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85-inch vs 98-inch TV: does your room have the space?

By TechCompare · Updated · How we check

TV screen dimensions

Spec85-inch TV98-inch TV
Width74.1 in (188.2 cm)85.4 in (217.0 cm)
Height41.7 in (105.8 cm)48.0 in (122.0 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.

Pick the 98-inch only if the wall takes 217.0 cm (85.4 inches)85.4 inches (217.0 cm) across, your room has depth for a seat about 4.0 m (13.3 ft)13.3 ft (4.0 m) back, and movie nights are a regular thing.

Compare the screen sizes to scale

85-inch TV: 188.2 cm (74.1 in)74.1 in (188.2 cm) × 105.8 cm (41.7 in)41.7 in (105.8 cm) · 19918 cm² (3087 in²)3087 in² (19918 cm²)
98-inch TV: 217.0 cm (85.4 in)85.4 in (217.0 cm) × 122.0 cm (48.0 in)48.0 in (122.0 cm) · 26476 cm² (4104 in²)4104 in² (26476 cm²)
Width difference: 28.8 cm (11.3 in)11.3 in (28.8 cm) (15.3%) · Height difference: 16.2 cm (6.4 in)6.4 in (16.2 cm) (15.3%) · Area ratio: 1.33×
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 3.4 m (11 ft)11 ft (3.4 m)

85-inch TV: 31.4° FOV (Standard viewing)
98-inch TV: 35.9° FOV (Standard viewing)
Shared seating distance: 335 cm (11.0 ft)11.0 ft (335 cm) · FOV gap: 4.5°
11.0 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 85 vs 98-inch matchup at 335 cm (11.0 ft), pre-loaded. Change the size, move the couch, or check the THX/SMPTE sweet spots.
Edit in the full tool

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.

Both screens take over a wall, and the step between them is 33 cm (13 in)13 in (33 cm) on the diagonal. The 98-inch covers 33 percent more screen area than the 85-inch. Before the picture matters, check the wall width, the room depth and the path the panel takes to reach the room.

Try this comparison with our tools

Seating math for an 85-inch TV
Seat distances and field of view for an 85-inch panel.
Size details for a 98-inch TV
Width, height and area for a 98-inch 16:9 panel.
Open the viewing distance calculator
Test a seat distance for a screen this large.
Option A
85-inch TV
Wins 5 of 12 compared specs
Option B
98-inch TV
Wins 7 of 12 compared specs

Side-by-side specs

Spec85-inch TV98-inch TV
Size
Diagonal
85 inches (216 cm)
98 inches (249 cm) (better on this spec)
Screen width (16:9)
188.2 cm (74.1 inches)74.1 inches (188.2 cm)
217.0 cm (85.4 inches)85.4 inches (217.0 cm) (better on this spec)
Screen height (16:9)
105.8 cm (41.7 inches)41.7 inches (105.8 cm)
122.0 cm (48.0 inches)48.0 inches (122.0 cm) (better on this spec)
Screen area
~3087 in² (19,918 cm²)
~4104 in² (26,476 cm²) (better on this spec)
Area increase vs A
Baseline
+33% (better on this spec)
Viewing distance
FOV at 11 ft (3.4 m)The angle of view the screen fills, in degrees. Wider angles feel more immersive.
31.4°
35.9° (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.
3.5 m (11.5 ft)11.5 ft (3.5 m) (better on this spec)
4.0 m (13.3 ft)13.3 ft (4.0 m)
Distance for 40° (THX)The closer seat where the screen fills 40 degrees, the usual cinema-style target.
2.6 m (8.5 ft)8.5 ft (2.6 m) (better on this spec)
3.0 m (9.8 ft)9.8 ft (3.0 m)
Picture
4K pixel densityPixels per inch. A higher number looks sharper up close.
52 PPI (better on this spec)
45 PPI
Fit
Clear wall needed
Wide (better on this spec)
Very wide
Typical living room
Tight (better on this spec)
Only in a large room
Dedicated home cinema
Good
Better (better on this spec)

