TV sofa distance: chart and tips for making the right choice

How do you calculate the optimal distance between the sofa and the TV set?

It is inconceivable to have a living room without a sofa and TV screen. The two, in fact, mostly live in the same room and cannot do without each other.

So many people associate the 

with the TV and, when there is a need to buy one or the other, a series of questions must be asked: the right distance between the two elements, the size of the TV, the size of the sofa and the size of the room in which they are to be placed.

Optimal TV distance: factors to consider

To watch TV without affecting your eyesight in particular, a number of factors must be taken into account:

• the size of the TV
• the type of TV screen
• the height of the television
• the lighting in the room

First of all, the distance between TV and sofa is in close corrrection to the size of the TV. The calculation of the TV-couch distance is given by a simple rule: for every inch of TV you can calculate a distance of about 4.5 cm

For example, if you have a 55-inch TV set in your living room, the minimum distance will be about 2.5 metres. And the same can be done for larger 65-inch and 75-inch TV sets, for which the distance for optimal viewing will increase.

Another determining factor for the ideal distance is the type of TV, i.e. whether it is an LCD TV or a 4K or a Full HD TV for the image resolution and quality.

In addition, for Full HD resolution, the recommendation is that the distance between the TV and the sofa is between two and four times the size of the TV set.

Instead, to determine the ideal height for your TV, one method is to use the level at which your eyes are when you are watching it, when you are sitting on the sofa, for example. You should ensure that the centre of your TV set is positioned at the same level as your eyes.

Next, it is important to illuminate the entire TV area. Although reflections from the sun or artificial light on the screen are quite annoying, you should never watch TV in the dark.

The main advice is always to make use of the natural light outside by placing the TV in a spot where direct sunlight does not reach. Some TV sets are even equipped with special technologies that limit the reflections of sunlight, such as Samsung’s Ultra Black.

Sofa TV distance, chart

With the above in mind, knowing how many inches your TV set measures will be enough to give you a rough calculation of the ideal TV distance:

TV Inches	Distance
32 inches TV	1,26 metres
40 inches TV	1,66 metres
42 inches TV	1,78 metres
50 inches TV	2,06 metres
55 inches TV	2,28 metres
65 inches TV	2,69 metres
75inches TV	3,10 metres

As you can see, the larger the TV, the greater the distances, and consequently you will need a very spacious room. If you imagine that you have to furnish or change your living room furniture, you may consider choosing a sofa that is suitable for the space available.

To place a medium-sized TV set, e.g. a 50-inch TV set, you need a living room at least 3.5 metres long and 3 metres wide, in order to fit a 3-seater sofa.

If you have an open space, you can opt for a sofa with a peninsula or chaise longue, which are ideal for watching TV in full relaxation, in company thanks to the possibility of more seating and reclining. There are also relaxation sofas that allow you to raise your legs with electric footrests, movable seats and reclining headrests.

TV distance and sofa size: how to find your way around?

Calculating sofa TV distance is not that difficult. However, one must be able to reckon with the space available and know how to choose what to give priority to: if on the one hand one wants to give more importance to the TV, its size, type and so on, the choice of sofa is certainly conditioned. On the other hand, giving more value to the characteristics and size of the sofa, partially constrains the preference of a TV set.

Wanting to give some advice, we recommend

• a 2-seater sofa a 40-inch TV or a 42-inch TV with a minimum distance between the two of 1.70 metres;
• a 3-seater sofa a 50-inch TV or a 55-inch TV with a minimum distance between them of 2 metres;
• a 4-, 5-, 6-seater sofa a 65-inch TV or a larger TV up to 75 inches with a minimum distance of 2.70 metres.

How to adjust the distance between TV and sofa

Unfortunately, it is often not possible to position the sofa at the right distance from the TV set due to issues of space or architectural constraints, such as the presence of visible pillars, which condition the positioning of the TV set on the wall or resting on a TV stand.

To ensure that an ideal distance between the sofa and the TV set is maintained, if it is not possible to intervene in any other way, it is useful to obtain adjustable structures with wall mounting and an extendable arm, with which it is possible to better manage the distance and guarantee optimal viewing.

How to design a modern living room with sofa and TV

It seems to go without saying, but placing the sofa and TV in a living room could be a difficult choice, taking into account free walls, door openings or those of windows and balconies. The size of the sofa and that of the TV and the distance between these two elements should not be underestimated.

We will give you some ideas and useful tips so that you don’t make mistakes and design your living area as you like it. Read more >>