When it comes to TVs, the size matters. Bigger screens not only offer significantly better picture quality, but they also help to make your home cinema feel more like the real thing. You may think that an 85-inch TV sounds like a dream come true, but others may worry that this size is too big.
Whether an 85-inch TV is the right choice for you will depend on several factors about your home and viewing habits. Some homes may literally not even have enough space in their living rooms to fit a screen this large.
Others may find that they have the space, but aren’t sure if having a screen this large will actually improve their viewing experience.
If you’re considering buying an 85-inch TV screen, but aren’t sure if you should, then you have come to the right place. In this guide, we will highlight some benefits and drawbacks of these sizable screens, so you can make an informed purchase.
How Large Is An 85-Inch TV?
It may seem obvious, but before you even think about buying an 85 in TV, you should know just how large that kind of screen really is. The name describes the diagonal length from corner to corner of the screen, which is of course 85 inches.
This means the actual length of the screen is often 71.4 in, with the width coming in at 41.7 in.
These are the exact dimensions you will have to measure for when seeing if you have enough space for your 85-inch television.
Are 85-Inch TVs Suitable For Gaming?
Another concern that some may have is that their giant TV screen won’t be good for playing games on. You may worry that with a screen this large, you won’t be able to see what is happening on the sides, making it more difficult to enjoy your game.
Thankfully, as long as you have enough space to sit far away from the screen, this shouldn’t be a problem. You want to be at least 10 feet away from this size of screen, if you want to avoid having blind spots when you play.
If your room doesn’t have the space to allow you to sit this far back, then you may need to look into a smaller TV. As well as making it difficult to play games, sitting too close to any screen is very bad for your eyes, and should be avoided at all costs.
Wall-Mounted Vs TV Stand
The first thing you will need to determine is whether you want to mount your TV to a wall or use a TV stand. Of the two options, mounting your screen to a wall is normally the much better choice. Since 85-inch TVs are so large and heavy, they risk becoming unbalanced and tipping over stands.
As such, attaching them to a wall is often the much more secure option, but to do so you will need to find a wall with enough space that can support your screen.
You need to find a wall that not only has enough physical space to hold the screen, but also has the infrastructure to support the weight. This means finding out where the support beams behind your wall are and making sure they are far enough apart to support your chosen wall mount.
To do this, you can take a blunt object and lightly tap your wall. This will allow you to tell where the support beams are by listening for when the wall stops being hollow. You should always attach the screws for your mount into sturdy support beams.
Drilling into plaster may just cause your TV to collapse and take a large section of your wall with it.
If you are uncertain about mounting your TV to a wall, then call a professional to come and assess the situation. They may be able to offer helpful tips about where you can feasibly place your TV and what you would need to do.
Fireplaces, family portraits and large windows are all things that could get in the way of mounting your TV to a wall. In these instances, you may be forced to use a stand, but you will need to buy one built for holding larger TVs.
You will want a model with a weighted bottom that is balanced to prevent the screen tipping if it is pushed or nudged.
Whichever method you choose, make sure that you have a second person to help you if you plan to do the installation yourself, as 85-inch TVs are remarkably heavy.
Lighting
Lighting fixtures and natural light from windows can produce glare on a TV screen. Normally the way around this is to move the screen, but with an 85-inch model this may not always be possible.
As such, if you are trying to work out if an 85-inch screen is too big for your living room, one thing you will have to think about is the lighting.
Make a note of all the light sources in your living room in advance, so you will be able to guess if they will hit the intended location for your screen.
If there is too much light hitting the screen, then you won’t be able to watch it without closing the curtains or turning off the lights. In this case, you may be better off buying a smaller TV or buying a good stand that can be safely rotated without tipping.
TV Angle
Whether you choose to mount your TV to a wall, or use a stand, you will want to have options that allow you to adjust the angle. It is important that you don’t have to crane your neck in order to view your screen properly.
As such, having an adjustable stand will help to make your life much easier. If you can’t buy this kind of stand, then you will need to think in advance about how you will place and angle your TV.
Recommended Viewing Distance For An 85-Inch TV
As we said above, you should never sit too close to a TV screen. Not only will you not be able to enjoy the whole picture, but it is also very bad for your eyes.
Generally, the rule for figuring out how far you should sit away from your TV is to take its diagonal length and multiply it by 1.5 or 2.5. So for an 85-inch TV, you would want to be roughly 10 feet away from the screen for the optimal viewing experience.
This isn’t the same for TVs that are capable of displaying 4K or UHD graphics. In this instance, you can actually sit closer to the screen without straining your eyes and only need to multiply the diagonal length by 1.5.
This means you can sit as close as 7 feet away from the screen, which may be better for those with smaller living rooms.
So Is An 85-inch Television Too Big?
Well, in general it will provide a better viewing experience and better enjoyment from your TV, but only if you have the necessary space. You not only need space on a wall for attaching a mount, but you also need enough space to sit at least 10 feet away from the screen to avoid eyestrain.
If you have a large home, then you won’t have any trouble finding the room for a TV this large. However, if you don’t have this space, then an 85-inch TV won’t really benefit you and may just become a nuisance.
Not only will it take up too much space in your room, but you likely won’t be able to enjoy the picture quality due to glare from light sources or eye strain from sitting too close. In these cases, buying a 60-inch screen instead will likely be the better choice
Conclusion
So there you have it. We hope after reading this article, you know a bit more about what to consider before buying and installing an 85-inch TV.
While in many respects, bigger does equal better when it comes to TV’s. That said, it all comes down to having the space in your living room to enjoy these advantages while minimizing the drawbacks.
Even if you have the space for one of these screens, you will need to think about installing it, since they are incredibly heavy.
However, provided it is safe and possible for you to own an 85-inch screen, you will definitely find owning one will enhance the enjoyment you get from watching TV and playing games.
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