Buzz
Discover if Your TV Will Fit
As technology evolves, TVs continue to grow in size and quality. If you've recently upgraded to a sleek new model, you might be wondering the best way to measure it for display. Maybe you're evaluating whether a prospective TV will fit your stand. Fortunately, measuring a TV is remarkably simple and typically takes just a few seconds. This guide teaches you the proper techniques to measure a TV accurately and ensure it fits flawlessly into your space.
Key Points to Consider
- Measure the diagonal screen size to determine the screen size.
- Measure the height and width of the TV frame to confirm compatibility with your stand or cabinet.
- Ensure the TV has adequate space on all sides for proper ventilation.
Step-by-Step Guide
Discover the Dimensions
Unlocking TV Size Secrets: Diagonal Measurement This is the key to confirming the advertised size by the manufacturer. Whether it's a sleek flat-screen or a classic CRT TV, start by placing your tape measure at the top left corner and extending it to the bottom right corner diagonally. This method reveals the standard screen dimension used by manufacturers for TV sizes.
- Common TV sizes based on diagonal dimensions include 24 in (61 cm), 28 in (71 cm), 32 in (81 cm), 42 in (110 cm), 48 in (120 cm), 60 in (150 cm), 65 in (170 cm), 70 in (180 cm), and 85 in (220 cm).
- You can also find TVs with screens as large as 98 in (250 cm) or even larger.
- The current largest TV available for household entertainment is LG's 8K DVLED TV, boasting an impressive 325 in (830 cm).
Pro Tip: Focus on the Screen, Not the Frame
Unlocking TV Size Secrets: Horizontal Width Measurement This time, run your tape measure from the far left edge to the far right edge, including both bezels. The resulting number will be the overall width, typically a few inches less than the advertised screen size.
- For instance, a TV advertised as 60 in (150 cm) will typically have a width of around 52.3 inches (133 cm).
- The width is the crucial measurement for determining if a TV will fit your stand or cabinet.
Unlocking TV Size Secrets: Height Measurement Stretch your tape measure from the top edge to the bottom edge on the same side to determine the overall height. Most modern TVs have a height that's approximately 56% of the total width.
- For example, a TV with a 48 in (120 cm) advertised screen size will typically be about 42 inches (110 cm) wide and have a height of approximately 25–27 inches (64–69 cm).
- While width is more critical, height can still impact placement decisions.
Dive into TV Depth: Uncover the True Dimensions Determining the depth of your TV can be tricky, especially if it's tapered at the back. In such cases, use a long, flat object like a yardstick against the furthest point from the front, parallel to the screen, then measure the distance. If that's not feasible, a rough estimate may suffice.
- Consider TV depth to ensure compatibility with existing furniture like cabinets or stands.
- Modern flat-screen models are often less than 10 inches (25 cm) deep with a stand and as slim as 3 inches (7.6 cm) without. In contrast, older CRT televisions are significantly thicker, necessitating special consideration.
Ensure TV Compatibility
Size Up Your Display Space If you haven't already, measure the height, width, and depth of your intended TV location. For thicker TVs, note the depth of cabinets or stands to ensure they can accommodate your TV.
- For precision, round measurements to the nearest half-inch (1.3 cm).
- Keep your display space dimensions handy while shopping for a new TV.
Allocate Extra Space in Your Display Area Ensure there's 2–3 in (5.1–7.6 cm) of spare room around your TV. This ensures a comfortable fit and allows for proper ventilation, preventing overheating.
- Extra space around your TV promotes ventilation, preventing overheating.
- For wall mounting, use a mount rated for your TV's size and weight to avoid accidents.
Select an Optimal TV Size for Viewing Comfort While a 50 in (130 cm) screen may seem impressive, it could be inadequate for distant viewing. To determine an appropriate size, multiply the distance from your seating area to the TV by 0.84.
- For example, if you're seated 72 inches (180 cm) away, a 60 in (150 cm) TV provides optimal visibility.
Unlock the Magic of Aspect Ratios for Optimal Viewing Pleasure. Aspect ratio, the width-to-height relationship of a TV's display image, is crucial for picture quality. Widescreen TVs typically boast a 16:9 aspect ratio, allowing for a broader view compared to older standard 4:3 TVs.
- Standard TVs, with their 4:3 aspect ratio, present images in a square format, while widescreen TVs showcase the full picture with enhanced width.
- Despite sharing the same diagonal screen size, standard and widescreen TVs deliver vastly different viewing experiences.
Convert Standard Screen Sizes for Seamless Transition to Widescreen TVs. To maintain the 4:3 aspect ratio on a widescreen TV, multiply the diagonal measurement of the standard TV by 1.22. This calculation ensures your new TV displays the same size 4:3 image.
- For instance, upgrading from a 40 in (100 cm) standard TV requires a widescreen TV of at least 50 inches (130 cm) to preserve picture size.
- Additionally, widescreen HDTVs offer superior resolution compared to standard TVs, resulting in sharper image quality.
Helpful Advice
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If budget is a concern, explore alternative TV styles within the same size range. A 50 in (130 cm) LED TV typically offers better affordability compared to a 50 in (130 cm) OLED 4K HDR TV.
