What Is The Best Size TV For Gaming? 8 Factors To Consider

If are you planning your gaming with new TV and wondering about what is the best size TV for gaming then you are in the right place. After being done with all my research on the internet and still finding myself confused, I decided to write a perfect and informational article that will clear all the confusion before making a decision to purchase a TV that not only costs you money but can ruin your gaming experience later.

In this article, you will first find the different sizes of TV and how to go about it and then things to consider while choosing the best size TV for gaming and other areas where you might be interested and need a clear understanding before making the final decision.

I have also covered some common questions in the article to clear some confusion before concluding what is the best size TV for gaming and the list of best gaming TVs that you should consider for competitive as well as 4K gaming experience.

What Is The Best Size TV For Gaming

So, What is the best size TV for gaming?

The best size TV for gaming is 43 inches for 6 feet and 61 inches for 8 feet viewing distance. The TV size for gaming at 1080p resolution for 6 feet is 48 inches and 64 inches for 8 feet viewing distance. Whereas 4K gaming needs 75 inches TV for 6 feet and 120 inches for 8 feet viewing distance.

The answer to this question depends on various factors that you should consider before choosing the best size TV for gaming. The only way to find out the right answer for you is to first understand what options are out there and what is your need and decide accordingly.

The following are the screen sizes that are available on the TVs that you can use for gaming. There are TVs that are specially manufactured for gaming which are called “gaming TVs” where you will get other facilities such as HDR, better response time, refresh rate, input lag, and adaptive sync options. These gaming TVs will be much costlier than normal TVs.

Available Screen Sizes in TVs

Modern TV sizes are available between 24 to 75 inches and there are larger screen options available on the market more than 85 inches. The most common TV sizes that you will find are 32”, 42”, 48”, 55”, and 65” in the market.

The following table shows what viewing distance is suitable for the given TV screen size with screen resolutions of 1080p and 2160p which is 4K as well as viewing angles such as 40 degrees and 30 degrees respectively.

TV Screen Size Viewing Distance 1080p 4K 40° Viewing Angle 30° Viewing Angle
27 Inches 3 – 5 Feet 3.4 Feet 2.3 Feet 2.7 Feet 3.6 Feet
32 Inches 4 – 6 Feet 4 Feet 2.7 Feet 3.2 Feet 4.3 Feet
40 Inches 5 – 8 Feet 5 Feet 3.3 Feet 4 Feet 5.5 Feet
46 Inches 5.7 – 9.5 Feet 5.8 Feet 3.8 Feet 4.5 Feet 6.1 Feet
50 Inches 6.2 – 10.5 Feet 6.3 Feet 4.2 Feet 5 Feet 6.8 Feet
55 Inches 6.9 -11.5 Feet 6.9 Feet 4.6 Feet 5.5 Feet 7.5 Feet
65 Inches 8.1 -13.5 Feet 8.1 Feet 5.4 Feet 6.5 Feet 8.9 Feet

We have elaborated on the above things in the article below such as screen resolutions, viewing distance, viewing angle, and other related factors which you should consider before making the final decision for the best size TV for gaming.

Also Read: How To Choose A Gaming TV? 12 Best Factors To Consider

Things to consider before choosing the best size TV for gaming

Since we already know that there is no best fit for everyone for the TV size. We have compiled a list of 8 factors that you should consider before choosing the best-size TV for gaming.

We would recommend you to check each factor mentioned below and make a note of what is the best suitable option according to your preference. In this way, the final notes from these factors will help you to see the complete picture with the best size TV for gaming.

Gaming Type

The gaming type for each of us is different whereas it depending on the gaming platform (gaming console / PC) and the style of gaming such as casual gaming or competitive gaming. What is your gaming platform and style?

Console Gaming

If you have PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo, your requirement for the TV size will be much different than PC gaming. Modern consoles such as PS5 and Xbox Series X/S are compatible with gaming titles that support 4K screen resolutions and to experience the games in 4K you will need a bigger TV size which ranges from 40 – 60 inches.

The TV size for the older consoles will differ depending on the maximum screen resolution which is supported. Most of the older consoles have a 1080p screen resolution as a maximum and sometimes they upscale from a lower rendering resolution to be able to run high graphically demanding games. With older gaming consoles you will need a TV size with a range from 32 – 40 inches.

PC Gaming

For PC gaming, anyone will recommend you use a gaming monitor than a TV. The reason behind that is because of the viewing distance that is no longer than 3-4 feet away from your computer screen.

