Sit about 1.2 to 1.7 times your TV’s diagonal away: for a 65 inch TV that is roughly 6.4 to 9 feet. The range comes from two standards. THX recommends a 36 to 40 degree viewing angle, which is about 1.2 times the diagonal, and SMPTE recommends about 30 degrees, which is about 1.7 times the diagonal. Closer feels more immersive, and farther is easier on the eyes. Pick a spot inside the range that suits your room.
PCBy the Pixl Canada install team. Updated . 5 min read.
- Distance chart for 43 to 85 inch TVs
- Two standards explained in one table
- How to use it with mounting height
- Free tape-measure test
How far should you sit from a TV by screen size?
Use the chart below. The close column follows the THX viewing angle of about 40 degrees and the far column follows the SMPTE viewing angle of about 30 degrees, both for a 16:9 screen. RTINGS lists a 65 inch TV at 6.5 feet for 40 degrees and 8.9 feet for 30 degrees, which matches the chart.
| TV size | Close (about 40°) | Far (about 30°) |
|---|---|---|
| 43 inch | 4.3 ft | 6.0 ft |
| 50 inch | 5.0 ft | 6.9 ft |
| 55 inch | 5.5 ft | 7.6 ft |
| 65 inch | 6.4 ft | 9.0 ft |
| 75 inch | 7.4 ft | 10.4 ft |
| 85 inch | 8.4 ft | 11.8 ft |
These are guides, not rules. Room shape, seating and how bright the room is all matter.
What do THX and SMPTE recommend?
| Standard | Viewing angle | Distance formula (16:9) | Feel |
|---|---|---|---|
| THX | 36 to 40 degrees | Diagonal ÷ 0.84 | More immersive |
| SMPTE | About 30 degrees | Diagonal ÷ 0.6 | Relaxed, easier on the eyes |
Sources: Sound & Vision gives the formulas, and RTINGS publishes a size-to-distance table. Sources differ slightly on how to label the 30 degree figure, so treat the range as a starting point.
How do you use the chart in your room?
- Measure your seating distance from the sofa’s seat to the wall where the TV will go.
- Find your TV size in the chart and see whether your distance is inside the close to far range.
- If you sit too close, pick a smaller TV or move the sofa back.
- If you sit too far, pick a bigger TV or move the sofa forward.
- Mark the TV outline with painter’s tape on the wall and sit down to check.
How does viewing distance relate to mounting height?
Distance and height work together. Once you know how far you sit, set the centre of the screen near seated eye level. Our height chart by TV size and room has the numbers, and the VESA chart helps you pick a mount that fits the TV you chose. Need it on the wall? Pixl labour is $99.99 for 32 to 60 inch TVs and $109.99 for 61 to 79 inches in Calgary and Edmonton, before tax. See TV mounting prices.
TV viewing distance: frequently asked questions
How far should you sit from a 65 inch TV?
About 6.4 to 9 feet. Closer is more immersive, and farther is more relaxed.
How far should you sit from a 55 inch TV?
About 5.5 to 7.6 feet.
How far should you sit from a 75 inch TV?
About 7.4 to 10.4 feet.
What is the best TV size for my room?
Measure your seating distance, then pick the size whose range includes it. Divide the distance by 1.2 to 1.7 to get the diagonal.
Does 4K change the viewing distance?
Higher resolution lets some people sit a little closer without seeing pixels, but the viewing angle guidance above still applies.
Does Pixl mount TVs of any size?
Yes. Labour is priced by size from up to 31 inches to 90 inches and larger, with no deposit and payment after the job.
Know your TV size? Get it on the wall
Labour from $79.99 in Calgary and Edmonton, before tax. No deposit, and you pay after the job.
How high to mount a TV
TV wall mounting in Canada
VESA pattern chart
Corner TV mounts
Projector vs TV for a home theatre
Sources and method. Formulas from Sound & Vision, cross-checked with RTINGS. Distances in feet are the diagonal ÷ 0.84 (close) and ÷ 0.6 (far) for 16:9 screens, rounded to 0.1 ft. Pixl prices were checked in October 2026, are for Calgary and Edmonton, in Canadian dollars, before tax.
About Pixl Canada. Pixl Canada is an installation company based in Edmonton, Alberta, serving cities across Canada with TV mounting, security cameras, appliance installation and smart home setup. Call or text (587) 899-7495. Open Monday to Saturday 8am to 8pm and Sunday 9am to 7pm.