How far should you sit from a 43-inch TV? Small room seating guide

How this is calculated

The THX 40-degree target puts your eyes at 4.3 feet (1.3 meters) from a 43-inch screen. The historical SMPTE EG 18-1994 30-degree reference puts them at 5.8 feet (1.8 meters), and those two seats are the ends of the band. SMPTE withdrew EG 18 in 2003, so use the 30 degree number as a geometry reference, not a current recommendation. Run the math the other way and the seat picks the screen size. From 5.8 feet (1.8 m), a 40 degree view fits a screen of about 58 inches (148 cm), and a 30 degree view fits one of 43 inches (109 cm).

Verdict

Between 4.3 feet (1.3 m) and 5.8 feet (1.8 m), the screen fills a view from 40 to 30 degrees. Pull in closer than 4.3 feet (1.3 m) and the screen fills more of your view than the THX target, so the edges ask you to move your head. Farther back than 5.8 feet (1.8 m), it covers less than a 30 degree view and starts to look small. If the seat can sit farther back than that, a 50-inch TV is the next retail size up, and its seat range has its own page.