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TV Viewing Angle Calculator
Find the field-of-view angle your TV fills at a given distance — and whether it hits the immersive THX 40° or relaxed SMPTE 30° target.
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📐 Viewing Angle Calculator
See the field-of-view angle for a given TV size and distance. THX recommends about 40°, SMPTE a minimum of 30°.
What the angle means
| Under 20° | Screen feels small — size up or sit closer |
| ~30° (SMPTE) | Relaxed, comfortable for mixed viewing |
| ~40° (THX) | Immersive, cinema-style — great for movies & gaming |
| Over 45° | Very immersive; you may move your eyes to follow the edges |
Frequently asked questions
What is a good TV viewing angle?
THX recommends a field of view around 40° for immersion; SMPTE sets a 30° minimum for cinema. Below about 20° the screen feels small; much above 40° you may need to move your eyes to follow the action.
How is viewing angle calculated?
Angle = 2 × arctan((screen width ÷ 2) ÷ distance). This tool uses the 16:9 width (diagonal × 0.8716) and your seating distance.
Angle = 2 × arctan((width ÷ 2) ÷ distance), using the 16:9 screen width. Last reviewed 2026-08-12.