So with this small viewing distance, your screen should be less than 32 inches another benefit is that most computer monitors have all the necessary features which support fast-paced gaming and only be found in TVs that are specially made for gaming.

Also Read: What Is The Best Monitor Size For Gaming?

If you are a PC gamer and still want to use the TV for some reason then we would recommend you to check for the features like HDR, better response time, refresh rate, input lag, and adaptive sync options to make sure your gaming experience is on spot.

Gaming Style

There are two ways that we could differentiate the gaming style and that are competitive gaming and casual gaming style. One is highly dependent on performance and the other is less towards performance but more focused on visual quality and experience.

Competitive Gaming

Whether you have a gaming PC or console, many of us have a competitive gaming approach and you should have a TV that supports the requirement. Competitive gaming comes with the requirement for performance from a gaming console or PC. To support your capable gaming device, your TV should have features like low response time, high refresh rate, low input lag, and an adaptive sync option.

The TV size will also depend on the gaming device you have. You can go with a TV size from 32 – 55 inches with gaming consoles and up to 32 inches for PC gaming. Make sure your viewing distance should be appropriate and the viewing angle gives you the full benefit in competitive gaming.

Casual Gaming

The casual gaming requirements are more toward visual experience and less toward performance. Your TV should have features like 4K compatibility, HDR, and adaptive sync options to get you better visual quality.

The TV size will also depend on the gaming device you have. You can go with TV sizes from 40 – 65+ inches with gaming consoles and up to 32 inches for PC gaming. Make sure your viewing distance should be appropriate and the viewing angle gives you the full immersive gaming experience.

We will cover viewing distance and viewing angle in the article below so that you also know what viewing distance and viewing angle is good for you and suits your preference.

Read More: What Is A Good Internet Speed For Gaming And Streaming? 4 Best Ways To Find Out

Viewing Distance

The viewing distance is crucial when not only choosing the TV size for gaming but also for mixed usage. This factor is one of the important factors you should consider while choosing the best size TV for gaming.

The best viewing distance for gaming is considered to sit away 1.5 to 2.5 times the length of the diagonal screen of the TV. For example, to have the best gaming experience on 32 inches monitor is to sit away from the screen for about 4 – 6 feet.

Screen Size Viewing Distance
27 Inches 3 – 5 Feet
32 Inches 4 – 6 Feet
40 Inches 5 – 8 Feet
46 Inches 5.7 – 9.5 Feet
50 Inches 6.2 – 10.5 Feet
55 Inches 6.9 -11.5 Feet
65 Inches 8.1 -13.5 Feet

The reason why you should check the viewing distance is that with the distance certain screen resolutions such as 1080p and 4K will not improve or perceived the image quality at further away distances. The correct distance to sit from your screen is at least far enough that you can’t make out individual pixels that will make out the image look blocky and distorted.

The following chart from Audioholics will help you to choose the right viewing distance based on the screen resolutions that you are looking for and the viewing angles as well.

TV screen size and viewing distance
image source audioholics

The viewing angle mentioned in the above chart with THX recommended an SMPTE recommended with 40 degrees and 30 degrees respectively. Come back to the chart again once you understand and know which viewing angle is suitable for you.

Viewing Angle

Choosing the best viewing angle for your TV and gaming experience could be difficult sometimes. There are two ways you can differentiate the viewing angle for your TV. One way of the viewing angle from the TV and the other is from the seating position.

The viewing angle from the TV will not impact the gaming experience more than the viewing angle from the seating position because the viewing angle from the TV will only affect the color composition whereas the viewing angle from the seating position determines the field of view of the screen.

viewing angle 40 vs 30
image source rtings

The best viewing angle for general use on a TV is considered from 20 – 50 degrees. The 30-degree viewing angle is considered a good angle for mixed usage and a 40-degree viewing angle is for the cinematic experience.

So, when it comes to gaming, we gamers want a fully immersive viewing experience and that can be achieved with the 40-degree viewing angle which is also better for the cinematic experience.

30 degree and 40 degree viewing angle
image source audioholics

The above image explains the viewing angle with 30-degree vs 40-degree with the recommended viewing angle from 9 feet away by THX and SMPTE respectively. Make sure you consider this and choose your suitable viewing angle and go back to the viewing distance chart which also has these viewing angle positions which are shown in a white dotted line along with viewing distance and TV size.

