Your guide to buying a TV of the right size

What size TV should I buy? This is probably one of the - if not the - most commonly asked questions by anybody considering buying a new television.

First off, we need to make it clear that even with all things considered, ultimately, choosing the size of a TV is one of personal preference. If you intend watching television in a really small room but what to fill up an entire wall with a gigantic, super-sized TV, you can! If that's the viewing experience you want to have then that is absolutely fine... go for it!

The purpose of this blog is not to convince you one way or the other, it's simply to give you all the info you need to be able to make a fully informed choice about which size to buy. We'll give you what are generally regarded as being the recommended viewing distances, remind you of a couple of important things that you probably already know and tell you about things that you maybe didn't know or hadn't thought of.

And then... the choice is yours.

Recommended viewing distances

So, let's look at the viewing distances that have been advised by the experts. These are based on high definition viewing and take into account getting the best out of your viewing experience and what is best for your eyesight. We've given the distance you are going to sit away from the TV and the size screen that is recommended, as a general rule of thumb:

Distance  <1.5m       Screen size  up to 32"

Distance 1.5m-2m   Screen size 32"-39"

Distance 2m-2.5m   Screen size 40"-45"

Distance 2.5m-3m    Screen size 46"-55"

Distance >3m      Screen size 55"+

Does size matter?

Size does matter and although, as we've already said, it is essentially a matter of choice, it's also important that you buy a TV that is suitable for the size of room you intend to put it in. The above measurements are the guidelines for sensible distances to screen sizes but there are a few other things to remember.

Smaller sizes

A 20"-30" TV watched from up to about 1.5m will be perfectly comfortable, making this smaller sized television perfect for most kitchens and bedrooms and smaller living rooms (if you don't want the TV to dominate and impose itself too much on the space).

Because of the limited field of vision that we have with our eyesight, as long as you are sitting about a metre away from it, we don't actually need a screen size any bigger than 30" for optimum viewing.

TVs are bigger these days

Yes, that's stating the obvious - you'd have been hard pushed to get a super- sized TV a few years ago and now they're everywhere. However, it's also worth remembering that what would have been sold as 40" TV 5 years ago may actually be more like a 48" now. This is because the bezels (the edging around the screen) have been reduced considerably as technology has developed.

4k Ultra HD

This is the latest in resolution technology bringing us better picture quality than ever before. Be mindful though that to truly appreciate its quality and the difference between 4k Ultra HD and Full HD you really need a screen above 40".

On the flip side of that, because of its superior quality, you can sit a bit closer to the screen than you might do with a Full HD screen and still have comfortable viewing.

Curved screens and viewing angles

There's an argument to suggest that curved screens whilst looking fantastic are actually just a fashion accessory. Now that might be being a little harsh but the differences in quality of viewing between a curved and a flat screen are only subtle at best - and to get the best effect you really need to be viewing from straight on.

Check out the viewing angle ratings and comments in reviews with all TVs. Sometimes the viewing experience can be lessened if you are not looking directly at the screen or if you are viewing in a particularly narrow room. Think about all the different angles from which people will be sitting and watching from before you buy.