TV size for a small/medium room

[Gardenboy]

I’m considering buying a new TV for my room, which isn’t too big (I haven’t measured it exactly). I’m torn between a 40-something inch and a 50-something inch TV. Could someone help explain which size would be better for a small to medium room? I’m leaning toward the smaller one for cost reasons, but I want to make sure I choose the right size for the space.

[FatimaandAhmed]

Hi there!

In general, for a small to medium room, something in the 43 to 50 inch range is usually a sweet spot. If you're sitting about 6 to 8 feet away from the screen, even a 50" won't feel overwhelming.

That said, if you're leaning toward the 40-something inch size mainly for cost reasons, you're still going to get a solid viewing experience, especially if you're not sitting too far away. Also, newer TVs tend to have slim bezels, so even a 50" doesn’t take up as much visual space as older models used to.

If you can, try to measure the distance from your typical sitting spot to where the TV would go. That’ll help make the decision easier. But either way, you’ll probably be happy with something in that size range for a room that’s not huge.

[Alpha]

It really depends on the distance from your seating to the TV. For a 40-inch TV, the ideal viewing distance is usually about 5 to 7 feet. You’ll get a comfortable experience without straining your eyes.

For a 50-inch, the ideal distance is more like 6.5 to 9 feet. If you’re sitting closer than that, the screen might feel a little too big, and you might have to move your head around more to take everything in.

So, if your room allows for a bit more distance, the 50-inch could be a great choice, but if you're closer to the screen, the 40-inch might be more comfortable.

[Gardenboy]

Thanks so much to both of you for the helpful responses! I haven’t actually measured the distance yet or figured out exactly where I’ll be sitting to watch the TV, so that’s definitely something I’ll need to sort out before making a decision.

By the way, does the type of TV like LED versus OLED or 4K versus 1080p make a noticeable difference in viewing experience at this size and distance? Just wondering if that should factor into the decision too.