TV Stand Size Guide: What Size TV Stand Should You Buy

Hey there! If you’ve been tearing your hair out trying to figure out the perfect size for your TV stand, you’ve come to the right place.

These tips can help you quickly determine the perfect TV stand size for your needs.

Let’s face it: we all love kicking back and relaxing in front of the TV. According to Statista, folks in the US spend a solid 3 to 5 hours a day glued to their screens. So, it makes total sense that you’d want to set up the ultimate entertainment hub in your home.

But finding the right TV stand size can be a total headache. If it’s too small, your TV might wobble like a tipsy tower, and that’s just asking for trouble. On the other hand, a stand that’s too large can make your room look cramped and ultimately disrupt the cozy vibe you’re aiming for.

Whether you’re decorating a brand-new place or looking to upgrade your current entertainment setup, we’re about to share all the secrets on how to pair your TV with the ideal stand size.

Choosing the Right TV Stand Size is Crucial

Ensuring TV Safety: A stand that's too small or unstable can cause your TV to wobble or even fall over. Safety should always be the top priority.

Optimizing Viewing Experience: The right stand height and width can provide a comfortable viewing angle, reducing neck strain and enhancing your overall enjoyment.

Meeting Storage Needs: A well-sized TV stand offers ample space for your devices, remotes, and cables, keeping your area clutter-free.

Enhancing Home Aesthetics: A TV stand that matches your room's style and proportions can elevate the entire look of your space, making it more inviting and harmonious.

Matching TV Stand Size to TV Size

To determine the ideal TV stand size, consider both your TV's dimensions and the available space where it will be placed.

Step 1: Know Your TV Size

The size of a TV refers to the length of the diagonal of the screen. For example, when you see a TV labeled as "55 inches", it means the distance from one corner of the screen (such as the bottom left corner) to the opposite corner (the top right corner) is 55 inches.

Best TV Stand and TV Size Guide

Step 2: How to Determine the Width of a TV Stand

The width of the TV stand should be slightly wider than the width of the TV, with margins of 3 to 6 inches on each side. This helps keep the TV aesthetically centered and visually balanced.

However, it depends on the situation; having more space on each side isn't necessarily a bad thing. More space can also provide additional room for decorations, such as flowers and photo frames.

A general rule of thumb is to leave 10% of the space on each side of the TV. To calculate the maximum width of the TV stand that maintains the same proportion, multiply the actual width of the TV by 1.25.

For example, your TV is 55 inches, the actual width of the TV is 48 inches × 1.25 = 60 inches.

Step 3: How to Determine the Height of a TV Stand

For the best viewing experience and to reduce neck fatigue, the height of the TV stand should position the center of the TV screen at or slightly below the average eye - level line of sight.

Here's how to determine the height of the TV stand: Measure the distance from the floor to the average line of sight of the viewers in your home. After getting this number, subtract half of the TV's height. The error of your TV stand's height should be within an inch or two.

Specific Measurement Method

Sit in the position where you usually watch TV (such as on the sofa), and use a tape measure to measure the height from the ground to the viewer's eye - level line of sight. Record this value and measure the height of the TV.

Subtract half of the TV's height from the eye-level height value, and the resulting number is the ideal height range for the TV stand. Generally speaking, a TV stand height within 1 - 2 inches above or below this calculated result can provide a relatively comfortable viewing experience.

For example, if the viewer's eye - level line of sight is 42 inches and the TV's height is 30 inches, then the ideal height of the TV stand is approximately 42 - 15 = 27 inches, and you can choose a suitable TV stand height between 25 and 28 inches.

Step 4: How to Determine the Depth of a TV Stand

When considering the size of the TV stand, depth is a crucial factor as it is directly related to whether the TV can be placed safely and stably.

The depth of the TV stand needs to accommodate the overall depth of the TV, including the TV screen, the base, and the protruding parts at the back (such as interfaces, heat - dissipation devices, etc.).

If the depth of the TV stand is not enough, the TV may lean forward, which will not only affect the viewing experience but also pose a safety hazard.

Before making a choice, we need to first determine the way of hanging the TV.

If you plan to mount the TV on the wall and the TV stand is mainly used for placing other devices and for decoration purposes, then the depth of the TV stand can be determined according to the needs of the devices and decoration.

It doesn't necessarily have to match the depth of the TV exactly. However, from the perspective of visual harmony, the difference in depth between the TV stand and the TV shouldn't be too large either.