Angular Resolution

As stated by rtings.com The Higher field of view was first possible with Full HD resolutions of 1080p, but the 4k enhanced that ability furthermore. While sitting close to a TV with a screen resolution of 1080p will often make it seem like you are watching your TV through a screen door, even if it is playing a high-quality 1080p HD movie.

angular resolution
image source rtings

By increasing your distance from the TV, the density of the details will also increase, producing a better image. This is the angular resolution: the number of pixels per angle. The farther away, the higher the angular resolution will be. Since 4k TVs have such a large density of pixels, it is much more difficult for this issue to arise. You need to be quite close to a fairly large TV for it to be noticeably annoying.

Room size

Yes, the room size will also help you to select the right TV size. Considering this factor will also help you to get the right size of TV which will look perfect in terms of the proportions of the size of the room area. Following is the TV size chart with the room area size so that you can compare and decide on the one that fits your room.

TV Size Width Height Area
32″ 27.9″ 15.7″ 438 in2
70.9 cm 39.9 cm 0.283 m2
40″ 34.9″ 19.6″ 684 in2
88.6 cm 49.8 cm 0.441 m2
43″ 37.5″ 21.1″ 791 in2
95.3 cm 53.6 cm 0.511 m2
50″ 43.6″ 24.5″ 1068 in2
110.7 cm 62.2 cm 0.689 m2
55″ 47.9″ 27.0″ 1293 in2
121.7 cm 68.6 cm 0.835 m2
60″ 52.3″ 29.4″ 1538 in2
132.8 cm 74.7 cm 0.992 m2
65″ 56.7″ 31.9″ 1809 in2
144.0 cm 81.0 cm 1.166 m2
70″ 61.0″ 34.3″ 2092 in2
154.9 cm 87.1 cm 1.349 m2
75″ 65.4″ 36.8″ 2407 in2
166.1 cm 93.5 cm 1.553 m2
80″ 69.7″ 39.2″ 2732 in2
177.0 cm 99.6 cm 1.763 m2
85″ 74.1″ 41.7″ 3090 in2
188.2 cm 105.9 cm 1.993 m2

If you are not much concerned about the TV and area proportions because you are more focused on the gaming experience then you can consider other factors that are much more crucial to make sure you have the right size TV for gaming.

Screen Resolutions

So, what is the best resolution for gaming? The best resolution for gaming is 1440p with the best performance and visuals. The best resolution for streaming or playing on an older console is 720p but 1080p is currently popular. The best resolution for gaming with truly stunning visuals is 2160p but it requires high-performing graphic cards. Read more at What Is The Best Resolution For Gaming?

When you are on a gaming console that is compatible with 4K screen resolutions then the TV size for gaming becomes an important decision. Screen resolution alone has much more importance in modern gaming because it affects the overall gaming experience.

TV screen resolutions
image source audioholics

The following screen resolutions are run by modern TVs from the market. You can find the TVs made for gaming that will run most of these screen resolutions. You need to choose the right screen resolution that is suitable for your gaming style and preference.

720p – HD

The minimum resolution that gamers want to play the games is if they want the best performance and steaming. Though with this 720p screen resolution, finding out what is the best size TV for gaming becomes much easier because pixels on the screen will be so much visible more than size 27 inches. Make sure you have lesser than 27 inches of the TV or monitor to get the optimal visual quality.

1080p – Full HD

The full HD 1080p screen resolution is mainly used by most gamers and is also used in most of the old-generation gaming consoles. Though, you will find that full HD is a minimum screen resolution that could give you good visual quality on a 32-inch TV.

Hence if you have old-generation consoles or you want to make sure that your games run at high performance and not focus on the visual quality then you should have a TV size ranging from 27 to 32 inches. With these TV sizes, you will get better visual quality on older-generation gaming consoles.

1440p – Quad HD

The 1440p – Quad HD is what we recommend as the best screen resolution for gaming which gives you optimal performance and also better visual quality. Though with modern gaming PCs and Consoles, the 1440p screen resolution can be handled without dropping much of the framerate.

The Xbox Series S is the lower-powered Xbox generation which can give you a 120 frame rate at 1440p screen resolution as compared to the higher-powered Xbox console which is Xbox Series X can run games at 4K with up to 120 frame rate.

