How to calculate your TV screen size? (Complete Guide)
Are you replacing your TV but getting lost between inches, centimeters, and the ideal viewing distance? Don't panic. To make the right choice, it's not enough to want the largest screen possible: you need to adapt the TV size to your space.
Here is our quick and simple guide to measuring your screen size and understanding the exact dimensions of your future television.
How to measure a TV screen size?
Contrary to what one might think, the size of a TV screen is not measured by width, but diagonally.
To know the size of your screen, you need to measure the distance from the upper left corner to the lower right corner (or vice versa). In Europe, although we often express dimensions in centimeters (cm), the international standard for screens remains the inch (indicated by the symbol '').
Quick calculation: 1 inch is equal to exactly 2.54 cm. If you know the size in inches, multiply it by 2.54 to get the diagonal in centimeters.
Correspondence table: Inches, Width and Height in cm
To help you visualize the space your television will take up on your TV stand or wall, here is a summary table of standard screen dimensions (16:9 ratio).
Please note: These measurements concern the screen panel. Remember to add a few millimeters or centimeters for the TV's bezels (frame).
| TV Size (Inches) | Width | Height | Diagonal (approx.) |
| 19'' | 17.5'' (44.45 cm) | 7.48'' (19.05 cm) | 48 cm |
| 24'' | 21.83'' (55.45 cm) | 14.78'' (37.54 cm) | 61 cm |
| 32'' | 28.3'' (71.92 cm) | 18.26'' (46.44 cm) | 81 cm |
| 40'' | 36.1'' (91.70 cm) | 21.73'' (55.24 cm) | 102 cm |
| 43'' | 37.99'' (96.50 cm) | 23.58'' (59.90 cm) | 109 cm |
| 50'' | 44.0'' (111.76 cm) | 28.10'' (71.00 cm) | 127 cm |
| 55'' | 48.4'' (121.92 cm) | 30.60'' (76.20 cm) | 139 cm |
| 65'' | 57.1'' (144.78 cm) | 35.60'' (88.90 cm) | 165 cm |
| 70'' | 61.3'' (154.94 cm) | 38.70'' (96.52 cm) | 178 cm |
| 75'' | 65.9'' (165.10 cm) | 41.10'' (104.14 cm) | 190 cm |
| 85'' | 74.6'' (187.96 cm) | 46.70'' (116.84 cm) | 216 cm |
What is the viewing distance between the screen and your sofa?
The ideal size of your television largely depends on the distance you sit away from it. If you are too close to a large screen, you will distinguish pixels; if you are too far from a small screen, you will miss details.
The higher the image definition (resolution), the closer you can sit to the screen without straining your eyes.
Did you know? For a 4K UHD TV, a viewing distance of approximately 1.5 times the screen diagonal is generally recommended.
Image resolution: HD, Full HD, 4K and 8K, what are the differences?
The number of pixels on the screen defines the image sharpness. Here is a summary of the main image definitions available on the market to help you choose the best visual quality:
| Common Name | Definition (Pixels) | Total number of pixels | Image quality |
| HD | 1280 x 720 | 921,600 | Good (Ideal for small screens / secondary TVs) |
| FULL HD | 1920 x 1080 | 2,073,600 | Very good (Classic standard) |
| 4K / UHD 4K | 3840 x 2160 | 8,294,400 | Excellent (The best value for money currently) |
| 8K / UHD 8K | 7680 x 4320 | 33,177,600 | Perfect (Cutting-edge technology for very large screens) |
By combining the right screen size, an adapted resolution (like 4K), and the correct viewing distance, you will transform your living room into a real cinema room!
