About a month ago, I moved into a new house, with a much bigger den than the apartment where I used to live.

My old 40-inch Samsung Full HD TV, which commanded the presence in a smaller room, felt like a somewhat miniature painting on the wall in this new, much larger setting.

That is when I decided to purchase a behemoth, 85-inch Samsung 4K TV. 

However, after using it for a week, I started experiencing eye fatigue and neck pain.

I decided to look up the issue on the internet. After some research, I realized I had made the investment without even considering the viewing distance requirements.

This is why I decided to write an article to help all my fellow Samsung TV buyers.

Viewing distance requirements have to be considered according to the dimensions of the TV. A general rule of thumb is that for every 10 inches, you need 1 foot of viewing distance. This means for a 32 inches TV, you have to view it from at least 3.2 feet.

Get a TV According to Your Room Size

The size of your room where you put a TV determines your viewing distance from the screen.

A large room indicates more distance from the screen, while a smaller one will not give you enough space

If you end up with a screen that is too small for your room, it can lead to eye strain as you keep trying to focus on a smaller image than what your eye can comfortably view.

It can also lead to bad posture and back pain as you keep leaning forward to get a better view of the screen.

On the other hand, if you get a screen too big, you will find your eyes getting watery a lot as more than 90% of your view is dominated by a screen.

You will also need to keep adjusting your head to follow the subject of whatever you are watching, which can cause neck pain. 

Viewing Distance Chart

You can use this handy viewing distance chart to check which size TV will be best suited for your room. 

To measure the viewing distance, use a measuring tape with one end where you will place the display and the other end where you will be sitting. 

Note: Do remember to account for the thickness of the TV. 

Small TVs

As explained small TVs are best suited for smaller rooms or when you are sitting close to the TV. 

However, smaller TVs are usually equipped with the least amount of features but this also translates into the lowest price tag. Hence, they are suitable for closets that have been repurposed into rec or kid’s rooms.

The following table lists the dimensions of small TVs.

32-inch TVs

32-inch TVs are the smallest TVs you can get before entering monitor territory.

A 32-inch TV can easily be placed on your work desk or small dressers as they are very compact. 

The dimensions of these TVs are 28.7” (73 cm) in width and 17” (43.3 cm) in height. 

40-inch TVs

The 40-inch TVs are a fair amount bigger than their 32-inch counterparts and can easily be accommodated in small bedrooms, dorm rooms, and hotel rooms.

Even though they are not just as compact, they can still stand easily on small dressers and fit in narrow wall spaces.

The dimensions of these TVs are 88.6 cm in width and 49.8 cm in height. Likewise, this is the same as 34.9 inches and 19.6 inches. 

42-inch TVs

Just a bit bigger than the 40-inch TVs, the 42-inch can fit in almost all the places the former could fit in, but if you have an appetite for a bigger screen, why not go for it?

A 42-inch Samsung TV has a height and breadth of about 20.5 inches and 36.5 inches, respectively. 

43-inch TVs

If you were considering a 40-inch Samsung TV or a 42-inch one, and firmly believe ‘bigger is better’ the 43-inch inch screen size is just for you.

The height and width of this TV are 21.5” (54.61 cm) and 37.4” (95 cm) inches, respectively. 

Medium-Sized TVs

Medium-sized TVs are ideal for large bedrooms and living rooms.

These TVs are big enough to be easily viewed by several people at once comfortably, making them perfect for game nights and families.

One thing you should make a note of is that TVs of this size are usually placed in brightly lit places, so things like brightness, contrast, and features like HDR become more important.

The following table lists the dimensions of medium-sized TVs.

48-Inch TVs

At 48-inch inches, this TV can no longer share space with your other items on the dresser and needs its own cabinet or table. 

The width and height of this model are 42.36 inches (107.61 cm) and 24.56 inches (62.4 cm), respectively.

49-Inch TVs

If you were considering a 48-inch TV but want more immersion, a 49-inch screen will be right for you. 

Its dimensions are 43.3 inches broad by 28.2 inches high. This translates to heights of 110 and 71.6 cm, respectively.

50-Inch TVs

A very popular screen size, the 50-inch Samsung TV is big enough that going for a 4K variant makes sense.

If you do go for this option, you will be greeted with extraordinary image sharpness and clarity in medium-sized living rooms and bedrooms.

The dimensions of a 50-inch Samsung TV are 24.5 inches tall by 43.6 inches wide. These measure 62.2 cm and 110.7 cm in centimeters, respectively. 

Large-Sized TVs

Now, we are getting into 4K territory. 

The following table lists the dimensions of large-sized TVs.

55-Inch TVs

55-inch TVs are very commonly found in restaurants as they are usually cheaper than other large TVs and easily available.

4K televisions are most commonly found in this size as it is affordable for the regular consumer as well.

55-inch TVs are big enough to take adequate advantage of the clarity and sharpness of 4K.

The dimensions of this TV are approximately 47.63 inches by 27.96 inches. 

60-Inch and 65-Inch TVs

These screen sizes can be used interchangeably in any room that a 55-Inch screen can be used in, depending on your appetite for immersion and personal preference.

Do note that at this size, the TVs start weighing more than 50 pounds on average, so you might want to look into a sturdy cabinet or wall mounting on a strong wall.

The 60-inch TV has a 53.68 inches (136.36 cm) broad screen with 33.57 inches (85.28 cm) height. 

This 65-inch Samsung TV is 36.3 inches tall and 57.1 inches wide. 

70-Inch TVs

The TVs in this bracket are usually packed with most of the features that amplify your viewing experience.

The 70-inch television is 61.8” wide (156.972 cm) and about 37” tall (93.98cm). 

85-Inch and 98-Inch TVs

These TVs are absolute spectacles and are usually bought for home theaters and viewing rooms, or really large sports bars.

These TVs are so big that even an 8K resolution makes sense on them!

TVs of this size are equipped with each and every top-of-the-line feature that the industry has, like High Refresh Rate, HDR, 100% DCI-P3 color coverage, and so on and so forth.

Samsung displays with 85-inch diagonals typically measure 74.1 and 41.7 inches in width and length, respectively.

The Samsung 98-inch TV has dimensions of 86 inches x 49.17 inches. 

Your Eyes Will Thank You

TVs are an investment, always have been.

As enticing as it may be to spring for a larger TV in the name of immersion or a smaller TV to save a bit of money, you should go for a TV that is proportional to the distance you will be viewing it from.

If you purchase a TV today, there is a good chance you won’t be changing it for at least 5 years, so go for a size that you are comfortable looking at for hours on end. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How to measure the screen size of Samsung TVs?

The size of a TV is determined by measuring the diagonal length of the screen. 

Which Samsung TV size is the most popular in the USA?

The 65-inch size is the most popular TV size in North America.

What size Samsung TV is best for watching sports?

The size of the TV is mainly dependent on the size of the room, but it would help if you get a TV with High Refresh Rate and Motion Blur Reduction as that helps improve the viewing experience.