Smart TV Size Guide for Buyers

Smart TVs will change the way you enjoy a TV, make sure they are the right size.

What makes a TV Smart? Short answer- Wi-Fi. The long answer is a little more elaborate. In a basic sense, if you cross a traditional TV with the internet, you get a Smart TV.

However, smart TVs have evolved since their early phase as a TV with an internet connection, into a respectable segment of their own.

Today you get Smart TVs with their own operating systems and voice controls among other features. However, there is one dilemma that Smart TVs have inherited from their traditional roots, how big should they be?

It’s unsettling to watch television and need to squint to see clearly or to have the feeling of being too near, like when we sit in the front seats of a movie theatre.

And, when it comes to smart TVs do their novel features contribute anything new to the TV size discussion?

Smart TVs are different 

Smart TVs are TVs that are connected to the internet. By virtue of this connection, they can stream movies and TV shows. They can also integrate with smart home systems like Google Home and Alexa, and it can follow your voice commands.

Because they also act as an interface for not only watching a movie but also for browsing through an endless catalogue of media content on the internet, their size can impact their ease of use.

In traditional TVs, you would not read as many words as you would on a Smart TV, therefore readability contributes to the TV size debate.

You may want to read the description of a TV show before you decide to binge-watch over a weekend, or even if you’re watching YouTube, you will read the video title and other information more closely.

Then, there is the TV menu and social media apps like Twitter where you have to read. While there is some value to traditional TVs being small, Smart TVs need to be big enough for us to see the characters easily.

This brings us to our question; how big should our smart TV be? The optimum size of the TV depends on a variety of things, but there are two main factors: how far will you be watching from, and how big your budget is.

With smart TVs, you will do a lot more things than you would have done with traditional TVs. You will be able to stream video on Netflix and Hulu, play games, browse through social media, and even use Alexa or Google Home compatible devices.

Because of these features, in comparison to a traditional TV, you will be sitting a little closer to your smart TV. If you desire an immersive experience, a 55-inch or higher 4K screen is your best bet.

This is because with 4K displays you will not see small pixels in the screen, as would have been the case if you had a large display with a lower resolution.

Don’t rule out small Smart TV sizes

However, this does not mean small smart TV in the 30-inch range can be ruled out. Yes, with big screen sizes like 55-inch, or even 75-inch your experience is more immersive, but they are expensive as well.

If you’re close enough, then a smaller TV in the 30-inch range can also be good. By close, we mean around 4 to 5 ft. The general rule is the farther you are, the wider the TV; the larger the screen, the bigger the price.

When buying small TV sizes, it may be worthwhile to prefer connectivity features over TV resolution. Small TVs produce good picture quality even at lower resolutions.

Smart TV Sizes and Viewing Distance

This handy table can help you figure out what your ideal TV size can be for your viewing distance. Remember the for Smart TVs, you might want to sit a bit closer.

Viewing distanceRecommended TV size
4 ft – 6 ft32 inches – 50 inches
6 ft – 9 ft50 inches – 65 inches
9ft -10 ft65 inches – 75 inches
Above 10 ft85 inches +

You can get most Smart TV sizes from almost all major TV brands like Samsung, LG, Hisense, Panasonic, Sharp, Sony, TCL, Toshiba. If you are in the market for a budget-friendly small Smart TV, you could check out Vizio’s Smart TVs.

Other budget-friendly options from manufacturers HiSense, also come with an integrated streaming service- Roku TV.

Measure your space

Apart from the size of the Smart TV itself, you should also consider the space you have to place your TV. When we talk about TV sizes, we talk about the corner-to-corner dimension, and not how wide the TV is going to be.

When manufacturers advertise TV sizes, they do not include the dimensions of the bezels that surround the screen, nor do they include the dimensions of the TV stands.

As a result, in addition to the claimed TV size, you should look at the entire dimension of the TV.

For example, a 43-inch LG Smart TV like the LG LED Smart TV will not be 43 inches wide. It will be ‎38.1 inches wide, 24.5 inches tall, and 8.5 inches thick.

If you are buying a bigger screen for your living room, then you should also consider the size of the TV stand or any cabinet where you will place the TV.

It is a general rule in interior design that the TV stand needs to be a little longer than the TV, so make sure when you’re choosing a TV that you will have enough space to place the TV properly in your room.

The TV size should complement the size of the room. A small TV in a large room will look like a computer monitor, and similarly, a big TV in a small room will steal your living space.

A good cabinet wall can also enhance your entire room. We need to think of TV as part of our entire decor, especially if it is going to be big.

If you are buying a Smart TV for your bedroom, you must be mindful that a big screen and flashing lights are not ideal for a sleeping space. TVs around 43 inches are best suited for bedrooms.

You should also decide where in the bedroom will your TV be. While it is comfortable to watch the TV if it is on the foot of the bed, it can be a little awkward to sleep with a giant rectangle standing above your legs.

For bedrooms, a wall mount that can tilt and swivel the TV is perfect as you would be able to adjust the viewing angle to your liking.

That concludes our guide on Smart TV sizes. Remember that the right TV size may make a great difference in how well you use your living space; it can result in either a well-utilized space or an uncomfortable room.