The truth is – size is relative.
Put a mouse next to a lion, and the mouse is obviously smaller.
Put a mouse next to an ant, and it’s suddenly bigger.
The same applies to your TV.
It depends on how big your room is. Except…
You’re about to find out:
- 3 handy tips on how to choose the best TV size.
- If a 32-inch TV is the best TV size for your room.
- How simple Math can solve your TV size problem.
- A cheat sheet to help you choose the right TV size.
- One simple rule to use if you’re upgrading your TV size.
- And so much more…
What does a 32 inch TV look like in a room?
A 32-inch TV will fit comfortably in a studio room, small dorm/apartment, kitchen, or small living room. The average dimensions of a 32-inch TV are 27.9 inches in width and 15.7 inches in height. Given its dimensions, a 32-inch TV is best suited for smaller spaces with not a lot of large furniture.
3 tips to decide if a 32 inch TV is the right size for you
#1: Match your TV size to the size of your room
Would you buy a 60-inch TV for your kitchen?
Exactly.
You don’t need that big of a TV sitting in your kitchen.
So, how do you decide then?
The easiest way to decide if a 32-inch TV is the right size for you is by matching it to your room’s size.
Want a cheat sheet? Here you go:
TV Sizes | Category | Best for |
24 to 32-inch TVs. | Small-size TVs. | Kitchen, bedroom, small apartment or dorm, garage, and tight spaces. |
40 to 55-inch TVs. | Mid-size TVs. | Living room, den, wide or open spaces. |
55 to 80-inch TVs. | Large-size TVs. | Home theater setups, large living rooms; perfect for large families or groups. |
Now, take note.
This won’t help you fully solve your TV size problem.
Think of this first tip as a solution for narrowing down your options.
From this cheat sheet alone, you might be thinking that you lean more towards mid-size TVs.
Or, a small-size TV is exactly what you need. Now hold that thought for a minute.
Why?
Because tip #2 will narrow down your options even further.
#2: Figure out where you’ll position your TV
Ask yourself this:
- Are your mounting your TV on a wall?
- Will you place your TV on a stand or central pedestal?
- How big is the furniture in your room? Can you easily move it around?
Now, why is this important?
Take some notes because you’re gonna need this.
Mounting your TV will make your TV appear smaller. Plus, it takes up less space. All you need is a good TV mount.
But if mounting isn’t an option, then consider the furniture in your room.
Do you have a TV stand? If you do, measure your TV stand before considering a 32-inch TV.
There are TV stands that can accommodate TVs up to 70 or 80 inches.
That being the case, you can make room for a bigger TV size. But if not, take a good look at your furniture.
Remember this:
- If you get a smaller TV size, you can’t stretch your TV to improve your viewing experience.
- If you get a bigger TV size, you can still reposition your TV to fit your room.
Need a pro tip? Take a photo of your room.
Then, use your photo as a reference when you’re choosing which TV size fits your room.
Trust me on this. I bought a 32-inch TV once because I thought it would’ve been perfect for my bedroom.
Turns out, I could’ve actually bought a 40-inch TV instead. An extra $40 would’ve given me…
- Better viewing experience.
- Alexa device compatibility.
- Free installation and mount.
- More ports for HDMI streaming.
- Higher video quality and capabilities (1080p).
See what I mean?
But if you still feel like you’re in a pickle, don’t worry.
Tip #3 is the end game to your TV size problem.
#3: Compute the viewing distance from your screen
Here’s how simple math can solve your TV size issue.
With simple division, it gives you the ideal viewing experience. Once you have your ideal viewing experience, you’ll know…
The minimum and maximum recommended TV screen size.
Here’s how it works:
- Minimum TV size: Distance from your TV screen (inches) divided by 2.5.
- Maximum TV size: Distance from your TV screen (inches) divided by 1.2.
All you need is a measuring tape to measure the distance from your TV screen. As for the calculator, you can use the built-in app on your smartphone.
Want an example?
The distance from my TV stand to my bed is 9 feet (108 inches). Then, simply convert 9 feet to inches by multiplying 9 feet x 12.
The result is 108 inches. Divide (108/2.5) and (108/1.2) to get the minimum and maximum TV size.
Answer: The minimum recommended size is a 43-inch TV. While the maximum recommended size is a 90-inch TV.
Pretty simple, right?
