- TVs are marketed based on the diagonal measurement of the screen.
- When measuring a TV for your space, always take into account the bezel and stand or mount.
- Divide your viewing distance by two to get an ideal screen size for your space.
Whether you're buying a new TV or moving an existing one, it is key to properly measure so you can make sure it fits in your space. This is especially true when you're looking to fit it into an entertainment unit or mount it on a wall.
While many of us think of the screen size first, the most important dimensions are actually the width, height, and depth.
When you hear about TV sizes like 50-inch, 65-inch, 75-inch, that refers to the diagonal measurement of the screen, not the dimensions of the TV itself. Despite being a common measurement, the diagonal screen size isn't the core measurement you need to figure out if a certain size TV will fit in a specific space. A 65-inch TV is not 65 inches wide, it's usually about 58 inches.
It's important to consider the full measurements of the entire unit, which include the plastic TV frame that goes around the screen, known as the bezel, and the stand, if you're using one. The frame and bezel can add up to 3 inches to the width or height of the TV and stands can add even more. Stands can also add more depth as they extend beyond the front and back of the TV itself.
Darius Jackson, senior in-home design agent for Best Buy, gives his best tips for measuring your TV.
Quick tip: To determine the best TV size for a specific space, Darius suggests measuring the distance between the seating area and the proposed mounting location and divide by two. So if your couch is 8 feet from the wall, that's 96 inches, divided by two is 48 inches. A 48-inch screen would be ideal.
How to measure the screen size
The screen size measurement will help determine the ideal viewing distance from the screen. However, when it comes to placement and mounting, the dimensions of the TV are much more important than the screen size.
A TV's screen size is measured diagonally across the screen, excluding the bezel. Start at one corner at the bottom and measure across the TV to the other corner at the top (or start at the top and measure across to the bottom). The measurement is based on the actual size of the screen, so the viewable area might be smaller due to the bezel or frame.
How to measure the width
If you're mounting the TV inside a cabinet or on a piece of furniture, you need to know if it will fit. Width is the distance from side to side. To measure the width of the TV, start at one corner and go all the way along the bottom or the top to the other side. You are measuring the total width from edge to edge, including the bezel and frame, since you need to know if it will fit in the space.
How to measure the height
Whether you are mounting the TV on the wall or putting it on a piece of furniture, you also need to know the height. The height is the distance from the top to the bottom of the TV, including the bezel. To measure the height of the TV, start at one of the bottom corners and measure up to the top of the TV. If you use a stand, measure from the base of the stand to the top of the TV. This will ensure that you have the total height, and that all aspects of the TV are accounted for to give you a better idea of what can fit in your space.
How to measure the depth
The depth is the distance from the front to the back of the TV, measuring how thick the TV is. This will tell you how far it will stick out from the wall or whether it will fit into an alcove or entertainment unit. To measure the depth of the TV, start at the front edge and measure back to the furthest point.
Quick tip: If you don't have a tape measure, you could use a few sheets of 8.5 inch by 11 inch paper to measure the TV. You can also use a dollar bill, which is 6 inches long and 2.5 inches tall.
How to determine the right viewing distance
To get the most out of your TV, you need to sit a certain distance away from it. There is an ideal viewing distance which is based on the screen size. Best Buy suggests multiplying your screen size by 1.5 to get the minimum viewing distance. This calculation will result in inches, so divide it by 12 to find how many feet.
So for a 60-inch TV, you would multiply 60 inches times 1.5. This results in 90 inches, or 7.5 feet. To get the maximum viewing distance, you would double this result. So, 90 inches multiplied by two will equal 180 inches or 15 feet. So, for a 60-inch TV, it should be viewed from between 7.5 and 15 feet away for the best experience. You can tweak this for super high resolution TVs like 4K UHD or 8K, where the minimum viewing distance can be reduced so you can see more detail. This is due to the fact that high resolution TVs have less digital noise when viewed up close, whereas a lower resolution TV would have more digital noise the closer you are to it.
Insider's takeaway
The main measurement you see of a TV is the diagonal screen size, not the width. You need to know the actual width, height, and depth of the entire unit which includes the TV frame, the bezel, and the stand. This will help you determine whether or not the TV will fit in the space you want it to. You can calculate the ideal screen size for a space by dividing the viewing distance by two. For example, if your couch is 10 feet from your entertainment unit, your ideal screen size is 60 inches because 10 feet divided by two equals 5 feet, or 60 inches.