How big should my screen be?

This is a common question that is asked lately because screen sizes have increased dramatically in recent years. It is not uncommon for plasmas and LCD TVs to be offered in 60" to 65" models and even larger. With front projection systems becoming less expensive and more popular, theatre screens easily range from 84" to 120" providing an incredible cinema-like experience.

So what is the definitive answer?

In this “super size me” world that we live in, bigger is not always better. The general rule of thumb is to measure from the screen surface to the seating area. Take this measurement and divide by two. That is the maximum size that you should consider for a screen size or the image will begin to appear grainy. For example, if you have a 50” plasma, you should be seated at least 100” away. This is because you will actually be able to differentiate between pixels. Pixels are the individual points of color that a screen displays. There are millions of pixels in a typical display and the more pixels you have, the better the resolution.

Often times during the discussion of screen size, another question arises. How high should I mount my new flat panel TV or cinema screen? The optimum height will put the center of the display at eye level. Keeping in mind that most people are slightly reclined when watching TV, that places the center of the display at approximately 48” to 50”. Bedroom TVs are typically mounted higher because we are typically lying in bed while viewing. Because many flat panels are mounted over fireplaces, we often find TVs mounted higher than this standard but somehow the look of a flat panel over a fireplace makes it easy to ignore the standard height.

Remember that all of these measurements are rules of thumb to maximize your viewing experience. If you really want that ‘next size up’ or you ‘gotta have’ it over the fireplace, don’t be afraid to push the envelope a little bit. After all, we shouldn’t be super sizing our fries at the drive thru either but it sure is satisfying.