TechCompare LogoTechCompare

50-inch vs 55-inch TV: is the small step worth it?

By TechCompare · Updated · How we check

TV screen dimensions

Spec50-inch TV55-inch TV
Width43.6 in (110.7 cm)47.9 in (121.8 cm)
Height24.5 in (62.3 cm)27.0 in (68.5 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 55-inch suits a couch at least 2.3 m (7.5 ft)7.5 ft (2.3 m) back. Closer than that, the 50-inch keeps the view a little nearer the guideline.

Compare the screen sizes to scale

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)
55-inch TV: 121.8 cm (47.9 in)47.9 in (121.8 cm) × 68.5 cm (27.0 in)27.0 in (68.5 cm) · 8339 cm² (1293 in²)1293 in² (8339 cm²)
Width difference: 11.1 cm (4.4 in)4.4 in (11.1 cm) (10.0%) · Height difference: 6.2 cm (2.5 in)2.5 in (6.2 cm) (10.0%) · Area ratio: 1.21×
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 2.1 m (7 ft)7 ft (2.1 m)

50-inch TV: 29.1° FOV (Standard viewing)
55-inch TV: 31.9° FOV (Standard viewing)
Shared seating distance: 213 cm (7.0 ft)7.0 ft (213 cm) · FOV gap: 2.8°
7.0 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 50 vs 55-inch matchup at 213 cm (7.0 ft), pre-loaded. Change the size, move the couch, or check the THX/SMPTE sweet spots.
Edit in the full tool

The 55-inch TV is 4.4 in (11.1 cm) wider than the 50-inch, which matters on a narrow wall.

A 50-inch and a 55-inch TV are 12.7 cm (5 in)5 in (12.7 cm) apart on the diagonal. That sounds like a tiny jump, but it's a real one on the wall. The 55-inch has 21 percent more screen area. The question is whether your wall can take 121.8 cm (47.9 inches)47.9 inches (121.8 cm) of screen without crowding the room.

Try this comparison with our tools

Size details for a 50-inch TV
Width, height and area for a 50-inch 16:9 panel.
Seating math for a 55-inch TV
Seat distances and field of view for a 55-inch panel.
Open the viewing distance calculator
Try your own couch distance and wall width.
Option A
50-inch TV
Wins 4 of 11 compared specs
Option B
55-inch TV
Wins 7 of 11 compared specs

Side-by-side specs

Spec50-inch TV55-inch TV
Size
Diagonal
50 inches (127 cm)
55 inches (140 cm) (better on this spec)
Screen width (16:9)
110.7 cm (43.6 inches)43.6 inches (110.7 cm)
121.8 cm (47.9 inches)47.9 inches (121.8 cm) (better on this spec)
Screen height (16:9)
62.3 cm (24.5 inches)24.5 inches (62.3 cm)
68.5 cm (27.0 inches)27.0 inches (68.5 cm) (better on this spec)
Screen area
6892 cm² (~1068 in²)~1068 in² (6892 cm²)
8339 cm² (~1293 in²)~1293 in² (8339 cm²) (better on this spec)
Area increase vs A
Baseline
+21% (better on this spec)
Viewing distance
FOV at 7 ft (2.1 m)The share of your view the screen covers, in degrees. More degrees feel more immersive.
29.1°
31.9° (better on this spec)
Distance for 30° (SMPTE)A seat distance where the screen fills 30 degrees. It's a widely used comfort guideline.
2.1 m (6.8 ft)6.8 ft (2.1 m) (better on this spec)
2.3 m (7.5 ft)7.5 ft (2.3 m)
Distance for 40° (THX)The closer seat that fills 40 degrees, aimed at a cinema feel.
1.5 m (5.0 ft)5.0 ft (1.5 m) (better on this spec)
1.7 m (5.5 ft)5.5 ft (1.7 m)
Picture
4K pixel densityPixels per inch. Higher density shows finer detail up close.
88 PPI (better on this spec)
80 PPI
Fit
Small living room
Yes (better on this spec)
Yes, with a clear wall
Movies and sports
Good
Better (better on this spec)