If you intend to place the TV on the TV stand, for the convenience of connecting and tidying up the cables behind the TV, it is recommended to add an extra 2 - 3 inches to the actual depth of the TV. This will leave enough space to hide the cables and make the back of the TV stand look neater.

Taking the TV with a depth of 10 inches is just mentioned as an example. After considering the cable space, the ideal depth of the TV stand should be around 12 - 13 inches.

Additionally, if you plan to place other devices inside the TV stand, such as game consoles, Blu-ray players, audio equipment, etc., you also need to further adjust the depth of the TV stand according to the depth of these devices.

Generally speaking, the depth of these devices is around 8 - 12 inches. You need to ensure that the TV stand has enough depth to accommodate both the TV and these devices.

Matching Your Space

Determine the Optimal Viewing Distance: Measure the distance from your seating area to the TV wall. Then, use the TV best view distance calculator to find the TV size that best fits your living room.

After calculating the optimal TV size, we can also calculate the TV cabinet size that best fits the TV. (TV actual width * 1.25) This will help you determine the ideal TV size and comfortable viewing experience.

The appropriate TV viewing distance is crucial for ensuring visual comfort and reducing eye strain by providing a clear and sharp screen view that does not strain your eyes.

It enhances immersion, allowing you to fully enjoy your content and helping you plan your room layout efficiently for a harmonious and functional entertainment space.

Other Precautions for TV Stands

1. Placing in Combination with Other Furniture

When the TV stand is placed in combination with other furniture, attention should be paid to the overall coordination and space utilization efficiency. For example, when paired with a sound system, it is necessary to ensure that the TV stand has enough space to place the speakers, and the height and width can enable the sound propagation to achieve the best effect. If there are bookshelves or decorative cabinets nearby, the spacing between them should be considered to avoid overcrowded space or visual clutter.

2. Requirements for Different Viewing Distances

The viewing distance of the TV is closely related to the TV size and resolution, which will also indirectly affect the size selection of the TV stand. Generally speaking, the viewing distance should be between 1.5 and 2.5 times the length of the diagonal of the TV.

For example, for a 55-inch TV, the appropriate viewing distance is approximately between 7 and 11 feet. After determining the viewing distance, an appropriate-sized TV stand should be selected according to the actual layout of the room to ensure that the TV can provide a clear and comfortable viewing experience at that distance without affecting the passage in the room and the use of other functional areas.

You must consider the position of the TV stand and the viewing distance. We recommend that the viewing distance be at least 1.5 times the screen size. Therefore, if your TV size is 140 cm (55 inches), we recommend that the distance be at least 210 cm (82 inches).

3. Placement Location of the TV Stand

Avoid placing the TV in front of a window, as it may cause backlight problems and block the light. Instead, the aim is to place the TV in the entire seating area so that the center of the screen is aligned with the middle of the space, ensuring the viewing distance without overwhelming the room.

4. Style of the TV Stand

While carefully selecting the size of the TV stand to match the TV, the degree of integration between its style and the overall home style must not be ignored. A TV stand with a coordinated and unified style can greatly enhance the home environment, while on the contrary, it may disrupt the harmonious aesthetic feeling of the entire space.

5. Choice of Purchase Channels

Physical Furniture Stores: You can directly see and touch the TV stands, and intuitively experience their sizes, materials, and qualities. However, the selection in physical stores is relatively limited, and it may be impossible to find the styles and sizes that fully meet your needs.

Online Shopping: There are a vast number of TV stand products available for selection when shopping online. It is convenient for you to compare different brands and styles, and the prices may be more competitive.

However, since you cannot directly touch the actual products, there may be situations where there are size errors or the products do not meet your expectations. Before making a purchase, be sure to carefully check the product descriptions, size parameters, and user reviews. If you have any questions, you can communicate with the sellers.

Conclusion

Choosing a TV stand of the appropriate size is a crucial step in creating a comfortable and aesthetically pleasing home entertainment space. By accurately measuring the TV size, determining the ideal height and width of the TV stand, considering the TV type and special circumstances, and paying attention to relevant matters during the purchase process, you will be able to select a TV stand that perfectly matches your TV, enhance the home viewing experience, and at the same time make the layout of the entire living room or room more harmonious and orderly.

It is hoped that this guide can help you make a wise decision among the numerous TV stand options and make your home entertainment center radiate unique charm.