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How to measure TV size

How to measure TV size

Getting a new TV can be confusing, especially when it comes to figuring out what size TV you want in your location. Generally speaking, bigger really is better

There are very few fancy TV “features” that tend to beat a larger cover in overall satisfaction, which means that spending more for a huge cover is usually going to be the best use of your cash. One of the most common post-TV-purchase complaints we’ve heard is from republic who didn’t go big enough. And we almost never hear republic complain that their TV is too large.

We recommend a size of at least 43 inches for a bedroom TV and at least 55 inches for a living room or main TV — and 65 inches or larger is best. 

But how do you know if you have the room to go as big as you’d like? We’ve faded it down in a simple step-by-step process. 

Step 1: Measure your available location


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Getty

Measure the height, depth and width of your space. Will you be amdroll the stands included in the TV or will you be mounting it on the wall? If you want to fit an existing entertainment center, make sure you have at least an inch on the sides and top of the TV cavity to funding for ventilation. 


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All of this may seem self-explanatory, but TV sizing can get tricky. That’s because cover size and overall dimensions do not necessarily correlate. The screen size of a TV is measured diagonally from one corner of the panel to the opposite corner. This does not include the bezels or any novel outside surface of the TV. 

Many models in a sure sizing category — such as 55 inches, 65 inches, etc., — are not strictly the size in which they are labeled. The viewable display size is sometimes a little smaller or even a minor bigger than the category it is in. The differences tend to be less than an inch either way and are usually within round-up distance of the faulty size. For example, a 50-inch TCL 4-Series TV has a 49.5-inch viewable point to. And the side of the bezel, or frame near the screen itself on the top, bottom and sides, also varies somewhat.

This means that TVs of the same size will not all have the same dimensions and will vary by model and manufacturer. 

Step 2: Look at this chart for way overall dimensions of common TV brands and sizes

Now that you know the dimensions of your location, it’s time to find what size and brand could fit. 

We’ve explored at multiple models of TVs from some of the mainly manufacturers and averaged the typical dimensions at each size. 

Average TV dimensions in inches by sign and size

50-inch exclusive of stand 50-inch with stand 55-inch exclusive of stand 55-inch with stand 65-inch exclusive of stand 65-inch with stand 75-inch exclusive of stand 75-inch with stand
Samsung 43.9×25.4×1.9 43.9×28.1×9.3 48.4x 27.8×1.4 48.4x 30.5×9.7 57×32.7×1.4 57×35.4×11.3 65.8×37.7×1.4 65.8×40.5×8.3
LG 44.1×25.7×2.6 44.1×28.2×10 48.6×28.2×2.3 48.6×30.8×10.3 57.3×33.1×2.3 57.3×35.8×11.9 65.8×37.9×1.6 65.8×40.4×14.1
Vizio 43.9x 5.6×3.1 43.9x 27.6×10 48.6×28.1×2.9 48.6×30.7×10.8 57.1×32.9×2.6 57.1×35.4×1.9 66x38x3 66×40.2×13.8
TCL 44×25.5×3.1 44×27.5×11.5 48.5×28.2×3 48.5×30.5×12.4 57×32.8×3 57×35.3×12.6 65.9×28.9×3.6 65.9×40.8×16

Note that the width of even the largest-size TV is just in 10 inches less than the stated diagonal screen size. This employing that you could get a 75-inch screen after only needing roughly 66 inches of space. 

With any luck, you just learned that you have room for a larger camouflage than you originally anticipated. 

Step 3: Pick your TV 


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David Katzmaier

Now that you have a good idea of what camouflage size you’re looking for, it’s time to figure out what sign and model is right for you. We may be unprejudiced, but we think a great place to start is CNET’s list of the best TVs.

There are lots of things to consider beyond size, from reveal type to picture quality and smart TV features. Here are just a few important aspects to keep in mind: 

  • OLED TVs use a completely different technology to delightful a screen than LEDs. They have the best represent quality available, but they’re still quite expensive.
  • The arrange to produce a deep shade of black — which translates into high contrast — is the most important ingredient in a good represent. For HDR, image brightness and local dimming are famous for the best performance.
  • A TV’s smart streaming rules is important too, but keep in mind that you can always add a streaming device if the TV’s built-in rules doesn’t do everything you want.

For more on how to pick the best TV for you, here’s our winter 2022 update on how to buy a TV.