85 vs 98-inch TV: how much bigger, and which fits your room
Both sizes from the same sofa, the difference in inches, and a simple rule for which one suits your seating distance.
A 98-inch TV is 11.3 inches wider and 6.3 inches taller than a 85-inch, with 33% more picture. Sit closer than about 9 ft 9 in and the 85-inch is the comfortable size; further than about 11 ft 6 in and the 98-inch is; in between, both work.
The size difference
| 85-inch | 98-inch | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen width | 74.1″ | 85.4″ | +11.3″ |
| Screen height | 41.7″ | 48.0″ | +6.3″ |
| Picture area | 21.4 sq ft | 28.5 sq ft | +33% |
| Real models’ width (no stand) | 74–74.9″ | 85.3–86″ | +11.2″ |
| Best distance (30–40°) | 8.5–11.5 ft | 9.8–13.3 ft | +1.3 ft |
Which size for your seating distance
Measure from where your eyes will be on the sofa to the TV wall. The viewing angle tells you how big each screen will look from there:
| You sit | 85″ | 98″ | Better fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 ft | 48°immersive | 54°immersive | 85″ or smaller |
| 8 ft | 42°immersive | 48°immersive | 85″ or smaller |
| 9 ft | 38°recommended | 43°immersive | 85″ |
| 10 ft | 34°recommended | 39°recommended | Either |
| 11 ft | 31°recommended | 36°recommended | Either |
| 12 ft | 29°relaxed | 33°recommended | 98″ |
| 13 ft | 26.7°small | 31°recommended | 98″ |
| 14 ft | 25°small | 29°relaxed | 98″ or larger |
How to choose
From eleven feet, an 85-inch fills about 31° of your view and a 98-inch about 36°. Both work; the 98-inch gets close to a projector-sized picture with a TV’s brightness.
The 98-inch is over seven feet wide, and some models stand on feet more than six feet apart. Most people wall-mount it; plan for the weight and the delivery path.
Two practical checks come before the angle. Wall width: allow for the full set, not just the screen (real 98-inch models are 85.3–86 in wide). Stand width: if the TV goes on furniture, the feet or pedestal must fit on it; feet near the edges need a console almost as wide as the TV. The size guides list stand widths for real models: 85-inch and 98-inch.
Questions people ask
How much bigger is a 98-inch TV than a 85-inch?
The 98-inch picture is 11.3 inches wider and 6.3 inches taller, and 33% larger in area: 85.4 × 48 inches against 74.1 × 41.7.
Should I get a 85 or 98-inch TV for 11 feet?
From 11 feet, a 85-inch screen fills 31° of your view and a 98-inch 36°. The recommended band is 30–40°, so both work; pick by wall space and budget.
At what distance does a 98-inch TV become too big?
It passes THX’s 40° cinema angle closer than about 9 ft 9 in, and the 61° maximum for 4K video that CEDIA/CTA RP22 cites closer than about 6 ft 1 in. Many people like a big screen for films and games; for everyday TV, 30–40° is the comfortable range.
Sources
- SMPTE (2017). ST 2080-3:2017 Reference Viewing Environment for Evaluation of HDTV Images.Standard
- THX. Viewing Guide FAQ.Professional guide
- CEDIA / CTA (2023). CEDIA/CTA-RP22 Immersive Audio Design Recommended Practice, v1.2.Standard
Numbers on this page follow these sources. Where a figure is our own calculation or a rule of thumb, the text says so. Found a mistake? Tell us.
