With the progressive technological advancement, bigger and higher performing televisions are produced. If you've just bought a new TV model you may need to measure it or figure out what the optimal viewing distance is. Fortunately, measuring a television is very simple and only takes a few seconds. Measure the diagonal of the screen to confirm the size declared by the manufacturer of the device. If you need to insert the TV inside the living room furniture or if you want to hang it on the wall you will have to measure its height, width and depth to know how much space you need.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Measure the Size of a TV
Step 1. Measure the diagonal of the screen (starting from one corner and moving towards the opposite one) to understand if the size declared by the manufacturer corresponds to reality
Place one end of a tape measure on the upper left corner of the TV screen, then go to the opposite corner, which is the lower right corner. The measurement you will get corresponds to the size of your TV panel, which should be the same as the one declared by the manufacturer. Since the size of televisions is expressed in inches, you will need to convert the measurement from centimeters to inches.
- Normally the most popular sizes of modern flat screen TVs are 24 "(61cm), 28" (71cm), 32 "(81cm), 42" (110cm), 48 "(120cm) and 60" (150 cm).
- There are also televisions with a 72 "(180 cm) or larger screen on the market.
Suggestion:
to get an accurate measurement, measure only the TV screen without including any outside edges of the frame.
Step 2. Measure the width of the TV starting from the left side and working in a straight line to the right side
In this case you need to measure the entire TV and not just the screen, so place one end of the tape measure at the beginning of the left side and work in a straight line until you reach the outer edge of the right side. The result you will get will correspond to the total width of the TV, which should be a few centimeters smaller than the screen size (intended as diagonal).
- For example, a television with a 60 "screen (which has a diagonal of 150 cm) is only 130 cm wide.
- The width of the TV is a very important information to consider whether you want to attach it directly to the wall or if you have chosen to insert it inside the living room furniture.
Step 3. Measure the height of the TV starting from the top and working straight down to the bottom
Also in this case you have to measure the whole TV, starting from the upper end up to the lower one. Modern flat screen televisions have a height that is approximately 56% of the width.
- For example, a television with a 48 "screen will have a width of about 110 cm and a height of between 64 and 69 cm.
- Generally speaking, the height of a TV is not as important as the width, however the latter information could be a determining factor in choosing where to place your new TV in the living room.
Step 4. Note the depth of the TV by measuring the distance from the front to the back
Taking this measurement may be a little tricky, as most TVs have a very rounded structure in the back. In these cases, it may be helpful to place a long, flat object (such as a ruler or a wooden tablet) on the back of the TV that allows you to take an accurate measurement in an easy way. At this point you will simply need to measure the distance that separates the end of the front side from the object you used as a reference. If this is not practical for you, try to make an estimate of the measurement by eye that is as accurate as possible.
- You may need to know the depth of the TV if you have decided to place it inside a living room furniture or if you have chosen to place it on a stand or shelf.
- Modern televisions are built with the aim of taking up as little space as possible. Nowadays many flat screen televisions have a maximum depth of less than 25 cm, including the base of the stand, and less than 8 cm taking into account only the equipment.
Method 2 of 2: Measure the Area to Install the TV
Step 1. Measure the space where you want to install the TV
If you haven't already, measure the exact height and width of the area where you have decided to place your television. You will also need to measure the depth of the TV cabinet or structure on which you have chosen to place the appliance to determine if it is sufficient to accommodate it.
- To make a more accurate measurement, round the results to the nearest half centimeter.
- Draw the area where you want to install the TV on a piece of paper, making it the correct size and take it with you as you go to choose your new TV.
Step 2. Leave a 5-8cm margin of free space on each side of the area where you will mount the TV
Make sure that the cabinet or section of the wall where you will install the TV is at least 5 cm wider than the TV on each side. This way you can be sure that you have all the space you need at the time of assembly.
- With some effort you could also install a 50 "TV inside a TV cabinet designed for a 45" set, but the end result will most likely look somewhat sacrificed. In this case it would be better to choose a model with a smaller screen, for example 42 "or at most 46", so that there is some space around the TV for optimal ventilation.
- If you are going to wall mount your TV, you will need to know its height and width precisely. If you want to install it inside a TV cabinet or on a stand you will also need to know the overall depth.
Step 3. Choose a TV that has a large enough screen to ensure optimal viewing from where the sofa is placed
For example, a 50 television may seem huge, but it might not be an exciting choice if you have to sit several meters from the screen to watch it. To understand what the optimal viewing distance is and to be able to choose the television with the ideal size, it is It is advisable to multiply the distance between the point where you will install the device and the point where you will sit and look at it by the coefficient 0, 84 (the final result will be the length of the diagonal of the screen that you will have to convert into inches).
- For example, if the distance that separates the sofa from the point where you will install the television is 180 cm, a device with a 60 "screen will offer you the best view.
- Alternatively, you can refer to the countless web pages where you can find specific tables that report the optimal viewing distance based on the size of the TV screen and the type of resolution.
Step 4. Understand the meaning of "aspect ratio" related to the size of a TV screen in order to enjoy optimal graphics
This data essentially represents the aspect ratio of the images displayed on a screen, that is, the relationship between the width and height of an image. Modern flat screen televisions all adopt an aspect ratio of 16: 9, which means that the images displayed on these screens will adopt a constant aspect ratio of 16: 9 between width and height.
- Older CRT TVs adopt an aspect ratio of 4: 3, so images will appear warped as the screen width is smaller than that of flat screen TVs, which have the advantage of displaying images in the their native format.
- For the same size of inches, the diagonal of a standard TV (4: 3) and that of a widescreen TV (16: 9) have the same length, however the images will be displayed very differently.
Step 5. To convert the size of a standard 4: 3 TV to the equivalent of a 16: 9 widescreen TV, multiply the width and height by the coefficient 1, 22
If you are thinking of changing your old CRT TV and buying a new flat screen one, while maintaining an aspect ratio of 4: 3, you need to multiply the diagonal length of your old TV by 1.22. this way you will get the size that the new TV screen must have in order to view 4: 3 images with the same size as the old TV.
