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Your TV’s Best Seat in the House

Not sure how far to sit from your TV? The right viewing distance can make a big difference in picture quality and comfort. Here’s a quick guide to help you find the sweet spot based on your TV size and resolution.


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Best Viewing Distance for Your TV in New Zealand

Whether you’re purchasing a new TV and want to get the ideal viewing experience, or you’re simply trying to improve your current viewing setup, finding the best viewing distance is important.

We’ve all experienced that classic eye strain from sitting too close or too far away from a television. Perhaps you arrived late to a movie and ended up in the first row. Or perhaps you visited a friend’s house where they had a tiny TV sitting too far from the sofa to see properly.

At the end of the day, there’s a right way and a wrong way to calculate optimal viewing distance for your television and Noel Leeming is here to help. So keep reading to find out how to set up your TV for maximum viewing enjoyment!


Why Viewing Distance is Important

Viewing distance may be something you’ve never considered before — even if you’ve owned a TV your whole life! You may have just put your television where it seemed to make the most sense a. But maybe you’ve also experienced eye strain or even struggled to catch everything happening on the screen.

That’s because viewing distance can have a huge impact on visual comfort, field of vision, and perceived image quality. When you sit too far from a TV screen, you won’t see the fine details on a high-resolution TV. But if you sit too close, you might start seeing individual pixels on a lower resolution screen. Both experiences can cause eye strain as you struggle to make out details in a show, movie, or video game.

Field of vision (FOV) is an important thing to consider when setting up your television. If you are a film buff, a wider FOV is typically better for watching cinematic shows or movies, while a smaller FOV can be better for viewing sports, sitcoms, and other casual entertainment.

Also, the resolution of your screen matters. Sit too close, and you won’t be able to help noticing the individual pixels and grainy details. Sit too far away, and you’re missing out on the quality you’ve paid a premium for. Either way, it’s a worse viewing experience for you. 

So what’s the solution?



How Do You Calculate the Optimal Viewing Distance for a Television?

If you want to calculate the optimal viewing distance for your television, you need to start by figuring out the size of your TV. Most TVs come in standard sizes, which are typically measured in inches (even in NZ), corresponding to the diagonal measurement of your television screen. 

This measurement will help you establish a recommended viewing range, which is usually between 1.5 and 3 times your TV’s size. To help, here is a quick cheat sheet with common TV sizes and recommended viewing ranges in centimeters:


Screen Size Range (inches) Minimum Distance (cm) Maximum Distance (cm) Ideal For

20-39"

91

243

Small bedrooms, kitchens, caravans, guest rooms

40-47"

152

304

Small to medium living rooms or shared spaces

48-59"

190

418

Versatile for most Kiwi homes, large living rooms

60-69"

229

494

Open plan living, big family spaces, home theatres

70+"

266

570

Cinematic viewing, ultimate home theatre experience

Remember there are other factors to consider as well, when setting up your home entertainment space. For example, one key consideration is the resolution of the television you are buying. Is it standard definition (SD), high-definition (HD), or ultra high-definition (UHD)?

HD TVs can be comfortably viewed from much closer than a SD TV. Similarly, if you have an UHD TV that can play video in 4K or even 8K, then you can opt for a lower viewing distance than you would with a HD TV. The higher resolution will help offset your distance from the screen.

And, lastly, there is personal preference. Some people like to sit closer to the screen, preferring a more immersive experience. Other people like to watch from a distance, so they can feel like they’re relaxing in the back row of the cinema. The amount of natural light in your space and the layout of your room are important to consider too.



How Do I Figure Out the Right Size TV for My Space?

If you’re thinking of getting a new TV, the best way to figure out the right size is to take the exact measurements of your current TV room, so you can gauge what’s going to be a suitable fit. Start by measuring the distance from your TV stand or wall mount to the sofa or armchair where you typically sit to watch. 

Next, use this measurement to work in reverse and figure out what TV sizes would be appropriate. If you have the option to shift furniture around, this gives you more flexibility when making a final decision. And if you’re moving into a new place, then you can redesign your new TV room for an optimal viewing experience — the best case scenario!


The best viewing distance for an 85 Inch television in New Zealand will be between 324 cm and 548 cm, depending on the resolution of your specific TV model and personal preference. This is equivalent to between 127.5 inches and 255 inches. This size of TV will require a larger home theatre-style room to have the appropriate viewing distance. 


The best viewing distance for an 75 Inch television in New Zealand will be between 285 cm and 570 cm, depending on the resolution of your specific TV model and personal preference. This is equivalent to between 112.5 inches and 225 inches. This size of TV will also require a larger home theatre-style room to have the appropriate viewing distance. 


The best viewing distance for an 65 Inch television in New Zealand will be between 247 cm and 494 cm, depending on the resolution of your specific TV model and personal preference. This is equivalent to between 97.5 inches and 195 inches. This size of TV will require a larger family room or home theatre-style room to have the appropriate viewing distance. 


The best viewing distance for an 55 Inch television in New Zealand will be between 207cm and 418 cm, depending on the resolution of your specific TV model and personal preference. This is equivalent to between 82.5 inches and 165 inches. This size of TV will require a large family room or living room to have the appropriate viewing distance.


The best viewing distance for an 50 Inch television in New Zealand will be between 190 cm and 380 cm, depending on the resolution of your specific TV model and personal preference. This is equivalent to between 75 inches and 150 inches. This size of TV will require a larger family room or living room to have the appropriate viewing distance.


The best viewing distance for an 43 Inch television in New Zealand will be between 164 cm and 327 cm, depending on the resolution of your specific TV model and personal preference. This is equivalent to between 64.5 inches and 129 inches. For the appropriate viewing distance, this size of TV will fit into most large to medium-sized family rooms or living rooms.


The best viewing distance for an 40 Inch television in New Zealand will be between 152 cm and 304 cm, depending on the resolution of your specific TV model and personal preference. This is equivalent to between 60 inches and 120 inches. For the appropriate viewing distance, this size of TV will fit into most large to medium-sized family rooms or living rooms.


The best viewing distance for an 32 Inch television in New Zealand will be between 121 cm and 243 cm, depending on the resolution of your specific TV model and personal preference. This is equivalent to between 48.5 inches and 96 inches. For the appropriate viewing distance, this size of TV will fit into most small to medium-sized family rooms or living rooms.


So there you have it! The recommended viewing distances for most common TV sizes.

If you’re looking for help picking out the best size TV for your space, shop online or in-store at Noel Leeming today and ask our experienced team for their suggestions.