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43-inch vs 50-inch TV: which fits a small room?

By TechCompare · Updated · How we check

TV screen dimensions

Spec43-inch TV50-inch TV
Width37.5 in (95.2 cm)43.6 in (110.7 cm)
Height21.1 in (53.5 cm)24.5 in (62.3 cm)

Approximate 16:9 screen dimensions. The TV's frame and stand add to its overall size, so check the manufacturer's measurements before buying.

The 50-inch suits a seat at least 2.1 m (6.8 ft)6.8 ft (2.1 m) back. The 43-inch is the easier fit for a tight wall or a seat nearer the screen.

Compare the screen sizes to scale

43-inch TV: 95.2 cm (37.5 in)37.5 in (95.2 cm) × 53.5 cm (21.1 in)21.1 in (53.5 cm) · 5097 cm² (790 in²)790 in² (5097 cm²)
50-inch TV: 110.7 cm (43.6 in)43.6 in (110.7 cm) × 62.3 cm (24.5 in)24.5 in (62.3 cm) · 6892 cm² (1068 in²)1068 in² (6892 cm²)
Width difference: 15.5 cm (6.1 in)6.1 in (15.5 cm) (16.3%) · Height difference: 8.7 cm (3.4 in)3.4 in (8.7 cm) (16.3%) · Area ratio: 1.35×
Both panels share a corner and are drawn at the same scale, so the extra width and height of the larger screen are true to size. Open these two in the full Screen Size Comparison ›

See both sizes from your couch

Both TVs at 1.8 m (6 ft)6 ft (1.8 m)

43-inch TV: 29.2° FOV (Standard viewing)
50-inch TV: 33.7° FOV (Standard viewing)
Shared seating distance: 183 cm (6.0 ft)6.0 ft (183 cm) · FOV gap: 4.5°
6.0 ft
Top-down view. Both TVs sit at the same wall, with your couch at one shared spot. The wider cone is how much more peripheral vision the bigger panel fills.
This exact 43 vs 50-inch matchup at 183 cm (6.0 ft), pre-loaded. Change the size, move the couch, or check the THX/SMPTE sweet spots.
Edit in the full tool

The 50-inch TV adds 35 percent more screen area, and wall width decides whether it fits.

The 43-inch and 50-inch sizes are 17.8 cm (7 in)7 in (17.8 cm) apart on the diagonal. That's a small step on paper, but the 50-inch has 35 percent more screen area, and you'll notice it on the wall. For a bedroom or small room, the real questions are how much wall you have and how far back your bed or couch sits.

Try this comparison with our tools

Size details for a 43-inch TV
Width, height and area for a 43-inch 16:9 panel.
Size details for a 50-inch TV
Width, height and area for a 50-inch 16:9 panel.
Open the viewing distance calculator
Enter your seat distance and see the view angle.
Option A
43-inch TV
Wins 4 of 11 compared specs
Option B
50-inch TV
Wins 6 of 11 compared specs

Side-by-side specs

Spec43-inch TV50-inch TV
Size
Diagonal
43 inches (109 cm)
50 inches (127 cm) (better on this spec)
Screen width (16:9)
95.2 cm (37.5 inches)37.5 inches (95.2 cm)
110.7 cm (43.6 inches)43.6 inches (110.7 cm) (better on this spec)
Screen height (16:9)
53.5 cm (21.1 inches)21.1 inches (53.5 cm)
62.3 cm (24.5 inches)24.5 inches (62.3 cm) (better on this spec)
Screen area
5097 cm² (~790 in²)~790 in² (5097 cm²)
6892 cm² (~1068 in²)~1068 in² (6892 cm²) (better on this spec)
Area increase vs A
Baseline
+35% (better on this spec)
Viewing distance
FOV at 6 ft (1.8 m)The angle of view the screen fills, in degrees. Wider angles feel more immersive.
29.2°
33.7° (better on this spec)
Distance for 30° (SMPTE)The seat where the screen fills 30 degrees, a common rule of thumb for a relaxed view.
1.8 m (5.8 ft)5.8 ft (1.8 m) (better on this spec)
2.1 m (6.8 ft)6.8 ft (2.1 m)
Distance for 40° (THX)The closer seat where the screen fills 40 degrees, the usual cinema-style target.
1.3 m (4.3 ft)4.3 ft (1.3 m) (better on this spec)
1.5 m (5.0 ft)5.0 ft (1.5 m)
Picture
4K pixel densityPixels per inch. A higher number looks sharper up close.
102 PPI (better on this spec)
88 PPI
Fit
Small bedroom wall
Yes (better on this spec)
Tight
Watching from a bed
Good
Good

