Guide
How to Find Your TV Size from a Photo (Size Chart)
Updated · RefScale
Quick answer
A TV's size is the diagonal of its visible screen in inches, measured from one corner of the picture to the opposite corner, without the frame. To find it from a photo, tape a bank card or a sheet of paper flat onto the screen, take the photo straight on, set the scale from that reference, and draw a line across the screen's diagonal. Then match the result to the nearest standard size in the table below.
What "TV size" means
When a TV is sold as 55 inches, that number is the diagonal of the screen area that shows the picture. It does not include the frame (bezel) or the stand, and it is not the width. Most TVs today have a 16:9 screen, so the width and height follow from the diagonal: a screen is about 87% as wide and 49% as tall as its diagonal.
How to find TV size from a photo
- Put a reference on the screen. Turn the TV off and tape a bank card, or better a sheet of US Letter or A4 paper, flat onto the screen glass. It has to lie in the same flat plane as the screen, not on the stand in front of it.
- Photograph the TV straight on. Stand in front of the middle of the screen, hold the phone parallel to it, and take the photo with the whole screen in view. Step back and zoom in a little rather than using the wide lens up close.
- Set the scale. In a photo measuring app such as RefScale, choose the reference (Credit/Debit Card, or a custom size for paper) and fit its frame to the card's or sheet's edges.
- Draw the diagonal. Draw a line from one corner of the picture area to the opposite corner. Use the corners of the glass that lights up, not the frame (bezel) around it. That length in inches is the screen size.
- Compare with the standard sizes. Look up the closest size in the table below. TVs are sold in standard sizes, so a result of 54.5 in most likely means a 55-inch class TV.
Measuring from a photo only works for lengths in the same flat plane as the reference — that is why the card or paper goes on the screen, not on the stand or the wall next to it. The method is explained in more detail in how to measure an object from a photo.
TV screen sizes: width and height (16:9)
| TV size | Width × height (in) | Width × height (cm) | Diagonal (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32″ | 27.9 × 15.7 | 70.8 × 39.8 | 81 |
| 40″ | 34.9 × 19.6 | 88.6 × 49.8 | 102 |
| 43″ | 37.5 × 21.1 | 95.2 × 53.5 | 109 |
| 50″ | 43.6 × 24.5 | 110.7 × 62.3 | 127 |
| 55″ | 47.9 × 27.0 | 121.8 × 68.5 | 140 |
| 58″ | 50.6 × 28.4 | 128.4 × 72.2 | 147 |
| 65″ | 56.7 × 31.9 | 143.9 × 80.9 | 165 |
| 70″ | 61.0 × 34.3 | 155.0 × 87.2 | 178 |
| 75″ | 65.4 × 36.8 | 166.0 × 93.4 | 191 |
| 77″ | 67.1 × 37.8 | 170.5 × 95.9 | 196 |
| 83″ | 72.3 × 40.7 | 183.7 × 103.4 | 211 |
| 85″ | 74.1 × 41.7 | 188.2 × 105.8 | 216 |
| 98″ | 85.4 × 48.0 | 217.0 × 122.0 | 249 |
Planning space for a new TV? Use the width and height above as the minimum, then add the frame and stand from the model's specifications.
Tips for a better result
- Use a bigger reference for bigger TVs. A card is about 3.4 in (8.6 cm) long, small next to a 55-inch screen. A sheet of US Letter (8.5 × 11 in) or A4 (210 × 297 mm) paper gives a steadier scale — see objects of known size.
- Turn the TV off so the edges of the picture area are easy to see, and avoid reflections from windows and lamps.
- Mark the corners of the picture area, not the outer corners of the frame.
- Shoot from the middle, straight on. If you cannot, mark the reference by its four corners so the angle is taken into account.
- Treat the result as an estimate and pick the nearest standard size from the table.
Measuring a TV with RefScale
In RefScale, choose the Credit/Debit Card preset, or enter custom dimensions for a sheet of paper, and fit it to the reference on the screen. Tap + and add a line from corner to corner to get the diagonal, or a rectangle over the picture area to get its width and height. Switch units to inches to compare with the table, and label the measurements so the photo explains itself when you send it.
Frequently asked questions
Is TV size measured diagonally?
Yes. A TV's size is the diagonal of the visible screen, from one corner of the picture area to the opposite corner, usually given in inches even in countries that use the metric system.
Does the TV size include the frame?
No. The advertised size covers only the visible screen. The frame (bezel) and stand add to the outer width and height, so check the model's specifications if you need the size of the whole TV.
Why is my 55-inch TV not exactly 55 inches?
Many TVs are sold as a size class, and the visible diagonal can be slightly smaller than the class number — for example about 54.6 inches for a 55-inch class model. Treat the class size as the nearest standard size.
How wide is a 55-inch TV?
The visible screen of a 16:9 55-inch TV is about 47.9 in (121.8 cm) wide and 27.0 in (68.5 cm) tall. The whole TV is a little wider because of the frame.
Can I find the size from a photo without a reference?
No. A photo alone does not show how big anything is. You need something of known size in the same plane as the screen, such as a card or a sheet of paper taped to it.
Is there an easier way than measuring?
Often, yes. The model number on the back label or in the TV's settings usually contains the size (for example, a model starting with 55 is often a 55-inch TV). Measuring from a photo helps when the label is hard to reach or you are checking a TV you are not standing next to.