Screen Size & Viewing Distance Calculator

Find the right TV or display size for a viewing distance, or the best seats for a screen you have.

Results

Screen for general viewing (30°): 73 in

Screen for an immersive seat (40°): 99 in

Seat for a 65 in screen at 30°: 2.7 m

Seats for a 65 in screen at 40° to 28°: 2.0 m to 2.9 m

The 30° view angle is the widely quoted SMPTE figure for general viewing; THX recommends 40° for an immersive seat, with a range down to 28°. In meeting rooms, also check that text is readable from the back row.

How it works

A screen fills a view angle when its width is 2 x the distance x tan(half the angle), and the diagonal follows from the width and the shape. We show the widely quoted 30° (SMPTE) for general viewing and THX's 40° for an immersive seat, and for a given screen the distances where it fills 30°, and 40° down to 28°.

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