How they differ

The 43-inch 16:9 panel is 95.2 cm (37.5 inches)37.5 inches (95.2 cm) wide and 53.5 cm (21.1 inches)21.1 inches (53.5 cm) tall. The 50-inch is 110.7 cm (43.6 inches)43.6 inches (110.7 cm) wide and 62.3 cm (24.5 inches)24.5 inches (62.3 cm) tall. That extra 15.5 cm (6.1 in)6.1 in (15.5 cm) of width matters on a narrow wall or a tight TV spot. At 1.8 m (6 ft)6 ft (1.8 m), the 43-inch fills 29 degrees of your view and the 50-inch fills 34. The 30-degree SMPTE seat is 1.8 m (5.8 ft)5.8 ft (1.8 m) back for the 43-inch and 2.1 m (6.8 ft)6.8 ft (2.1 m) for the 50-inch. The 40-degree THX seat is 1.3 m (4.3 ft)4.3 ft (1.3 m) and 1.5 m (5.0 ft)5.0 ft (1.5 m). Both are 4K, at 102 and 88 PPI. At 1.8 m (6 ft)6 ft (1.8 m) each one is past its Retina distance, which is 0.9 m (2.8 ft)2.8 ft (0.9 m) for the 43-inch and 1.0 m (3.3 ft)3.3 ft (1.0 m) for the 50, so single pixels won't show from the bed.

Verdict

A bedroom usually gives you one wall and one seat, so measure both first. If the wall can't take 110.7 cm (43.6 inches)43.6 inches (110.7 cm) across, the 43-inch is the answer. If it can and your seat is far enough back, the 50 gives more picture without leaving the 30-degree guideline.

Size details for a 43-inch TV

Which should you pick?

Choose 43-inch TV

Pick the 43-inch if the wall can take 95.2 cm (37.5 inches)37.5 inches (95.2 cm) but not 110.7 cm (43.6 inches)43.6 inches (110.7 cm). It's also the right call for a seat nearer the screen than the 50-inch's 30-degree distance, since the bigger panel would fill more of the view there. At 1.8 m (6 ft)6 ft (1.8 m), the 43-inch fills 29 degrees of your view.

See 43-inch size details

Choose 50-inch TV

Go with the 50-inch if you watch a lot of film or sports from the bed and the wall can take 110.7 cm (43.6 inches)43.6 inches (110.7 cm) across. At 1.8 m (6 ft)6 ft (1.8 m) it fills 34 degrees against 29 for the 43, a visible gain in picture size.

See 50-inch size details

Related comparisons

55-inch TV vs 65-inch TV
The 40 degree seat is 5.5 ft (1.7 m) away for the 55-inch TV and 6.5 ft (2.0 m) for the 65-inch.
Read comparison
65-inch TV vs 75-inch TV
From 9 ft (2.7 m) away, the 65-inch TV fills 29 degrees of your view and the 75-inch fills 34.
Read comparison
75-inch TV vs 85-inch TV
The 75-inch TV is 5.4 ft (1.7 m) wide and the 85-inch TV is 6.2 ft (1.9 m) wide.
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50-inch TV vs 55-inch TV
The 55-inch TV is 4.4 in (11.1 cm) wider than the 50-inch, which matters on a narrow wall.
Read comparison
65-inch TV vs 77-inch TV
The 77-inch TV needs 67.1 inches (170.5 cm) of clear wall, against 56.7 inches (143.9 cm) for the 65-inch.
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85-inch TV vs 98-inch TV
The 98-inch TV needs 85.4 inches (217.0 cm) of wall, and at 11 ft (3.4 m) it fills 36 degrees of view.
Read comparison

Frequently asked questions

How much more screen area does a 50-inch TV add over a 43-inch?
About 35 percent more. A 43-inch 16:9 panel covers about 5097 cm² (790 in²)790 in² (5097 cm²), and a 50-inch covers about 6892 cm² (1068 in²)1068 in² (6892 cm²). The 50-inch is 110.7 cm (43.6 inches)43.6 inches (110.7 cm) wide, against 95.2 cm (37.5 inches)37.5 inches (95.2 cm) for the 43-inch.
Is a 43-inch TV too small for a bedroom?
Usually not. At 1.8 m (6 ft)6 ft (1.8 m), it fills 29 degrees of view. The 30-degree rule of thumb puts a 43-inch seat at 1.8 m (5.8 ft)5.8 ft (1.8 m). A 50-inch would fill 34 degrees from the same spot, and it's the better pick only if the wall can take 110.7 cm (43.6 inches)43.6 inches (110.7 cm) across. Measure the wall before you decide.
Does 4K look sharp from a bed on a 50-inch TV?
Yes. The 50-inch is 88 PPI in 4K. At 1.8 m (6 ft)6 ft (1.8 m) you're past its Retina distance of 1.0 m (3.3 ft)3.3 ft (1.0 m), so single pixels don't show for normal eyesight.

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