There are many things to consider when choosing a TV for the bedroom, and the size of the TV is usually a priority.
It’s important to strike the right balance when deciding on the size of a TV for a bedroom because you want to ensure the TV is big enough to enjoy good picture quality and not have to strain your eyes, while also ensuring the TV is small enough that it is proportional to the bedroom and doesn’t overwhelm the space.
If the TV is too big, you could end up feeling like your bedroom is a home cinema, and if it is too small, you probably won’t enjoy watching it. Here are some factors you should consider when determining the best size of TV for your bedroom.
How to Decide TV Size for Bedroom
Viewing Distance
The distance between the TV and the spot where you intend to sit to watch the TV is called the viewing distance. In terms of optimum TV viewing, the viewing distance is the most important factor to consider when choosing the size of your TV.
This is because an ideal viewing distance will ensure that you can enjoy a great picture and overall viewing experience. It will allow you to be close enough to the TV that you can see everything clearly, without being so close that it hurts your eyes.
The optimum viewing distance between the TV and the person watching the TV is between 1.5 and 2.5 times the size of the TV. This means for a TV that measures 50 inches (diagonal measurement), the ideal viewing distance can be worked out by multiplying 50 by 1.5 and 2.5. 50 inches multiplied by 1.5 is 75 inches, and 50 inches multiplied by 2.5 is 125 inches.
This means the ideal viewing distance for a 50 inch TV is between 75 inches and 125 inches, which equates to a viewing distance of around 6 feet to 10 feet.
Viewing Distance According to TV Size
For a quick guide to the ideal viewing distance according to the size of the TV in the bedroom, check out the measurements below.
- 32 inch TV = viewing distance of between 48 and 80 inches
- 40 inch TV = viewing distance of between 60 and 100 inches
- 43 inch TV = viewing distance of between 64.5 and 107.5 inches
- 50 inch TV = viewing distance of between 75 and 125 inches
- 55 inch TV = viewing distance of between 82.5 and 137.5 inches
- 60 inch TV = viewing distance of between 90 and 150 inches
- 65 inch TV = viewing distance of between 97.5 and 162.5 inches
- 70 inch TV = viewing distance of between 105 and 175 inches
- 75 inch TV = viewing distance of between 112.5 and 187.5 inches
- 80 inch TV = viewing distance of between 120 and 200 inches
- 85 inch TV = viewing distance of between 187.5 and 212.5 inches
- 90 inch TV = viewing distance of between 135 and 225 inches
- 95 inch TV = viewing distance of between 142.5 and 237.5 inches
- 100 inch TV = viewing distance of between 150 and 250 inches
Room Size
The size of the bedroom plays a big factor in determining the best size of TV for a bedroom, because it helps you to understand if the TV is going to look proportional in the space. A large TV is going to look best in a large bedroom for balance, while a small TV is obviously going to work best in a small bedroom.
However, it is the viewing distance that is going to determine the best viewing experience. Typically in a bedroom, most people will watch TV while laying or seated in bed. Decide whereabouts your TV is going to be positioned in the room, and then take the measurement from here to the pillow area of your bed, as this will be the viewing distance.
Most commonly, the TV will be mounted on the wall directly opposite the foot of the bed, or on a cabinet at the foot of the bed, so the viewing distance is going to be very similar to the total length of the room. If you know your room size, then taking the viewing distance measurement isn’t going to be necessary.
For example, if your bedroom measures 12 feet by 10 feet, then you can estimate the viewing distance based on the length measurement of 12 feet. The measurement from a wall-mounted TV to the head of your bed is going to be around 11 feet, so if you bear in mind the ideal viewing distance based on the figures explained above, the best size of TV for this bedroom will be anywhere from 55 to 80 inches. This is because 11 feet equates to 132 inches, which falls within the ideal viewing range for TV’s measuring 55 to 80 inches.
Best TV Size Based on Room Size
Check out the list below to help you figure out which TV size will work best for your bedroom. This list takes into account the ideal viewing distance and assumes that the TV will be mounted on the wall or placed on a cabinet at the foot of the bed and that the person viewing the TV will be seated in bed.
- 8 x 8 foot bedroom = TV size ranging from 40 to 60 inches
- 9 x 9 foot bedroom = TV size ranging from 50 to 70 inches
- 10 x 10 foot bedroom = TV size ranging from 50 to 80 inches
- 12 x 12 foot bedroom = TV size ranging from 60 to 80 inches
- 14 x 14 foot bedroom = TV size ranging from 70 to 80 inches
- 16 x 16 foot bedroom = TV size ranging from 80 to 85 inches
- 18 x 18 foot bedroom = TV size ranging from 80 to 100 inches