How they differ

The 50-inch 16:9 panel 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. The 55-inch is 121.8 cm (47.9 inches)47.9 inches (121.8 cm) wide and 68.5 cm (27.0 inches)27.0 inches (68.5 cm) tall, which is 11.1 cm (4.4 in)4.4 in (11.1 cm) wider than the 50. At a seat 2.1 m (7 ft)7 ft (2.1 m) away, the 50-inch fills 29 degrees of view and the 55-inch fills 32. At that distance the 55-inch is closer than its 30-degree seat of 2.3 m (7.5 ft)7.5 ft (2.3 m), so it fills a little more than the common guideline. The 50-inch's 30-degree seat is 2.1 m (6.8 ft)6.8 ft (2.1 m) back. For a 40-degree THX seat, the distances are 1.5 m (5.0 ft)5.0 ft (1.5 m) and 1.7 m (5.5 ft)5.5 ft (1.7 m). Both are 4K, at 88 and 80 PPI. At 2.1 m (7 ft)7 ft (2.1 m) both sit past their Retina distances, so resolution won't pick the winner.

Verdict

The step from 50 to 55 is real but modest. It adds 21 percent more area and 11.1 cm (4.4 in)4.4 in (11.1 cm) more width. The bigger screen is a fair pick when your wall and seat both allow it. If space is tight, the 50-inch is the easier call: at 2.1 m (7 ft)7 ft (2.1 m) it fills 29 degrees, against 32 for the 55.

Size details for a 50-inch TV

Which should you pick?

Choose 50-inch TV

Pick the 50-inch if your TV niche or wall tops out near 110.7 cm (43.6 inches)43.6 inches (110.7 cm) across. It's also the better pick when the couch sits closer to the screen than the 55-inch's 30-degree seat, since the bigger screen would fill more of the view there.

See 50-inch size details

Choose 55-inch TV

Pick the 55-inch if the wall can take 121.8 cm (47.9 inches)47.9 inches (121.8 cm) across and you watch a lot of movies or sports from the couch. At 2.1 m (7 ft)7 ft (2.1 m) it fills 32 degrees against 29 for the 50-inch, enough to feel the difference during a film.

See 55-inch seating math

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.
Read comparison
43-inch TV vs 50-inch TV
The 50-inch TV adds 35 percent more screen area, and wall width decides whether it fits.
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.
Read comparison
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 bigger is a 55-inch TV than a 50-inch?
About 21 percent more screen area. A 50-inch 16:9 panel covers about 6892 cm² (1068 in²)1068 in² (6892 cm²), and a 55-inch covers about 8339 cm² (1293 in²)1293 in² (8339 cm²). The width grows by 11.1 cm (4.4 in)4.4 in (11.1 cm), which is the number to check against your wall.
Is a 50-inch TV too small for a small living room?
Not by itself. At 2.1 m (7 ft)7 ft (2.1 m), it fills 29 degrees of view. The 30-degree rule of thumb puts a 50-inch seat at 2.1 m (6.8 ft)6.8 ft (2.1 m). A 55-inch adds only 3 degrees from the same spot, so the 50-inch isn't a compromise unless your couch sits far back.
Which size suits a couch at this distance?
At 2.1 m (7 ft)7 ft (2.1 m), the 55-inch is closer than its 30-degree seat of 2.3 m (7.5 ft)7.5 ft (2.3 m), so it runs slightly above the guideline. The 50-inch's 30-degree seat is 2.1 m (6.8 ft)6.8 ft (2.1 m). If you sit closer than that, the 50 keeps you nearer the guideline.

Related tools

TV Viewing Visualizer

Find a good viewing distance for a TV or monitor with an interactive room layout.

Use tool

Screen Size Visualizer

Compare screen sizes side-by-side to visualize physical dimension differences.

Use tool

PPI & Retina Calculator

Calculate PPI and Retina distance for your display.

Use tool

Curved Monitor Visualizer

Visualize monitor curvature radius (1000R, 1500R, 1800R) to see the real curve.

Use tool