The TV size for gaming that runs on screen resolution 1440p – Quad HD should be from 32 to 40 inches. Make sure you test the visual quality on the demo TV because you may want to get the 4K TV which will ultimately support all the modern games.

2160p – Ultra HD / 4K

The ultra HD – 4K screen resolution is the goal most game developers want to achieve with their new releases. Since the next generation of gaming consoles and PC hardware is capable to handle it with a good frame rate of 60 and sometimes up to 120.

Knowing that the 4K will be the ultimate gaming destination for most gamers and developers, your TV should be 4K compatible to run those high-definition graphics smoothly along with other features like low response time, input lag, high refresh rate, and adaptive sync option.

Although 4K seems a great option for most of us, there is one downside that comes with that screen resolution. Since 4K – 2160p will have more pixels than the lower screen resolution (4 times 1080p), the viewing distance will be reduced to actually be able to notice the differences from a certain viewing distance. The following chart shows how the 4K viewing distance gets reduced as compared to the 1080p screen resolution for the same TV size.

Screen Size 1080p 4K
27 Inches 3.4 Feet 2.3 Feet
32 Inches 4 Feet 2.7 Feet
40 Inches 5 Feet 3.3 Feet
46 Inches 5.8 Feet 3.8 Feet
50 Inches 6.3 Feet 4.2 Feet
55 Inches 6.9 Feet 4.6 Feet
65 Inches 8.1 Feet 5.4 Feet

The viewing distance chart is shown in the article above, you will notice that the 4K resolution line along with the distance and size is the closest one to the TV screen. Hence the best TV size for the 4K resolution is considered between 40 – 60 inches.

4320p – 8K

The 4320p 8K is the next-level screen resolution that you can find with a certain technology in gaming consoles or PC that can be achieved. Though 8K gaming is pretty uncommon these days and it will not be fully accessible until and unless the technology that can render the pixels with a great performance also comes at a good price point.

If you still thinking to go with an 8K TV (Yes there are 8K TVs out there in the market) then the recommended TV size could be between 55 – 85+ inches. You also need to also consider other factors as well such as viewing distance, viewing angle, angular resolution, and its effects.

Screen size 8K 4K 1080p
55 Inches 1.7 Feet 4.6 Feet 6.9 Feet
65 Inches 2 Feet 5.4 Feet 8.1 Feet
75 Inches 2.3 Feet 6 Feet 9.5 Feet
85 Inches 2.6 Feet 6.5 Feet 10.6 Feet
120 Inches 3.7 Feet 7.4 Feet 15.2 Feet
150 Inches 4.6 Feet 9.2 Feet 19 Feet

The above chart sums up the viewing distance for the 8K as compared to the 4K and 1080p screen resolutions.

Pricing

The pricing is the one factor that will be considered based on your budget. The only question is that is the bigger size or the certain features are really worth it for the price they come with.

We will consider the pricing point as a benchmark for all the features that it should come with and not with the current price point and all. Make sure you consider the following factors before you decide on the best size TV for gaming or even the budget for it.

Size

The price will go up with the size and also based on the type of TV panel of course. Bigger TVs will come at a high price and most of them are 4K compatible hence consider the price factor while increasing the size of the TV.

4K

4K Or not 4K? the answer will have a big impact on your TV budget. The 4K compatible TVs are comparatively costlier than the lower screen resolution TVs. We recommend it would be great to invest in a 4K TV as most modern games are released in 4K and you may want to have your gaming setup future-proof.

Response Time

Generally, most TVs have a response time above 10ms and that is why most PC gamers should go with the gaming monitors which have a response time of about 1ms. If you are into competitive gaming then you should consider this feature while purchasing a TV for gaming. There are TVs that are specifically developed with low response time while considering the gaming customers.

Also Read: What Is The Best Response Time For A Gaming Monitor?

Refresh Rate

You will find that most TVs have a refresh rate of about 60Hz and if you are into competitive gaming then you should consider this feature while purchasing a TV for gaming that has a more refresh rate than 120Hz.

Refresh Rate
Image courtesy fpsguides

There are TVs that are specifically developed with a high refresh rate while considering the gaming customers. If you are going with 4K and want to experience the high graphics smoothly

Adaptive sync option

You will have to find out a TV that has an adaptive sync option such as AMD FreeSync or Nvidia G-Sync technology. This adaptive sync option will come at a cost.

adaptive sync
Image courtesy pcworld

Your TV should be able to give you a smooth gaming experience and not having the adaptive sync option can make it much worse in visual performance.