“But what if I want a TV size that’s in the middle of 43 and 90 inches?”
Easy.
Divide the distance from your TV screen (inches) by 1.85. So, using the example from earlier, we get…
A TV size of 58 inches.
So, when is a 32-inch TV the right option for a room?
You’ll find out in the next sections.
Frequently asked questions:
How big is a 32 inch TV?
A 32-inch TV will have the following dimensions:
- A width of 27.9 inches (70.9 cm).
- A height of 15.7 inches (39.9 cm).
Now, take note. A 32-inch TV doesn’t mean it’s 32 inches wide.
When you measure a TV, you measure it diagonally from one corner to the opposite corner (more on this in the next section).
In terms of how big a 32-inch TV is, it’s actually fairly big for a TV.
For tight spaces where there’s 1 or 2 of you, a 32-inch TV is sufficient.
However, TV size isn’t the deciding factor here. It’s your viewing experience (more about that in the later sections).
How big is a 32 inch TV in centimeters?
A 32-inch TV is equivalent to 81.28 centimeters for its diagonal size.
If you want the height and width of a 32-inch TV in centimeters, here are its dimensions:
- A width of 27.9 centimeters.
- A height of 39.9 centimeters.
Want to measure your TV screen? Here’s how:
- Grab a measuring tape.
- Measure the distance of your TV screen.
- Start from the bottom-left corner to the top-right corner of your screen.
- If you measured your screen in centimeters, multiply it by 0.39 to get the total inches.
- If you measured in inches, multiply it by 2.54 to get the total centimeters.
Finally, you can check out this short video tutorial as well for measuring your TV size:
Is a 32 inch TV too small?
A 32-inch TV isn’t as small as you think.
It ultimately depends on how big your room is.
As mentioned earlier, size isn’t the deciding factor.
It’s the viewing experience, which is influenced by the distance of your TV screen.
In other words, if you were 12 feet (3.6 meters) away from a 32-inch TV, it’s hard to watch comfortably, right?
You’d squint your eyes half the time.
If you’re planning to get a 32-inch TV, the distance from your TV screen should be at least 6.5 feet (78 inches) or lower.
Why not 7 feet? Let’s use the formula from the previous section.
If the distance from your TV screen to your bed/couch is 7 feet, convert this to inches first.
Since 1 foot is 12 inches, then (7 x 12) will give us 84 inches.
To get the minimum recommended TV size, divide the total inches by 2.5 (84/2.5).
As a result, we get 33.6 inches (2.8 feet). In other words, you need a TV size of 33.6 or 34 inches from a distance of 7 feet.
Keep this in mind before buying a 32-inch TV.
Is a 32-inch TV enough if I’m upgrading my TV size?
If you’re upgrading from your original TV size, use this rule: Add an extra 10 inches.
For example, say you wanted to upgrade from a 28-inch TV. Using the rule, you should upgrade to a 38-inch or 40-inch TV.
Why 10 inches? Mainly because the added 10 inches will make your new TV feel a lot bigger.
Just make sure the TV can fit in your room. If it can’t, drop at least 2 inches and choose that TV size instead.
How wide is a 32 inch TV in inches?
A 32-inch TV is 27.89 inches or 2.3 feet wide.
It’s important to be mindful of your TV’s width as well if you plan to mount your TV. If you have a TV stand, make sure it’s wide enough to accommodate your TV’s width.
Some TV stands can accommodate up to an 80-inch TV. Other TV stands can accommodate between a 32-inch to 65-inch TV.
How big is a 32 inch TV compared to a person?
A 32-inch TV is 1/2 the size of a person.
Let me explain…
First, let’s convert your TV size into feet to make it easier to digest.
A 32-inch TV is equivalent to 2.67 feet. Now, for its width and height.
A 32-inch TV is 2.3 feet wide and 1.3 feet tall.
According to Healthline, the average height of men in the U.S. is 5.9 feet. For women, the average height is 5.4 feet, according to Medical News Today.
For arm span, this should be roughly the same as the average person’s height.
In other words, your 32-inch TV is only 1/2 of an average-sized person.
Now, if you’re worried that your TV might be too heavy to carry, don’t be. TVs nowadays are a lot lighter and thinner than before.
In fact, that’s what I did after I decided I was going for a 40-inch TV instead of a 32-inch TV.