Choosing the Ideal Screen Size for Home Theaters

When you're setting up a home theater, choosing the right screen size is important. With a screen that's not too big or too small, you and your family can look forward to having an enjoyable time watching movies at home. Keep the following tips in mind to make sure you end up with the perfect screen size in your home theater.

Importance of Screen Size

Having a screen that's too small in your home theater means you can easily miss out on the experience of feeling as though you're in a cinema. With a small screen, you might feel as though you're watching movies on a regular TV. Having a screen that's too big can also cause problems. An overly large screen can cause headaches or eyestrain, making your home theater experience an unpleasant or uncomfortable one.

Distance from Screen

One factor to take into consideration when selecting a screen size is how far away you'll be sitting. A larger screen is more likely to cause eyestrain if the viewing distance is shorter. When you're trying to determine the right size screen, consider using a common formula that involves multiplying screen size by 1.5. For example, if you get a screen that's 10 feet wide, you would need to have a viewing distance of 15 feet. You would have to sit at least 15 feet back from the screen to watch movies without discomfort or eyestrain.

If your home theater will have more than one row of seats, keep this in mind when choosing a screen size. You don't want the screen to be too big for those sitting in the front row, but you do want to ensure that it isn't too small for those in the back row. You should also factor in the distance between rows of seats in your home theater. For example, if you have a lot of room between rows, make sure your screen is large enough for those in the back row, since their viewing distance will be longer.

Screen Resolution

The resolution of your home theater screen can influence the size you should get. Sitting closer to the screen means you're more likely to see pixels rather than solid images, which can be more of a problem if you want to get a bigger screen. Getting a high-definition screen, which has a higher pixel count, means you don't have to worry as much about sitting close, even on a larger screen. If you need to go with a smaller screen size due to size limitations in your home theater, having a high-definition screen can help ensure that you have excellent picture quality.

Screen Level

The width of your home theater screen isn't the only factor to consider when choosing a size. You should also choose a screen with the right vertical size. Having a screen that's too long vertically can make movies uncomfortable to watch, especially if you have to strain your neck up or down. A vertical screen that's not too long allows you to make sure it's at eye level, which makes it more comfortable to watch movies.