What Size TV Should You Buy? A Kenyan Living Room Guide

A TV can look small in a shop and huge at home, or the other way around. Choosing the right size comes down to viewing distance, room layout and what you watch.

Measure before you shop

Measure the distance from your seat to where the TV will go. Then check the space where the TV will be mounted or placed, including the width of the stand. A larger TV may not fit your existing unit.

TV sizes refer to the diagonal screen measurement, not the width. A 55-inch TV is roughly 122cm wide, and a 65-inch TV about 144cm wide. Allow a few extra centimetres for the frame.

A simple size guide

For 4K TVs, a common recommendation is to sit around 1 to 1.5 times the diagonal screen size away:

• 43 inches: roughly 1.1 to 1.6 metres.
• 55 inches: roughly 1.4 to 2.1 metres.
• 65 inches: roughly 1.7 to 2.5 metres.
• 75 inches: roughly 1.9 to 2.9 metres.

These are guides, not rules. Many people sit farther away and still enjoy a large TV. For bedrooms or smaller spaces, 32 to 43 inches is often ideal.

Resolution

HD suits small 32-inch sets. Full HD is fine up to about 43 inches. 4K is the better choice from 50 inches upward. At these sizes, lower resolutions can look soft from nearby.

Much local content is not in 4K, so a good TV should also handle lower-quality sources well.

Wall or stand?

Wall mounting saves space and keeps the TV away from small children. Check the wall material and find out the VESA size of the TV. Our delivery terms for large items and optional wall mounting appear on the site. Note that a bracket may not be included.

Avoid placing the TV opposite a sunny window if possible. Reflections can be a problem during the day, especially on glossy panels.

Think about content

Football and fast action look better on TVs with good motion handling. Movies benefit from better contrast. Gaming consoles need low input lag and, if you want 120Hz, HDMI 2.1 ports. See our PS5 guide.

Connectivity

Check for enough HDMI and USB ports, a built-in digital tuner if you rely on free-to-air channels, and a smart platform with the apps you use. Our streaming stick guide can help if your TV lacks apps.

Sound

Thin TVs often have weak speakers. Budget for a soundbar if you want clearer dialogue.

Power protection

Power surges can destroy TVs. A good surge protector or automatic voltage switch is a sensible investment.

Next, read QLED versus Mini LED to choose the panel, and our budget TV guide to compare brands.