What Size TV Stand Do You Need for a 55, 65 or 75-Inch TV? (With the Height Rule)

TVs got huge and TV stands did not keep up in most living rooms. The 75-inch screen on a stand built for a 50-inch set is the most common furniture mistake we see in Cincinnati homes. Here is how to size a TV stand correctly, what height it should be, and which style fits your room.

First: TV size is the diagonal, not the width

A "75-inch TV" is 75 inches corner to corner. Its actual width is about 66 inches. Here are the approximate widths of today's widescreen TVs:

• •43-inch TV: about 38 inches wide
• •50-inch TV: about 44 inches wide
• •55-inch TV: about 48 inches wide
• •65-inch TV: about 57 inches wide
• •75-inch TV: about 66 inches wide
• •85-inch TV: about 74 inches wide

The width rule: stand wider than the screen

A TV stand should be at least as wide as the TV, and it looks best 6 to 12 inches wider in total so the screen does not overhang. That means a 65-inch TV wants a stand 60 to 70 inches wide; a 75-inch TV wants one 70 to 80 inches wide. Also check the TV's feet. Many current TVs stand on two feet set near the outer edges, so the stand's top has to be wider than the foot spread, not just the screen. The spec sheet lists it as "stand width" or "foot spread". Browse TV stands with width listed on every piece.

The height rule: center of the screen at eye level

When you are seated, your eyes are about 40 to 44 inches off the floor on a normal couch. The center of the screen should land close to that. A 65-inch TV is about 33 inches tall, so its center sits 16 or 17 inches above the stand top; a stand 24 to 28 inches tall puts the center right at eye level. Tall 30-plus-inch stands push a big TV too high and you end up looking up all night. Low 18- to 20-inch consoles are right for low modern sofas and for very large TVs.

TV stand, media console, entertainment center or corner stand?

• •TV stand or TV console: a low cabinet, open shelves or doors, 48 to 80 inches wide. The default for most rooms.
• •Media console: same idea, usually more enclosed storage and a more furniture-like look. The word stores use when the piece is nicer.
• •Entertainment center or entertainment wall: a stand plus side piers and often a bridge over the top. Huge storage and display, and it frames the TV so a big screen looks intentional. Needs a wall 8 to 12 feet wide.
• •Corner TV stand: an angled back to tuck into a corner. Saves a wall in a small or oddly shaped room; caps out around a 65-inch TV in most cases.
• •Fireplace TV stand: a console with an electric fireplace insert. Real supplemental heat (about 4,000 to 5,000 BTU on most 1,500-watt units), a lot of ambiance, and a favorite in Cincinnati basements. Keep the TV's listed max weight and the fireplace's clearance in mind.

Weight, cords and soundbars

• •Check the stand's weight rating against the TV. A 75-inch TV is typically 70 to 90 pounds; some stands top out at 100, which is tight once you add a soundbar.
• •Look for a cord cutout in the back panel and an open shelf for the cable box or console so the remote works with doors closed (or choose glass or mesh doors).
• •Leave 3 to 5 inches under the TV for a soundbar, or plan for a soundbar shelf.
• •If you have toddlers, anchor the stand with a wall strap and use the TV's anti-tip strap too. Flat TVs tip easily and they fall forward.

Our Cincinnati store stocks TV stands from 48 to 90-plus inches, entertainment walls, corner stands and fireplace consoles, most with same day delivery and $11 down financing. Bring the TV model number; we will check the width, the foot spread and the weight before you buy.