42 Inch TV Dimensions
A 42 inch TV has a screen 36.6 in93.0 cm wide and 20.6 in52.3 cm tall (93.0 cm36.6 in x 52.3 cm20.6 in). The 42 inches is measured diagonally across the glass, corner to corner. The TV itself is always a little bigger than these numbers.
Sized for seating 4.2 ft1.3 m to 5.7 ft1.7 m away, it suits a bedroom, kitchen or small living room. Below you can see it to scale on a wall and check it against your space.
- Width
- 36.6 in 93.0 cm
- Height
- 20.6 in 52.3 cm
- Diagonal
- 42 in 106.7 cm
- Screen area
- 754 sq in 4,863 sq cm
How big is a 42 inch TV?
Here it is drawn to scale on a wall, mounted at the usual height, with a standard 80 inch door beside it. The screen covers 754 sq in4,863 sq cm, 10% more than a 40 inch screen. The screen is about as wide as the door and about a quarter the door's height.
- Diagonal
- 42 in (106.7 cm)
- Width
- 36.6 in93.0 cm · 93.0 cm36.6 in
- Height
- 20.6 in52.3 cm · 52.3 cm20.6 in
- Screen area
- 754 sq in4,863 sq cm
- Aspect ratio
- 16:9
- Perimeter
- 114.4 in290.6 cm
- Pixel density at 1080p
- 52 PPI
- Pixel density at 4K
- 105 PPI
- Pixel density at 8K
- 210 PPI
How big is a 42 inch TV with the frame and stand?
The 42 inch figure covers the glass only. Frames, stands and depth vary by model, and they decide whether a TV fits your wall. Here are the real measurements of popular 42 inch TVs, from each maker's spec sheet.
Each model name links to its maker's spec sheet. Prices open on Amazon (affiliate links).
What did the real models show?
The table lists four 42 inch TVs from Philips and Samsung. Their bodies are 36.7 in93.2 cm to 36.8 in93.4 cm wide, or 0.1 in0.2 cm to 0.2 in0.5 cm more than the screen itself. With under 1 in (2.5 cm) between them, the frame rarely decides whether one of these fits.
Without its stand, the Samsung QN42S90HAEXZA and Samsung QN42S90FAEXZC are the thinnest at 1.6 in4.0 cm deep. At the other end, the Philips 42OLED809/12 is 4.5 in11.3 cm deep.
Weights run from 18.3 lb8.3 kg for the Samsung QN42S90HAEXZA and Samsung QN42S90FAEXZC to 27.78 lb12.6 kg for the Philips 42OLED809/12. A mount rated for 28 lb12.7 kg or more covers the weight of every model here.
On their stands, they sit 2.5 in6.4 cm to 2.6 in6.5 cm taller, which matters under a shelf or a window. The Samsung QN42S90HAEXZA and Samsung QN42S90FAEXZC need the widest TV unit, with feet 25.7 in65.3 cm apart. The Philips 42OLED810/12 rests on a base only 15.8 in40.0 cm wide, so it can sit on a narrower TV unit.
They use two VESA patterns, from 200 x 200 to 300 x 300 mm. The most common is 200 x 200 mm, on two of them, but check your exact model before you buy a mount.
Will a 42 inch TV fit?
Enter the width and height of your wall space or TV cabinet opening. We check it against the screen, and the table above shows how much each frame adds.
Using the stand that comes with the TV? Your TV unit must be wider than the stand's feet.
Where should you put a 42 inch TV?
How high to mount it
Center the screen at seated eye height, about 42 in (107 cm) from the floor. For a 42 inch TV that puts the bottom edge at 31.7 in80.5 cm and the top at 52.3 in132.8 cm.
- Bottom edge
- 31.7 in 80.5 cm
- Center
- 42.0 in 106.7 cm
- Top edge
- 52.3 in 132.8 cm
How far to sit from a 42 inch TV
Sit 4.2 ft1.3 m to 5.7 ft1.7 m away. At that distance the screen fills 30 to 40 degrees of your view, the range film and TV engineers recommend.
It feels ideal at 5.0 ft1.5 m, relaxed at 6.0 ft1.8 m to 8.0 ft2.4 m and small in view at 10.0 ft3.0 m to 12.0 ft3.7 m. Not sure of your distance? Use the TV size calculator to work backwards from your seat.
Is 4K worth it on a 42 inch TV?
It depends on where you sit. With 20/20 vision you stop seeing pixels beyond a certain distance. On a 42 inch screen that is 5.5 ft1.7 m for 1080p and 2.7 ft0.8 m for 4K.
Sitting closer than 5.5 ft (1.7 m)? 4K will look clearly sharper than 1080p on a 42 inch screen.
How does a 42 inch TV compare with other sizes?
Going up to 43 inches adds 5% more screen area and 0.9 in2.2 cm of width, and dropping to 40 inches loses 9% and 1.7 in4.4 cm. Area grows with the square of the diagonal, so a few inches feel bigger than they sound. Either way, that is a small step.
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Affiliate linksMore questions about 42 inch TVs
What are the dimensions of a 42 inch TV in cm?
The screen is 93.0 x 52.3 cm, with a diagonal of 106.7 cm. The TV body adds a few centimeters for the frame.
How wide is a 42 inch TV in feet?
The screen is 3 ft 0.6 in wide (3.05 ft). Allow a little more for the frame.
Is a 42 inch TV 42 inches wide?
No. 42 inches is the diagonal, and the screen is 36.6 in wide.
How wide a TV stand do I need for a 42 inch TV?
Choose a stand wider than the TV, which is a little over 36.6 in (93.0 cm) with its frame. If the feet sit near the ends, check the stand width in the model table.
Can a 42 inch TV double as a computer monitor?
At 1080p it has 52 PPI, against 92 PPI for a 24 inch 1080p monitor. From 2 ft (61 cm) away at a desk, it fills 75 degrees of your view. Above 40 degrees, you may need to move your head to see the edges.
How much does a 42 inch TV weigh?
The models above weigh 18.3 lb (8.3 kg) to 27.78 lb (12.6 kg) without the stand. The lightest are the Samsung QN42S90HAEXZA and Samsung QN42S90FAEXZC, and the heaviest is the Philips 42OLED809/12.
Which of these 42 inch TVs is the thinnest?
The Samsung QN42S90HAEXZA and Samsung QN42S90FAEXZC are the thinnest in the table, at 1.6 in (4.0 cm) deep without the stand. Add the mount's own gap to find how far it will stand off the wall.
What size wall mount fits a 42 inch TV?
The models above use VESA 200 x 200, 300 x 300 mm. Choose a mount rated for your TV's pattern and weight.
How we measure
Screen width = diagonal x a / sqrt(a^2 + b^2) and height = diagonal x b / sqrt(a^2 + b^2) for an a:b screen. Viewing angle = 2 x arctan(half the screen width / distance). Pixel visibility uses 1 arcminute, the limit of 20/20 vision.
Model sizes come from each maker's published spec sheet, linked in the table. Last checked 2026-10-09.