TV Viewing Distance Calculator
Enter your screen size and resolution to see how far from the screen to sit for an immersive or comfortable view.
Your details
Result
Recommended (SMPTE, 30°)
2.27 m (7.5 ft)
General TV viewing
- Cinematic (THX, 40°)
- 1.67 m (5.5 ft)
- Relaxed (20°)
- 3.45 m (11.3 ft)
- Closest pixel-free distance (4K)
- 1.09 m (3.6 ft)
- Distance = (screen width ÷ 2) ÷ tan(field of view ÷ 2), for a 16:9 screen.
Good to know: Sit closer than the pixel-free distance and you may see individual pixels.
About this tool
Find how far to sit from your TV or monitor using field-of-view standards, and the closest distance at which your resolution stays pixel-free.
Formula
Viewing distance = (screen width ÷ 2) ÷ tan(FOV ÷ 2), where width = diagonal × 0.8716 for 16:9 screens. Pixel-free limit uses the 1-arcminute visual acuity standard.
Reference values
- THX recommends a 40° field of view
- SMPTE recommends a maximum 30° FOV
- 20/20 vision resolves 1 arcminute
Questions people ask
How far should I sit from a 55-inch TV?
About 1.7 m for a cinematic view and 2.3 m for general viewing.
Does 4K let me sit closer?
Yes. Higher resolution has smaller pixels, so the pixel-free distance is shorter.
What do THX and SMPTE mean here?
They are industry guidelines for the angle the screen fills in your view, 40° and 30°.
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How we calculate this
We use the standard published formula or definition for this calculation, and we show the working so you can check it.
Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we'll check it. How we check our calculators