Calculate optimal TV Gre and format - Calculate Now

When it comes to buying a new TV, it is crucial to find the right size. This, in turn, depends on many different factors. The most important factors are as follows:

• Picture format
• Seating distance from the set
• Content that will be viewed

While it used to be common to choose a TV in 4:3 format, these are hardly available in stores today. This also makes sense, because the majority of television programs are broadcast in 16:9 format anyway. However, if a program is broadcast in 4:3 format, black bars will only appear at the side edges. If, on the other hand, you choose a 4:3 TV and watch 16:9 broadcasts, you will only see a partial section of the picture, so your viewing pleasure will be significantly reduced.

The right seat distance is crucial

The seat distance is also decisive for the choice of TV. Generally speaking, a greater sitting distance is required for SD-format broadcasts so that individual picture pixels are not visible. In this case, the TV should therefore be selected somewhat smaller. TVs that offer Full HD or even 4K television, on the other hand, can definitely be larger. There is hardly any danger of visible pixels.

It is true for 3D television that it depends on the right angle. Really good results can only be achieved if an angle of 75 degrees is guaranteed. First and foremost, therefore, the local conditions should play a role in buying a TV, as should the content being played back.

So what is the optimum TV size?

To determine the optimal TV size, there is a simple formula:

Optimal TV size in cm = seat distance from TV in cm/specific factor.

The specific factor is 3.5 for broadcasts in SD quality, 2 in HD quality and 1.5 in 4K. At a seat distance of three meters, the following optimal TV size results for HD enjoyment:

300 cm/2 = 150 cm

You can also use our calculator to convert the centimeters into inches.