Welcome to our ‘Tools’ section
The question that generally pops up most when it’s time to choose a new TV set or a new projector is: “What size screen should I choose?”
Certainly, several criteria factor into the answer, including your viewing habits, where the TV will be located and what sort of budget you’re prepared to lay out. But the most important factor remains the screen size/viewing distance ratio i.e. how far away from the screen you’ll be sitting to watch your favourite programs. Here then are some handy formulas to help calculate the optimal TV screen size, best suited to your particular situation.
Screen Size Calculator for LCD or Plasma Flat Screen TVs
To calculate the optimal diagonal dimension of the TV model that you should choose, please indicate how far away you generally sit from the TV:
Answer:
If you sit less than 6 feet from your TV, we recommend you choose a screen whose diagonal dimension ranges between 19 and 26 inches. If your TV is located in a tighter space (kitchen, smaller room or small area), the screen size should be around 19 inches. If the space is adequate or if you watch TV mainly for entertainment (movies, video games, music shows, sports, etc.), choose a 26” model to strike a balance between image quality and your viewing comfort.
Answer:
If you sit between 6 and 8 feet from your TV, we recommend you choose a screen whose diagonal dimension ranges between 32 and 37 inches. According to the space available and if you frequently watch HD movies, such as Blu-ray, you’ll need to choose a 37” screen. If the site is more restricted, you’re better off choosing a screen closer to 32” so that the TV image is not too overwhelming compared to the room size. Image quality will be much more pleasant for viewers.
Answer:
When the sitting distance from your TV is between 8 and 10 feet we recommend you choose a screen whose diagonal dimension is 42 inches. This size provides the most comfortable viewing and corresponds best to living room type areas. This gives you a good compromise for daily entertainment viewing (movies, video games, music shows, sports, etc.). The 42” format inches is the equivalent of the old 32” cathode tube TVs. If space allows, or if you if you mainly watch HD and/or Blu-ray movies, you could opt for a 50” model.
Answer:
When the sitting distance from your TV is between 10 and 12 feet we recommend you choose a screen whose diagonal dimension is 50 inches. If your TV set is part of a dedicated system, (e.g. home theatre room) or if you use your TV to frequently watch HD and/or Blu-ray movies, you could choose a 58” screen. If you’re comfortable with this size,you might also consider a video projector as an alternative.
Answer:
When the sitting distance from your TV is between 12 and 15 feet we recommend you choose a screen whose diagonal dimension is around 58 inches. At this screen size, you get an excellent dynamic image and very good home theatre quality. If you use your TV system as an entertainment centre (HD movies, video games, music shows, sports, etc.) choose a 65” screen, especially if you’re in a dedicated viewing environment. If you’re comfortable with this size, you might also consider a video projector as an alternative.
Answer:
When the sitting distance from your TV is more than 15 feet we recommend you choose a screen whose diagonal dimension is 58 inches or more. If your home theatre set-up serves as an entertainment centre where you frequently watch HD and/or Blu-ray movies you might also consider a video projector as an alternative.
Screen Size Calculator for video projectors
To calculate the optimal diagonal dimension screen for the video projector that you want to install, please indicate how far you generally sit from the screen:
Answer:
When you sit at least 10 feet in front of the projection screen, we recommend installing a screen with a diagonal dimension of up to 60 inches. This is around the upper limit that we recommend, and notably for a video projector offering high resolution. If the viewing distance is less than 10 feet, a HD flat screen TV with will offer you viewing quality that is just as good.
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When you sit at least 10 to 12 feet from the projection screen, we recommend you install a screen with a diagonal dimension between 80 and 92 inches. Around the 12 feet viewing mark you can also opt for a 100” screen. Verify beforehand that the image size makes sense, taking into consideration the projector’s location as well as the characteristics of the room itself.
Answer:
When you sit at least 12 to 15 feet from the projection screen, we recommend you install a screen with a diagonal dimension between 100 and 120 inches. If your video projector offers high resolution imaging (1080p), don’t hesitate to choose a 120” screen for superb image quality. If you have a video projector offering a resolution of 720p or less, we recommend you follow the lower distance limits.
Answer:
Starting at 15 feet from the projection screen, we recommend you install a projector screen with a diagonal dimension of at least 120 inches. If your video projector offers a high-resolution imaging (1080p), you can even go bigger. At these viewing distances, customized installations are recommended – so talk directly with your Fillion Électronique representative.