How are TV sizes measured?
Diagonally, from one corner of the visible screen to the opposite corner. The frame is not included, so the TV itself is always a little bigger than its screen.
On a 16:9 TV the width is 0.872 times the diagonal and the height is 0.490 times. A 55 inch screen is 47.9 in (121.8 cm) wide and 27.0 in (68.5 cm) tall.
Which TV size should I buy?
Start from how far you sit. A screen that fills 30° to 40° of your view looks big without making you turn your head, the range film and TV engineers recommend.
Each distance links to its own page. The TV size calculator takes any distance.
How much bigger is the next TV size up?
More than the number suggests. Going from 55 to 65 inches adds 18% to the diagonal but 40% to the screen area. Area grows with the square of the diagonal.
From 65 to 75 inches adds another 33%. Compare any two TV sizes to see the difference drawn to scale.
How high should a TV be mounted?
Center the screen at seated eye height, about 42 in (107 cm) from the floor. A 65 inch TV then runs from 26.1 in (66.2 cm) to 57.9 in (147.2 cm).
Every size page gives these heights for its own screen. For the wall bracket, find the screw pattern on the VESA mount sizes page. For a TV that hangs flat like a picture, compare the Samsung Frame TV sizes.
More questions about TV sizes
Is a 65 inch TV 65 inches wide?
No. TV sizes are measured diagonally, corner to corner. A 65 inch TV screen is 56.7 in (143.9 cm) wide and 31.9 in (80.9 cm) tall.
How do I work out a TV size in cm?
Multiply the inches by 2.54. A 55 inch TV is 139.7 cm across the diagonal, and its screen is 121.8 cm wide.
What sizes do TVs come in?
Common sizes run from 24 to 100 inches. The chart above lists 16 sizes, each with its own page of measurements.
Does the frame change the TV size?
No. The size covers the visible glass only. The frame, or bezel, adds a little to the width and height, so check the model measurements on each size page.