How to Measure TV Sizes & Dimensions

Televisions are described by their screen size.

If you're buying, selling or designing an entertainment area, knowing your TV's size and dimensions is crucial. However, figuring a television's size and dimensions is a less straightforward task than you might assume. Usually when you measure an object, you just hold a section of measuring tape from edge to edge, measuring height, width and depth when applicable; this method, though, gives you only the TV's dimensions and not its size. Television size is defined by screen size, not casing size, and that's the measurement salespeople use when referring to a TV's size.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Large flat object

Instructions

Finding the TV's Size

1. Place the end of the tape measure at the bottom left-hand corner of the TV's screen.

2. Extend the tape measure to reach the opposite corner, the top-right corner, of the screen.

3. Round the number up to the next inch if it isn't a whole number; this is the size of your television.

Finding the TV's Dimensions

1. Stand a large flat object vertically against the back of the TV; this is necessary because many TVs don't have flat tops or backs, which makes finding their exact depth difficult.

2. Measure from the front top edge to the front bottom edge; this is the height of the TV. Measure from the left front edge to the right front edge; this is the width of the TV.

3. Place the end of the measuring tape at the top front edge of the TV. Extend the tape to the large flat object and then record the number of inches; this is the TV's depth.

4. Write the measurements down height first, then width, and finally depth; these are your TV's dimensions.

References

• ScreenMath: HDTV Plasma and LCD Screen Size Guide