How big is a 55 inch TV – Different sizes compared
Anyone faced with the decision to buy a new TV is confronted with a whole range of specifications. The size, which is often only specified in inches, causes difficulties for many people. We have made an overview so that you can find the perfect size for your living room and reveal which size a 55 inch TV actually has and for whom this size is most suitable.
How is the size of a 55 inch TV measured?
Typically, the size specified for TV panels is the so-called screen diagonal. This indicates the distance between the lower left corner and the opposite upper right corner. You can find the measured value in the specifications of the TV as a value in inches and nowadays also often converted into centimeters. The so-called conversion factor is 2.54. This simply indicates that 2.54 centimeters equal one inch.
However, this does not say anything about the dimensions of the screen’s width and height, since the so-called aspect ratio also plays a role when it comes to TVs.
Nowadays, modern TVs use the common 16:9 ratio at this point. However, this was not always the case. Old TVs – mainly tube screens – still have the one 4:3 format.
The changeover to the 16:9 format first took place in the cinema sector due to the improved representation by cinema projectors and then became established in the private sector as well. If you know the aspect ratio, you can calculate the height and width of the screen. However, you have to be careful when buying, because some providers include the dimensions of the frame in the given value of the screen diagonal.
Why are sizes of TVs stated in inches?
The answer to this question is actually quite simple. Many well-known TV manufacturers have either their headquarters or the largest sales market in the USA. Since the unit of measurement “inch” still applies in the United States as well as England and Canada, many TV models are still labeled with this standard in our country.
How big is a 55 inch TV?
A 55-inch TV with the usual aspect ratio of 16:9 has a screen diagonal of about 140 centimeters. For content in HD, the recommended distance is about 1.5 times the diagonal. In this case, the distance would therefore be about 2.1 meters.
In detail, however, this also depends on factors like the viewing angle and ultimately your personal taste.
If you have the impression that you can’t see the entire screen, try to increase the distance if possible. Half a step backwards is usually enough to improve the view.
As soon as you know the aspect ratio of your TV, you can calculate its height and width. This information is needed when measuring how much space your TV will take up and whether it will fit in the desired location.
In our example of a 55 inch TV, the dimensions are 124 cm in width and 73 cm in height, rounded off. You can compare this, for example, with the storage surface of a conventional desk. A 55-inch TV is usually a bit smaller than the tabletops you find by default in most offices.
Which size for which living room?
When it comes to deciding on a size, you should not ignore certain factors. First of all, there is the distance between the sitting position and the viewing angle. If your position is too close or too far away from your TV, the overall view may suffer or the picture may not be shown to its full advantage. To avoid this, it’s worth taking a look at our buying guide, which recommends suitable models after entering your information and budget.
The recommended distance to the TV screen is – as already mentioned – about 1.5 times the screen diagonal and also depends on the viewing angle.
Depending on the size of the room and the orientation of the seating furniture, a TV can have a different overall effect and show deviations in terms of picture quality. For example, if the sofa is not straight to the TV but rather to the side, a larger panel offers an improved view.
An additional important factor is the resolution of the picture content. The rule of thumb mentioned above only applies to HD footage. If you watch in UHD, the recommended distance is reduced to about the size of the screen diagonal.
Are you especially interested in the resolution of a TV? Then take a look at our service article on the topic of 4K resolution.
The perfect location
Once the room in which the new TV will be placed is determined, the question of the ideal position comes up. The height and way of installation must be considered before choosing a new model. If you want to replace your current device with a larger one, you may face the problem that the old furniture is not big enough for the desired TV.
TheThe most comfortable height depends on the sitting position. When sitting on the sofa, the lower half of the screen should be at about eye level. The exact height is a matter of taste. As a rule, you probably find a higher distance to the floor more comfortable with larger screens and additional seat distances.
An alternative to conventional TV furniture is a television with an adjustable stand. But mounting it directly on the wall can also give your room an elegant flair. The chosen wall should not be facing a window to avoid reflections.
TV sizes compared
A 55-inch television is about the size of a standard office desk. But how much does the screen size increase in a 65 or 75 inch TV? To give you a better feel for the difference between screen sizes, we have compiled some everyday examples to compare to the most common TV sizes.
If you compare a 55 inch TV with a 65 inch device, the larger screen has a measurement of 145 cm to 90 cm and thus over 40 percent more viewing area compared to the smaller version.
A 75-inch model is 168 cm to 96 cm in terms of measurements and accordingly offers you a picture that is almost 80 percent larger compared to a 55-inch TV. Even a few inches in the diagonal make a significant difference in the display size.
If you don’t have a tape measure at hand, the following comparison will help:
While a 55 inch TV is roughly equivalent to a tabletop, the area of a 65 inch screen can be roughly compared to the area of an average bathtub.
A 75 inch screen has a slightly larger surface than a normal apartment door. Of course, the aspect ratio is different, but these everyday comparisons can help you get a first impression of the size ratios. Once you’ve found the perfect size for you, you could also think about bringing the right sounder into your home. Our soundbar buying guide will be happy to help you find the right one.
Frequently asked questions about 55 inch TV
What does the term screen diagonal stand for?
The term screen diagonal refers to the diagonal size of a screen and is measured from the bottom left corner to the top right corner.
Which screen diagonal does a 55 inch TV have?
55 inches in cm equals about 140 centimeters. 139.7 cm to be exact. As already mentioned, this is the perfect screen size if you sit about 2 meters away from your TV.
What is the size of a 55 inch TV?
The dimensions of a 55-inch TV are about 124 cm in width and 73 cm in height. That puts a similar TV device at an average size level these days.
Which screen sizes are the most common?
Today, TV manufacturers offer numerous screen sizes within their lineup. The most common dimensions are 48′, 50′, 55′, 65′, 77′ and 85 inches. Recently, the 42-inch size is also increasingly offered for home PC use. An additional, more atypical sizes such as 60 inches also exist. You can still find these nowadays as well.
