43 vs 50-inch TV: how much bigger, and which fits your room
Both sizes from the same sofa, the difference in inches, and a simple rule for which one suits your seating distance.
A 50-inch TV is 6.1 inches wider and 3.4 inches taller than a 43-inch, with 35% more picture. Sit closer than about 5 ft and the 43-inch is the comfortable size; further than about 5 ft 10 in and the 50-inch is; in between, both work.
The size difference
| 43-inch | 50-inch | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen width | 37.5″ | 43.6″ | +6.1″ |
| Screen height | 21.1″ | 24.5″ | +3.4″ |
| Picture area | 5.5 sq ft | 7.4 sq ft | +35% |
| Real models’ width (no stand) | 37.7–37.8″ | 43.7–43.8″ | +6″ |
| Best distance (30–40°) | 4.3–5.8 ft | 5–6.8 ft | +0.7 ft |
Which size for your seating distance
Measure from where your eyes will be on the sofa to the TV wall. The viewing angle tells you how big each screen will look from there:
| You sit | 43″ | 50″ | Better fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 ft | 55°immersive | 62°too close | 43″ or smaller |
| 4 ft | 43°immersive | 49°immersive | 43″ or smaller |
| 5 ft | 35°recommended | 40°recommended | Either |
| 6 ft | 29°relaxed | 34°recommended | 50″ |
| 7 ft | 25°small | 29°relaxed | 50″ or larger |
| 8 ft | 22°small | 26°small | 50″ or larger |
| 9 ft | 20°small | 23°small | 50″ or larger |
| 10 ft | 18°small | 21°small | 50″ or larger |
How to choose
The common bedroom decision. From six feet, a 43-inch fills about 29° of your view and a 50-inch about 34°. If the bed is further than six feet from the wall, the 50-inch gives a noticeably larger picture.
The 43-inch is 6 inches narrower: the better fit on a smaller dresser, and the smallest size most makers offer in 4K.
Two practical checks come before the angle. Wall width: allow for the full set, not just the screen (real 50-inch models are 43.7–43.8 in wide). Stand width: if the TV goes on furniture, the feet or pedestal must fit on it; feet near the edges need a console almost as wide as the TV. The size guides list stand widths for real models: 43-inch and 50-inch.
Questions people ask
How much bigger is a 50-inch TV than a 43-inch?
The 50-inch picture is 6.1 inches wider and 3.4 inches taller, and 35% larger in area: 43.6 × 24.5 inches against 37.5 × 21.1.
Should I get a 43 or 50-inch TV for 6 feet?
From 6 feet, a 43-inch screen fills 29° of your view and a 50-inch 34°. The recommended band is 30–40°, so the 50-inch is the better fit.
At what distance does a 50-inch TV become too big?
It passes THX’s 40° cinema angle closer than about 5 ft, and the 61° maximum for 4K video that CEDIA/CTA RP22 cites closer than about 3 ft 1 in. Many people like a big screen for films and games; for everyday TV, 30–40° is the comfortable range.
Sources
- SMPTE (2017). ST 2080-3:2017 Reference Viewing Environment for Evaluation of HDTV Images.Standard
- THX. Viewing Guide FAQ.Professional guide
- CEDIA / CTA (2023). CEDIA/CTA-RP22 Immersive Audio Design Recommended Practice, v1.2.Standard
Numbers on this page follow these sources. Where a figure is our own calculation or a rule of thumb, the text says so. Found a mistake? Tell us.
