Buying the Right Size TV Screen
Factors to Consider When Purchasing the Perfect Size Television
A guide to buying the best size TV screen for your needs.
Purchasing a television can be a tricky thing, especially when considering how much money often goes into that type of investment. However, it's crucial to find the right size screen for the area its destined for. Purchasing a television that's too large, where viewers are forced to sit too close to the screen, can lead to significant eye discomfort.
If you're considering purchasing a larger screen, plasmas, LCDs and DLPs are all decent options depending on what you're looking for. There are several advantages and disadvantages to both, so choose the best option for you. Click here for more information on those differences.
Plasma screens are ideal larger screens than LCDs and start at about 32". Typically plasma screen sizes are 32", 42", 50" and 61". LCD screens are typically smaller than 32".
When determining what size TV screen to buy, it's important to consider the size of the room the television is destined for. Remember that there needs to be sufficient space above and behind the television to allow heat to escape if purchasing a plasma. Moreover, don't forget to consider how far viewers will be from the screen. Most viewers are most comfortable sitting at a distance three to six times the width of the screen.
- For 13" screens, viewers should be 2.5-5 feet away
- For 19" screens, viewers should be 4-7.5 feet away
- For 20" screens, viewers should be 4-8 feet away
- For 24" screens, viewers should be 5-9.5 feet away
- For 27" screens, viewers should be 5.5-11 feet away
- For 32-37" screens, viewers should be 6-14 feet away
- For 42" screens, viewers should be 10-16 feet away
- For 50" screens, viewers should be 12-20 feet away
- For 60" or more screens, viewers should be at least 15-20 feet away
24-inch and smaller screens are great for bed rooms or guest rooms, but probably too small for larger sized living rooms. In the same way, larger screens are typically too much for a bedroom and should be designated for areas where there could be multiple viewers at once.
Another thing to consider is that DLPs and box televisions are bulkier than LCDs and plasmas, so be sure there is plenty of space available so that the TV doesn't awkwardly protrude into the room.
It's typical to be more inclined to go with a larger size TV screens, but consumers should first ask whether or not bigger is better for the given situation. It doesn't do much good to pay more money for a television that isn't the appropriate fit for the space alotted to it.
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