’re looking for a compact bedroom television, a 55″ all-rounder or an 85″ centrepiece for film nights, we’re Happy to Be Helpful.
Frequently Asked Questions
55-inch and 65-inch TVs are excellent starting points for many modern living rooms. The best choice depends primarily on how far you sit from the screen and how immersive you want the viewing experience to be.
Not necessarily. If you’re sitting around two metres or more from the screen, a 65-inch 4K TV can feel very natural. Measure your viewing distance and available space rather than judging the television solely by how large it appears in a shop.
Around 1.5 to 2.1 metres can provide a comfortable starting range for many viewers, depending on personal preference and how immersive you want the picture to feel.
A viewing distance of roughly 1.8 to 2.4 metres is a useful starting point for a 65″ 4K television, although some viewers may prefer sitting closer for films and gaming.
A 75″ TV can work extremely well in a medium or large living room, particularly where the main seating position is more than two metres from the screen. Check the physical dimensions of the television and your available wall or furniture space before buying.
If both fit your room and budget, consider your viewing distance first. At shorter distances a 55″ screen may be plenty, while a 65″ TV can provide a more immersive experience from around two metres away.
