Buying the right TV stand size ensures that your TV will stay sturdy and be comfortable to watch. From how tall a TV stand should be or which size fits your TV, our guide covers all the key TV measurements you'll need to know. Keep reading to learn about TV stand dimensions and how to find the right TV stand for your home.

How to Find the Right TV Stand Dimensions
Types of TV Stands

How to Find the Right TV Stand Dimensions

The right TV stand matches the size of your space and the size of your TV. Use these steps to find the right TV stand dimensions to suit your living room.

Step 1: Measure Your Television

Measure the distance from the top left corner of your TV to the bottom right corner. TV stands are sold by the maximum TV size they can accommodate, which is described by that diagonal measure, rather than by height and width. If your TV isn't a flat screen or plasma, measure the depth of your TV as well to ensure it will fit comfortably on or in your entertainment center without any overhang.

Step 2: Find a Place for Your TV Stand

Where you place the entertainment unit or TV stand in your room depends upon the layout, the location of the cable connections, and other factors. However, here are some rules of thumb to follow.

Don't place the TV or entertainment center in front of a window. The backlighting from the window will make it difficult to see the screen, and you're blocking natural light from entering the room. For ideal viewing, try to center the middle of your TV with the middle of the largest seating area in your room.

Once you have a place for the TV stand, know the floor space (width and depth) you have available for the stand or unit. For the most enjoyable watching experience, you should leave plenty of space between the viewer and the TV. For a 29" TV allow for between 3' and 4' of open space, a 39" TV requires 4' or 5' of space, a 46" TV needs 5' or 6' of space, and anything larger requires between 7' and 8' of space. Make sure to choose a TV stand that won’t occupy so much of your room that the TV is hard to watch.

Step 3: Measure Sitting Height

To determine how tall your TV stand should be, sit on your sofa and measure from the floor to your eyes. For comfortable viewing, the lower half of the TV screen should be level with your line of sight when seated. The shelf where the TV rests should be no lower than 12" below that measurement.

Tip!

For more advice on how to center a living room around a TV, check out our guide The Most Inviting Living Room Layouts to Try.

Types of TV Stands

If you aren't sure what type of TV stand you want, check out the different options below.

TV Stands

TV stands, or TV consoles, are long, simple cabinet units on which to place your TV and can feature additional storage. TV stands are unobtrusive and available in many different materials and designs, so they can fit well in rooms of all styles and sizes.

Media Chest: Ideal for bedrooms and dorm rooms, media chests are drawered dressers meant to hold TVs. Open slots for game consoles or cable boxes at the top distinguish media chests from ordinary dressers.

Corner TV Stand: Triangular corner TV stands are designed to nestle nicely in a corner, and are great if your room is low on space.

Floating and Flat-Panel Mounts: Built for flat-screen TVs, floating mount entertainment centers are wall-mounted shelving units that sit below a wall-mounted TV. Sometimes a floating mount will include a wall panel on which the TV can be mounted and an upper shelf can be fitted with lights. Sleek and simple, these modern mounts take up little space and are good for smaller or minimally designed rooms.

Piers Included: If you're looking to add more storage to your living room, these TV stands feature a vertical shelf-style pier on each side. This addition helps you maximize vertical storage for media consoles, books, or decor.

Entertainment Centers

Entertainment centers are large pieces of furniture that usually surround and hold the TV. They also contain more storage space than TV stands. Entertainment centers can be as tall as 72" and are available in a variety of styles to match any decor. Due to their size, entertainment centers aren't ideal for small rooms.

Hutch Entertainment Centers: If you have a lot of space to fill in your living area, a hutch entertainment center might be the choice for you. Shelving units and cabinets surround a large central TV compartment mounted atop a lower set of cabinets or drawers. These units can be as tall as your ceiling and are optimal for storage.

Barn Door Entertainment Centers: Large farmhouse sliding doors keep your TV and all of its accessories hidden away when not in use.

TV Armoires: In TV armoires, the TV is contained above a set of drawers in a cabinet with doors, which conceal the TV when it’s not in use. TV armoires are one of the tallest media center options.

Fireplace Entertainment Centers: Entertainment fireplaces are both a TV stand and fireplace. An electric fireplace below adds heat and personality to a space, while the shelf above is ideal for a TV. Entertainment fireplaces are great for spaces without a mantel or fireplace, such as a secondary family room, game room, or basement.