How Far Should Your Sofa Be From The TV? (Let’s Find Out)

Today nearly every home in America has a TV set, and they typically run for more than 5 hours each day. When it comes time to watch a show, an event, or a live sports game, the distance from the most comfortable spot in the house to the TV has to be perfect for us. In this article, we will go over how far your sofa should be from the TV so you no longer have to squint to see it.

The optimal distance from the TV to the couch is an 8:1 ratio. For every 8 inches, it should be 1 ft away from the TV. The reason is that today’s TVs cause our eyes to hurt if we continuously watch marathons and movies or sit too close to them to try and improve the image clarity. 

Finding the right distance from your sofa to your TV is not easy. The eye strain and image clarity are the main factors in finding the perfect distance. In this article, you will find out which size you need and the differences in having too big or small of a TV. Continue reading to learn why the distance of your sofa from your TV is important to enjoying a comfortable night at home.

The Best Distance Between Your Sofa and the TV

The 8:1 ratio is the preferred distance between your sofa and TV because the placement of the TV at this distance makes for the best image clarity. Some TVs may be a bit closer or further away depending on the room and sofa size. Remember it is also important to consider the factors regarding health.

There are multiple factors caused by having a TV at the wrong distance. These include eye strain, blurred vision, headaches, and poor image clarity to name a few. When deciding on your next TV, going with the 8:1 ratio will be the safest choice.

Sofa Height

Upon doing further research, I also found the best height for TVs depends on the size of your sofa. According to Apartment Therapy, “An optimal height for the center of the screen is 30 inches above the lowest seat height in the room.” 

When placing your TV, use this measurement to find that right distance. Whether you are sitting on your sofa or relaxing in a chair, consider the effects of the TV on your neck if it is placed too low or too high.

Room Size

Apartment buildings and other small homes may not have the ideal amount of space and therefore might need to downgrade their TVs. 

In crowded spaces, it is more difficult to utilize the space; especially for those who already own a TV and move into a new apartment. The important thing to remember is the 8:1 ratio. Arranging the living space in your new apartment or smaller home will be easier using the recommendations in this article.

Start with understanding the size of the room. Map out your design and how far the sofa is going to be from the TV. Will you be mounting the TV on the wall? This is a good question to find out the right distance for your room size. 

TV Size

Below is a chart that shows the optimal distance between your sofa and the TV based on the size of the TV, as well as the image clarity you will achieve at this distance:

TV Size	50-55in TV	60-65in TV	70-80in TV
Optimal Distance	6-9 ft	8-12 ft	10-15 ft
Image Clarity	95-100% clarity	95-100% clarity	95-100% clarity

When you consider all the factors and the TV resolution before your next purchase, the best image clarity for your TV is at the optimal distance. However, deciding the best size will depend on the resolution of the TV and could change the best distance between your sofa and the TV.

TV Resolution

Just as every home is different, every TV is different. You have to account for the resolution of a TV when calculating the distance between it and your sofa. Though the recommended distance is an 8:1 ratio, if your TV is of a higher resolution, the distance you can have the TV away from your sofa will be more flexible. This is because the improved imaging is easier on our eyes.

Image Clarity

Sitting further away from your TV will lower image clarity and sitting too close will cause the TV’s image to appear pixelated. Naturally, we want the best image quality and clarity available when watching our favorite shows and movies, and the distance between our sofas and the TV is an important factor in that.

Possible Health Concerns

It is not uncommon for our health to not be in its best shape when we spend our days looking at phones, computers, or even watching TV. Concentrating on one activity for an extended amount of time paired with the constant brightness coming from our LED TVs can cause multiple health concerns when the TV is too far or too close to you when watching it.

Some causes for concern involving being too close or too far away from the TV include:

●      Eye strain caused by concentrating on and squinting at the TV

●      Fatigue caused by a lack of sleep from seeing the TV’s blue light

●      Blurred vision or the burning and watering of your eyes due to the brightness of the TV

●      Headache due to light sensitivity caused by prolonged exposure to the TV’s bright lights

●      Poor Image Clarity caused by being too close or too far from the TV

If you have experienced any of these symptoms from watching your current TV too far away or too close to it, it may be time for you to consider some of the previously listed factors and fix the issue or invest in a solution.

How to Measure the Right Distance

Since so many factors go into getting the best distance between your sofa and the TV, you will need to know how to measure your space properly to fix everything accordingly.

Here are some steps on how to measure the right distance for your sofa and the TV:

1. Measure the size of your TV and mark it down
2. Note the resolution of your TV
3. Measure the distance between the front edge of the sofa and the TV screen (viewing distance) and mark it down
4. Type your measurements into this TV Size to Viewing Distance Calculator
5. See whether your TV size matches up with the recommended one from the calculator

Suppose you found that your TV is in the proper size range for the distance between it and your sofa. In that case, you should try measuring the wall the TV is mounted to or placed on an entertainment center from ceiling to floor to see if it is at the right height from the sofa, as previously mentioned in the article. Otherwise, you may need a new TV for optimal distance.

Choosing the Right TV

If your TV is too big or too small for your living space in reference to the calculator mentioned previously, then you may need to purchase a new TV to prevent possible health concerns and improve your experience watching TV.

Some prefer online TV shopping, but going in-store to make sure you are happy with the purchase is a good option, too. This way, you can try out the TV by standing the estimated distance between the TV and sofa at your home. Spending time watching it can help you see how much more comfortable it will be compared to the TV at home which strains your eyes.

Do You Watch TV for More Than 5 Hours?

Perhaps the most important question we have to ask ourselves when choosing the right TVs is, “How much do I use it?” You wouldn’t buy a new gaming console for yourself if you never intend to play video games, same as a TV. Don’t purchase a new TV if you don’t watch it for more than 5 hours because you most likely won’t experience the issues mentioned here anyways.

Is There a Perfect Distance?

The perfect distance from your sofa to the TV exists. It factors in many different things, and considering the factors mentioned in this article and with a bit of shopping around, you can achieve it. 

You can use the calculator provided to find the distance you need based on all the factors mentioned. The online calculator also includes an option for TV resolution. Patience and taking time to measure the distance between the TV and sofa is important to your health and the quality of image when watching your favorite movies.