Some say that you should purchase the largest TV that fits your budget. However, what if a large TV, like a 60-inch beast, won’t fit on your bedroom wall? So, how large is a 60-inch TV, to be precise?
A 60-inch TV with a 16:9 aspect ratio will measure 52.28 × 29.41 inches (132.79 × 74.70 centimeters) and take up a total area of 1,537.55 square inches (9,919.41 square centimeters).
Continue reading to learn more about 60-inch TVs and how to calculate their dimensions.
How Large is a 60-inch TV?
From the get-go, a 60-inch TV lets you know how wide its screen is—60 inches (152.4 centimeters). However, this measurement only refers to the length of the display from one corner to the opposite corner.
The 60-inch figure does nothing to inform customers of how much space on a wall it will take up. To do that, we will have to do some pretty simple calculations.
But first, do you know what the TV’s aspect ratio is?
Aspect Ratio
A screen’s aspect ratio refers to the ratio between its width and height. So, for instance, if a TV screen has a 4:3 aspect ratio, it will measure 4 inches horizontally for every 3 inches vertically.
The most common aspect ratios for TVs are:
- 4:3
- 16:9
- 21:9
Of the three aspect ratios listed above, the most widely used aspect ratio for modern TVs is 16:9, so we are going to use that in the following calculations.
Calculating Screen Size
The formulas used to calculate a TV’s height, width, and area are as follows:
- H = D ÷ √(AR2 + 1)
- W = AR × H
- A = W × H
So, to start, assuming we have a 60-inch TV screen with an aspect ratio of 16:9, we can calculate the height by inputting the variables into the Height formula.
- H = D ÷ √(AR2 +1)
- H = 60 ÷ √(16:9)2 +1)
- H = 60 ÷ √(3.16 + 1)
- H = 60 ÷ √4.16
- H = 60 ÷ 2.04
- H = 29.41 inches (74.70 centimeters)
After figuring out the 60-inch TV’s height, we can calculate the width by using the Width formula.
- W = AR × H
- W = 16:9 × 29.41
- W = 1.78 × 29.41
- W = 52.28 inches (132.79 centimeters)
Finally, we can multiply the width and height to get the total area.
- A = W × H
- A = 52.28 × 29.41
- A = 1,537.55 square inches (9,914.41 square centimeters)
So, in short, a 60-inch TV with a 16:9 aspect ratio will measure 52.28 × 29.41 inches (132.79 × 74.70 centimeters) and take up a total of 1,537.55 square inches (9,914.41 square centimeters) on a wall.
Just for fun, if the 60-inch TV had an aspect ratio of 4:3, it would measure 47.99 × 35.99 inches (121.89 × 91.94 inches) and have a total area of 1,727.16 square inches (11,206.57 square centimeters).
As for a 60-inch TV with a 21:9 aspect ratio, it would measure 55.14 × 23.63 inches (140.06 × 60.02 centimeters) and take up 1,208.44 square inches (8,406.40 square centimeters) of space on a wall.
Ideal Viewing Distance For 60-inch TVs
Now that we have the measurements of a 60-inch TV screen, the next thing we can do is to determine how far away you should be seated from the TV.
Sony has a pretty simple guide to determine how far your sofa should be placed relative to your TV. In a nutshell, here’s what Sony says:
- For Ultra HD (4K and beyond) TVs, the viewer should be seated 1.5 times the distance of the TV’s height (44.12 inches or 112.06 centimeters for a 60-inch TV)
- For HD TVs, the viewer should be seated 3 times the distance of the TV’s height (88.23 inches or 224.10 centimeters for a 60-inch TV)
- For Standard Definition TVs, the viewer should be seated 6 times the distance of the TV’s height (176.46 or 448.21 centimeters for a 60-inch TV)
This isn’t the only ideal viewing distance formula you can follow. According to Very Well Health, the optimal viewing distance from a TV should be at 5 times the TV’s width. So, using the 60-inch TV example from earlier, your sofa should be placed at least 261.4 inches (663.96 centimeters) away from the TV set.
Additional Notes
Please note that there are several other factors that come into play when determining the ideal viewing distance.
The curvature of a TV screen, how much strain the screen causes on your eyes, and how high the TV is placed will all affect the “ideal” viewing distance.
60-inch TV Placement Height
How High Should You Mount a 60-inch TV Television?
As for the TV’s mounting height, the center of the screen would ideally be at the same level as your viewing height while seated. A standard sofa seat is around 18 inches, and in a seated position on a sofa, an average eye level for an adult is around 24 inches above the chair or sofa seat. It means an average eye level while seated is at 42 inches (18 inches plus 24 inches.)
To determine the TV height from the floor, you can divide the 60-inch TV’s height (29.4 inches) by two. Then subtract it from 42; the final figure is the height of the TV’s bottom from the ground.
In this case, the average height from the ground for a 60-inch Tv to mount is 42″ – (29.4″ ÷ 2) = 27.3″ (69.34 cm)
Notice this is a suggested number for an average person. If you are taller or shorter than average, you can place the TV set shorter or taller or wherever you feel most comfortable viewing it.
What is the Best 60-inch Television Stand Height?
If you decide to use a TV stand instead of mounting the TV to the wall, the same guesstimate can be used.
Subtract half the height of the 60-inch TV (29.4″) from the average eye level (42 inches). Then subtract another 2 inches, which is the distance from the TV screen’s bottom to the TV legs. The final figure is 42″ – (29.4″ ÷ 2) – 2″ = 25.3″ (64.26 cm), or 2 feet 1 1/4 inches, which is the height of the TV stand you should get.
Of course, you can get one or two inches longer or shorter than this.
Note: This assumes that you sit straight on your couch and the TV is at your eye level. If you tend to recline towards your sofa back, the mounting height will be bigger. The more you lay back towards the back of your couch or sofa, the higher the TV should be mounted.
What Size Room Do I Need For a 60-inch TV?
As a good rule of thumb, for a smaller size, you should get a small TV. If there is not enough space, consider mounting the TV to the wall.
In the case of a 60-inch TV, depending on the types of TVs (SD, HD, or 4K), the suggested viewing distance as discussed in the above section can vary from 44 to 176 inches (112 to 448 cm).
Specifically, with an HD TV, the suggested viewing distance is 7 feet 4 inches or 224.10 centimeters, a suggested room width or length should be at least 8 to 10 feet.
With a 4K TV, the suggested viewing distance is 3 feet 8 1/8 inches or 112.06 centimeters, a suggested room width or length should be at least 5 feet.
