SEARCHING for a new TV can be overwhelming with the vast range on offer.
Before you rush out and buy the biggest telly you can find, ask yourself ‘what size TV should I buy?’ to save yourself some money and time.
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If you’ve already checked out the best 4K UK TV deals, then you’re ready to purchase, only thing left to do is find the right size.
You might also want to have a look at our helpful article on how to measure a TV before looking at our round up of the best TV wall brackets.
Don’t be scared to wall mount your TV either as you can find out how to wall mount a TV from this helpful article.
Screen size by viewing distance calculator
The size of your screen does not just depend on how much wall space you have but also how far away you are going to sit.
Use the screen size as guidance for how far away you should sit in inches, viewing distance should be around 1.5 times the screen size.
If you have a 1080p TV, you should use the furthest viewing distance listed below.
TV size / viewing distance for 4K
Here’s a run-down of TV screen sizes versus their ideal viewing distances.
The simplest thing to do is to work out where you want to position your TV, measure the distance to the seats in your room, and then consult the table below.
- TV size: 32 inches / 32-48 inches = viewing distance: 2.7-4 feet
- TV size: 40 inches / 40-60 inches = viewing distance: 3.3-5 feet
- TV size: 42 inches / 42-63 inches = viewing distance: 3.5-5.3 feet
- TV size: 48 inches / 48-72 inches = viewing distance: 4-6 feet
- TV size: 50 inches / 50-75 inches = viewing distance: 4.1-6.3 feet
- TV size: 55 inches / 55-82.5 inches = viewing distance: 4.5-6.8 feet
- TV size: 60 inches / 60-90 inches = viewing distance: 5-7.5 feet
- TV size: 65 inches / 65-97.5 inches = viewing distance: 5.4-8.1 feet
- TV size: 75 inches / 75-112.5 inches = viewing distance: -9.3 feet
Large TVs can contribute to eye strain and fatigue so make sure you choose a sensible TV size.
That being said, sitting too close to the TV won’t cause lasting damage but nobody wants a headache just because they bought the wrong TV.
Scroll down for more on recommended screen sizes.
Recommended screen sizes
TV screens have been growing in size since their inception.
While old TVs maxed out at around 40 inches, nowadays you can get over double that.
Generally modern TVs vary from 32 inches all the way to the world’s largest TV at 325 inches, although domestic models tend to stop at around 80 inches.
Most people get between 40 inch and 75 inch TVs as larger ones can still be much more expensive.
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Once you’ve chosen the TV size you want, you will need to think about what resolution you want.
The better the resolution, the more expensive your telly will be so if in doubt it is a good idea to stick to a 4K TV.
Resolution is measured by how many pixels the TV has, meaning you can sit closer to the TV before it begins to pixelate.
If you are confused about HD vs 4K TVs then this should provide some clarity.
Full HD or 1080p
This refers to TVs with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels.
These are best for smaller TVs that you are going to watch from a distance, so 32 or 40 inches.
Great for budget TVs that do not need to be crystal clear or large, such as in the kitchen.
We recommend Samsung’s T5300 Full HD Smart TV 32 inch, for a smart TV without the high price tag.
- Samsung T5300 Full HD, 32 inch, £249 – buy from Amazon
4K
If you are going for a TV bigger than 40 inches, it is best to boost the resolution to 4K.
Commonly known as Ultra HD or UHD, this screen would have a resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels.
Most smart TVs have this as standard as it offers four times the pixel resolution of a HD TV.
If you’re looking for a great option for your living room TV then this Panasonic 4K 50 inch might be perfect for you.
- Panasonic TX50JX800B 4K, 50 inch, £389 – buy from Amazon
8K
8K is the next step in resolution, with 7680 x 4320 pixels and is also called Ultra HD.
If you have the money then this might be worth it but the market is still thin for this type of TV.
Great if you’re an avid film watcher and want a cinema experience as you watch every Marvel movie in order from the comfort of your living room.
For 8K TVs we recommend the Samsung QE65QN700ATXXU 8K 65 inch, this is a smart TV without the high price point of normal 8K TVs.
- Samsung QE65QN700ATXXU 8K, 65 inch, £1,739 – buy from Amazon
Other things to consider
Think about whether you want to mount the TV to the wall or place it on a TV stand.
This can change the viewing distance and space available for the TV to fill.
Wall mounting a TV can give you an extra foot of viewing distance and might allow for a larger screen size.
Also consider how much movement the space has, can you move your sofas back to accommodate a larger screen size or not?
OLED – or Samsung’s QLED – technology means that a 4K TV has the best screen quality possible, so you might not need to jump to an 8K TV.
If you are thinking about upgrading your phone as well as your TV have a look at our pick of the best iPhone deals.
Watching Netflix on your laptop? Check out the best VPNs for Netflix.
Looking for more tech deals, we have the latest Amazon deals for you.
