TV Size Comparison
Every popular TV size drawn to scale in one picture, so you can see what each step up really adds. Tap a size to highlight it.
Why does a bigger TV look so much bigger?
Screen area grows with the square of the diagonal. A 65 inch TV is only 10 inches (25.4 cm) more diagonally than a 55 inch, yet it has 40% more screen.
In the shop, TVs are often seen from far away against a large wall. At home, check the width against your wall or stand before you buy.
How much bigger is each TV size?
Each step up the size list adds more screen than the inches suggest. Compared with the size below it:
- 50 inch vs 43 inch: 35% more screen area, and 6.1 in15.5 cm wider
- 55 inch vs 50 inch: 21% more screen area, and 4.4 in11.1 cm wider
- 65 inch vs 55 inch: 40% more screen area, and 8.7 in22.1 cm wider
- 75 inch vs 65 inch: 33% more screen area, and 8.7 in22.1 cm wider
- 85 inch vs 75 inch: 28% more screen area, and 8.7 in22.1 cm wider
- 98 inch vs 85 inch: 33% more screen area, and 11.3 in28.8 cm wider
The jump from 85 to 98 inch is the biggest in width, which is why the largest TVs need a wall of their own.
What does “class” mean in a TV size?
TV sizes are rounded. A TV sold as a 65 inch class model often measures 64.5 inches on the diagonal, and a 55 inch class model 54.6 inches. The spec sheet lists the exact figure, usually as the diagonal size.
The difference is under one percent of the size, so the drawings above use the rounded sizes.
How can I picture a TV size on my wall?
Mark it out with painter’s tape. Use the screen width and height from our TV dimensions chart, then add a little for the frame. Sit in your usual seat and look at the outline for a day or two.
Tape shows how much of the wall the screen takes, which is hard to judge from a number. For a room by room view, see what size TV for a living room and what size TV for a bedroom.
How far should you sit from each size?
Further back for each step up, so the screen fills 30° to 40° of your view. A 43 inch suits 4.3 ft1.3 m to 5.8 ft1.8 m, while a 65 inch suits 6.5 ft2.0 m to 8.8 ft2.7 m.
A 98 inch needs 9.8 ft3.0 m to 13.3 ft4.0 m, so it only suits a big room. The TV size calculator works it out from your seat.
Which size fits your wall or stand?
Measure the space first, then pick the size. A 65 inch screen is 56.7 in143.9 cm wide before the frame, and a 75 inch is 65.4 in166.0 cm.
Leave a few inches each side so the TV does not look squeezed. On a stand, check where the feet sit, as some TVs have them near the ends.
Does a bigger TV need a higher resolution?
Yes, once you sit close. A 75 inch 1080p picture shows its pixels from closer than 9.8 ft3.0 m, while 4K keeps them hidden down to 4.9 ft1.5 m.
More questions about TV sizes
How much bigger is a 65 inch TV than a 55 inch?
A 65 inch TV has 40% more screen area than a 55 inch. It is 8.7 in (22.1 cm) wider and 4.9 in (12.5 cm) taller.
Is TV size measured diagonally?
Yes. The size is the screen diagonal, corner to corner, without the frame. The whole TV is a little wider and taller than the screen.
How many 43 inch TVs fit in a 98 inch screen?
A 98 inch screen has 5.2 times the area of a 43 inch one. Doubling the diagonal gives four times the area.
How we measure
Each screen is a 16:9 rectangle worked out from its diagonal: width = diagonal × 16 ÷ √(16² + 9²) and height = diagonal × 9 ÷ √(16² + 9²). Area is width × height, compared with the selected size.