How they differ

The 85-inch 16:9 panel is 188.2 cm (74.1 inches)74.1 inches (188.2 cm) wide and 105.8 cm (41.7 inches)41.7 inches (105.8 cm) tall. The 98-inch is 217.0 cm (85.4 inches)85.4 inches (217.0 cm) wide and 122.0 cm (48.0 inches)48.0 inches (122.0 cm) tall, about 2.2 m (7.1 ft)7.1 ft (2.2 m) across. That's 28.8 cm (11.3 in)11.3 in (28.8 cm) more width than the 85-inch, which is the number to check against your wall. At 3.4 m (11 ft)11 ft (3.4 m), the 85-inch fills 31 degrees of view and the 98-inch fills 36. That seat is closer than the 30-degree distance for either screen, which is 3.5 m (11.5 ft)11.5 ft (3.5 m) for the 85-inch and 4.0 m (13.3 ft)13.3 ft (4.0 m) for the 98-inch. The 40-degree THX seat is 2.6 m (8.5 ft)8.5 ft (2.6 m) and 3.0 m (9.8 ft)9.8 ft (3.0 m). At 4K, the pixel density is 52 PPI and 45 PPI. At 3.4 m (11 ft)11 ft (3.4 m), both are past their Retina distances of 1.7 m (5.5 ft)5.5 ft (1.7 m) and 1.9 m (6.4 ft)6.4 ft (1.9 m), so the pixels stay hidden.

Verdict

The 85-inch is the safer call for a room with less depth or a narrower wall. The 98-inch needs 28.8 cm (11.3 in)11.3 in (28.8 cm) more width than the 85 and a seat far enough back to keep it near the 30-degree guideline. At 3.4 m (11 ft)11 ft (3.4 m), the 98-inch is already above that guideline.

Seating math for an 85-inch TV

Which should you pick?

Choose 85-inch TV

Pick the 85-inch if your wall is narrower than 217.0 cm (85.4 inches)85.4 inches (217.0 cm). It's also the better call for a room with less depth. At 3.4 m (11 ft)11 ft (3.4 m) it already fills 31 degrees, above the 30-degree guideline.

See 85-inch seating math

Choose 98-inch TV

Go with the 98-inch for a large room with a clear wall, a seat far back, and a habit of watching films in the dark. At 3.4 m (11 ft)11 ft (3.4 m) it fills 36 degrees, against 31 for the 85.

See 98-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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43-inch TV vs 50-inch TV
The 50-inch TV adds 35 percent more screen area, and wall width decides whether it fits.
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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.
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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

Frequently asked questions

How much more screen area does a 98-inch add over an 85-inch?
About 33 percent. An 85-inch 16:9 panel covers about 19,918 cm² (3087 in²)3087 in² (19,918 cm²), and a 98-inch covers about 26,476 cm² (4104 in²)4104 in² (26,476 cm²). The 98-inch is 217.0 cm (85.4 inches)85.4 inches (217.0 cm) wide, which is 2.2 m (7.1 ft)7.1 ft (2.2 m) of wall.
How much wall do I need for a 98-inch TV?
At least 217.0 cm (85.4 inches)85.4 inches (217.0 cm) of clear wall, with room left for the mount. Check the delivery path too, since doors, hallways and stairs have to clear a panel this wide and tall. A seat at 3.4 m (11 ft)11 ft (3.4 m) puts the 98-inch at 36 degrees, and a seat about 4.0 m (13.3 ft)13.3 ft (4.0 m) back keeps it near the 30-degree guideline.
Is an 85-inch TV too big for a typical living room?
It depends on the wall and the seat. An 85-inch is 188.2 cm (74.1 inches)74.1 inches (188.2 cm) wide. At 3.4 m (11 ft)11 ft (3.4 m) it already fills 31 degrees, more than the 30-degree guideline. A seat about 3.5 m (11.5 ft)11.5 ft (3.5 m) back brings it back to that guideline.

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