Also Read: How Does Gaming Help Hand-Eye Coordination?

Other Related Questions

The following are the related questions and answers that you might want to check out if you have the same queries and it may help you to decide much better while choosing the best size TV for gaming.

Is a bigger TV better for gaming?

The answer lies within personal preference and mostly depends on the viewing distance that you want to have from the TV screen. Bigger TVs, generally, it is considered as good for gamers as they sit far away from the screen as compared to a PC monitor and they also give you a good enough screen area where you can play games with split screens.

What size TV do pro gamers use?

Pro gamers generally use gaming monitors rather than TV as gaming monitors come with all other features that have a low response time of 1 ms, a high refresh rate, and an adaptive sync option on a comparatively low budget. The most used screen size with a monitor is 24 inches with a 1080p screen resolution for maximum performance in tournaments and esports.

Also Read: TV vs Monitor For Gaming?

Is 32 inch TV big enough for gaming?

The 32-inch TV will be enough for gaming if you sit on a chair next to it. But, if you want to sit further away from the screen like more than 4 feet and more than 32-inch the TV will not be enough because the field of view will be decreased significantly and the viewing angle will be lesser than 40 degrees which will not be a fully immersive gaming experience.

Is a 65-inch TV too big for gaming?

The bigger TV for gaming is mainly considered with high resolutions and if you have 4K gaming in mind then we recommend to get 40 – 60 inches TV size whereas 65 inch TV will be a little bigger but still be okay if you sit a little further away from the screen and still be able to enjoy 4K gaming.

Best-size TV for competitive gaming

Considering the viewing distance of 4-5 feet for 1080p screen resolutions, a TV size between 32 to 40 inch TV should be the best choice for competitive gaming. Anything above 40 inches with 1080p will have bad visual quality and hence the TV size will highly depend on the viewing distance and personal preference.

Best TV size for console gaming

For modern gaming consoles such as PS5 and Xbox Series X which are 4K compatible and can give you up to 120 framerate, you should consider the TV size between 40 to 60 inches whereas, with the older consoles such as PS4 and Xbox One which support 1080p screen resolution, you should consider the TV size between 32 to 40 inches accordingly.

Also Read: How To Make Your Console Last Longer for Years?

Best TV for gaming PlayStation & Xbox consoles

After considering all the above factors before you choose the best size TV for gaming, you now need to know what is the best TV for gaming on your favorite console. The following list of TVs is based on modern gaming consoles that are 4K compatible which also have other features to give you a smooth gaming experience.

TV Name / Brand Sizes Type Refresh Rate Response Time Adaptive Sync Our Recommendation
LG B9 55″ 65″ 77″ OLED 120Hz 1.6 Nvidia G-Sync Read More
LG CX 48″ 55″ 65″ 77″ OLED 120Hz 1.7 Nvidia G-Sync Read More
Sony 950G 55″ 65″ 75″ 85″ LED 120Hz 9.7 No Read More
Samsung Q80/Q80T 49″ 50″ 55″ 65″ 75″ 85″ QLED 120 Hz (except 49″) 10.1 FreeSync (except 49″) Read More
Samsung Q60R 43″ 49″ 55″ 65″ 75″ 82″ LED 120 Hz (except 43″, 49″) 10.4 FreeSync Read More

Check out our top 15 best-recommended gaming TV for gaming.

Best budget 4K TV for gaming

The 4K TV options are the most expensive in the market and if you want to get the one that fits your budget then the following list of 4K TVs can be your best option.

TV Name / Brand Sizes Type Refresh Rate Response Time Adaptive Sync Our Recommendation
Samsung TU7000 43″ 50″ 55″ 58″ 65″ 70″ 75″ LED 60Hz 18.5 No Read More
Samsung TU8000 43″ 50″ 55″ 65″ 75″ 85″ LED 60Hz 17.8 No Read More
TCL 65R625 55″ 65″ LED 60Hz 15.3 No Read More
Samsung Q70T 55″ 65″ 75″ 82″ 85″ LED 120Hz 15 FreeSync Read More
Hisense H8G 50″ 55″ 65″ 75″ LED 60Hz 13.7 No Read More

I hope you have considered all the mentioned factors before you choose the best size TV for gaming. I hope you make the right decision while choosing the right TV size as well as other features for the best gaming experience. Please let us know your thoughts and suggestions in the comment box down below. Cheers!

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