Viewing Distance Calculator
Determine how far to sit from your TV or projector for the right balance between immersion and clarity.
Why Viewing Distance Matters
The distance between you and your television or projector screen has a profound effect on how immersive and comfortable your viewing experience will be. Sit too close and you may notice individual pixels or find yourself turning your head constantly to take in the whole picture. Sit too far away and you risk missing fine details, especially with modern high-resolution displays. This tool blends field-of-view (FOV) and visual-acuity guidelines to recommend a distance that matches your preferences.
Understanding Field of View
Field of view describes how much of your vision the screen occupies. Cinematic setups often target a wide FOV around 40 degrees, putting you right in the middle of the action. A more typical living room might use a 30-degree FOV, while casual viewing at greater distances may fall closer to 20 degrees. The calculator converts your diagonal measurement into screen width and uses basic trigonometry to determine the distance that yields the requested FOV:
Where is the distance and is the width of a 16:9 screen derived from your diagonal.
Resolution and Visual Acuity
Screen resolution describes the number of pixels packed into your display. Higher resolutions, such as 4K, allow you to sit closer without seeing pixel structure. Lower resolutions like 1080p require a slightly greater distance for the picture to appear smooth. The calculator uses a simple visual-acuity guideline—about 1.5 times the screen height for 1080p and 1.0 times the height for 4K—and then selects the greater of the FOV or acuity distance so that detail remains crisp.
Example Viewing Distances
| Screen Size | Resolution | Balanced 30° | Immersive 40° |
|---|---|---|---|
| 55" TV | 1080p | 6.9 ft (2.1 m) | 5.2 ft (1.6 m) |
| 65" TV | 4K | 7.8 ft (2.4 m) | 6.0 ft (1.8 m) |
| 120" Projector | 4K | 14.5 ft (4.4 m) | 11.0 ft (3.4 m) |
Use these examples as a starting point. Adjust your seating by a foot or two based on personal preference, the layout of your room, and how much motion you expect on screen.
Plan the Rest of Your Setup
After dialing in your seating distance, explore related tools such as the projector throw distance calculator, home projector vs large TV cost calculator, and the theater seating capacity calculator to round out your home theater planning.