TV Size Calculator
Tell us how far you sit from the screen and we'll tell you exactly what size TV to buy — plus the wall space you need, the right mounting height, and whether 4K is even worth it at that distance.
Measure from the back of the sofa to the wall the TV sits on.
TV Size by Viewing Distance: Quick Reference
The table below uses the same balanced 33° viewing angle as the calculator above. Distances are measured in metres from your seat to the screen.
| Viewing distance | Relaxed (28°) | Balanced (33°) | Cinematic (40°) | Typical room |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 m | 32" | 40" | 50" | Small bedroom, study |
| 2.0 m | 43" | 55" | 65" | Bedroom, small apartment |
| 2.5 m | 55" | 65" | 83" | Apartment lounge |
| 3.0 m | 65" | 83" | 98" | Family living room |
| 3.5 m | 77" | 98" | 98"+ | Large open-plan living |
| 4.0 m | 85" | 98"+ | Projector territory | Home theatre |
Sizes are rounded to the nearest screen size sold in Australia. If your result falls between two sizes, buyers almost always report being happier going up rather than down.
How to Work Out What Size TV You Need
The single number that decides your TV size is how far away you sit. Screen size on its own means nothing — a 75" TV in a small apartment lounge is uncomfortable to watch, and the same 75" in a large open-plan living room can feel undersized.
The viewing angle rule
Rather than guessing, professionals size screens by horizontal viewing angle — how much of your field of view the picture fills. THX recommends 40° for a cinema-like experience, while SMPTE sets 30° as the comfortable minimum for feature content. Our calculator defaults to 33°, which sits between the two and is what most Australian households end up preferring for a mix of streaming, sport and gaming.
Does 4K change the answer?
Yes, and this is where the old advice goes wrong. The "sit three times the screen height away" rule was written for 1080p, where sitting closer exposed the pixel structure. On a 4K panel you can sit roughly half that distance before individual pixels become visible, which is exactly why 65" and 75" screens are now normal in rooms that used to take a 50". The calculator shows you the distance at which 4K (or 8K) detail is genuinely resolvable for your chosen size — if you sit further away than that number, you are paying for resolution you cannot see.
Don't forget the wall
A 65" TV is about 144 cm wide, and a 75" is about 166 cm. Measure your TV unit or the wall cavity before you commit, and leave around 10 cm each side for cables and airflow. The calculator reports both the bare panel dimensions and the wall space to allow for.
Mounting height matters as much as size
The centre of the screen should sit close to eye level when you're seated — roughly 100 to 110 cm from the floor for most sofas. Mounting a large TV above a fireplace is the most common cause of neck strain and washed-out picture quality, because most panels lose contrast when viewed from below.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size TV do I need for a 3 metre viewing distance?
At 3 metres, an 83" TV hits the balanced 33° viewing angle, while a 65" is the relaxed minimum and a 98" delivers full THX cinematic immersion. For most Australian family living rooms at this distance, a 75" to 85" 4K TV is the sweet spot between immersion and cost.
Is a 65 inch TV too big for a small living room?
Not usually. A 65" TV suits a viewing distance of about 2.2 to 3.1 metres, which covers most apartment lounges and small living rooms. It only becomes too big below roughly 2 metres, where you'll notice yourself moving your eyes across the screen instead of taking it in at a glance.
How far should I sit from a 75 inch TV?
Between about 2.3 metres for a cinematic 40° experience and 3.5 metres for relaxed viewing, with roughly 2.8 metres being the balanced ideal. At any of these distances a 4K panel still resolves full detail, so you are not losing sharpness by sitting closer.
Should I go bigger or smaller if I'm between two sizes?
Go bigger. Buyer surveys consistently find that people who size up rarely regret it, while "I should have bought the bigger one" is one of the most common complaints after purchase. The exception is when the larger screen won't physically fit your wall or TV unit with clearance for cables.
Does the calculator work for 8K TVs?
Yes. Switch the resolution to 8K and the calculator recalculates the distance at which the extra pixels become visible. In practice, 8K detail is only resolvable on very large screens viewed from close range — on a 75" screen you would need to sit within about 1.5 metres, which is closer than almost anyone sits.
How much wall space does a 65 inch TV need?
A 65" 16:9 panel measures roughly 144 cm wide by 81 cm high. Allow about 164 cm of wall width in total so there is clearance each side for cables, airflow and the mount arms.
Next Steps
Now you know your size, work out which panel and features to buy.
TV Size Guide for Australian Homes
The full written guide behind this calculator, including room-by-room advice and measuring tips.
OLED vs QLED: Which Should You Buy?
Once you've picked a size, this decides the panel technology that suits your room.
Wall Mounting Your Smart TV Safely
Bracket sizing, stud spacing and the right height for the screen size you just chose.