When it comes to buying a TV, one of the biggest mistakes people make is not measuring properly. You don’t want to go through the hassle of buying a new TV only to find out it doesn’t fit where you want it. In this article, we’ll show you how to accurately measure a TV screen and give you a few tips on choosing the right size TV.
First things first, let’s talk about TV screen sizes. When you see screen sizes listed on a TV’s box or online, that measurement is from one corner of the screen itself to the opposing corner. However, often you’ll find it’s actually just shy of the claimed size. For instance, a 70-inch TV actually comes in at just shy of 69 and a half inches.
When sizing up a TV, the screen size measurement doesn’t do anything for you. Instead, you want to look at a few key measurements. On most product pages online, in the specs section, manufacturers will list the TV’s height, width, and depth, both with and without a TV’s stand or legs.
It’s important to note that a TV’s depth is altered by its feet in that they extend in front of and behind the TV’s cabinet. In some cases, a TV’s feet may actually increase the width too. This is important for determining if the TV is going to fit in the space you want to put it. Bezel size also varies, and if you’re already tight on space, you don’t want to assume that you can just squeeze that 65-inch model in if it looks like you have just about 65 inches.
If you’re wall-mounting, that’s a whole different topic that involves a lot of measuring. However, it’s important to keep in mind that the size of the TV scales down quite a bit when you step down to a smaller size model.
The other measurement to keep in mind is the distance from which you’ll sit from the TV. Generally speaking, the further away you will be from the TV, the larger screen size you may want. The inverse can also be true; if you sit super close, it is possible to get a TV so large that it doesn’t fit in your field of vision, which is actually not great.
To determine the ideal screen size, use this rule of thumb: Divide your viewing distance in inches (that’s from your eyes to the TV screen) by 1.6. For example, if you sit 8 feet from your TV (96 inches), divide that by 1.6, and a 60-inch TV would be ideal. However, you could go a little larger or smaller than that.
One important point to keep in mind is that at some point, you may have to decide which is more important: screen size or picture quality. It comes down to your budget, and getting the biggest screen at your budget may not be as satisfying as getting the best picture quality at your budget.
In conclusion, measuring a TV screen may seem pretty simple, but it can actually be trickier than you think. By following these tips, you can accurately measure a TV screen and choose the right size TV for your space and viewing distance.