A TV unit for a 55 inch TV and one for a 75 inch TV differ mainly in width, strength and the size of room they need. A 55 inch screen is roughly 122 cm wide, so a unit of around 140 to 160 cm usually looks balanced. A 75 inch screen is roughly 166 cm wide, which calls for a unit of around 180 cm or more, with a higher weight rating and a room that allows a greater viewing distance. The larger set up also asks more of your budget, so it pays to decide where that money matters most.
Whichever size you own, our budget TV stands UK range and our wider modern TV stands and units in the UK collection include designs for both screen sizes. Below, we compare them on style, space and budget so you can choose with confidence.
Television sizes are measured diagonally across the screen, which can make the difference between sizes seem smaller than it is. On a standard widescreen television, the approximate screen dimensions are:
The frame around the screen adds a little more, and so does the stand if the television sits on its feet. Always check the exact dimensions of your model, including the distance between its feet, before choosing a unit.
That extra 44 cm or so of width is the heart of the comparison. It changes the length of the unit you need, the weight it must carry and how the whole wall is composed.
A 55 inch screen sits comfortably in most UK living rooms, including many terraced front rooms and flats. It leaves space on the wall for art, shelving or a pair of lamps. The TV unit can be a piece of furniture in its own right, with fluted fronts, open shelves or a distinctive finish, because the screen does not overwhelm it.
Almost any style works at this size: a Scandi unit on legs, an industrial steel and wood design, a glass stand or a lacquered cabinet. You have the freedom to choose on looks.
A 75 inch screen becomes the dominant feature of a wall. The TV unit’s job shifts slightly: it needs to anchor the screen visually and give it a solid base. Long, low designs work best. A short unit under a large screen looks top heavy and can make the television appear to float awkwardly.
Larger screens often suit simpler units. A calm, uninterrupted front, a single wood tone or a matt lacquer keeps the wall from feeling busy. Media wall arrangements, with storage either side of the screen, are another way to give a big television a sense of proportion. Our large modern entertainment units in the UK are designed with this in mind.
As a general principle, a TV unit should be wider than the screen it supports. That gives visual balance and practical safety, since the television cannot overhang the edge.
For a 55 inch television, a unit in the region of 140 to 160 cm usually looks right. For a 75 inch television, look for something around 180 cm or longer. In a large room, a longer unit around 200 cm can give an even more settled look.
Larger televisions tend to have wider feet and sometimes deeper stands. Check that the unit’s top is deep enough to hold the feet with some margin at the front and back. If you plan to wall mount, depth is less critical, but you still need space inside for devices and cables.
Measure the whole wall, not only the unit. A 75 inch television on a 180 cm unit takes up a significant stretch of wall. Check that it does not clash with doors, windows, radiators or light switches. Allow some breathing space either side so the arrangement does not feel squeezed.
Bigger screens are more comfortable from further away. A common rule of thumb is to sit somewhere between one and a half and two and a half times the screen’s diagonal size from the television. For a 55 inch screen, that suggests roughly 2 to 3.5 metres. For a 75 inch screen, around 3 to 4.5 metres.
These are guides rather than rules, and modern high resolution screens can be viewed comfortably from closer. But if your sofa sits two metres from the wall, a 75 inch screen may feel overwhelming, and a 55 inch model is likely to be more comfortable.
Whatever the size, aim for the centre of the screen to sit roughly at seated eye level. With a 75 inch television, a low unit is important, because the screen itself is tall. A higher unit would lift the top of the screen well above a comfortable line of sight.
Choosing furniture for a larger television usually asks more of your budget, and it helps to understand why.
For a 55 inch television, you have more freedom to prioritise style, because almost any well made unit of the right width will cope. For a 75 inch television, put construction and weight rating first, then choose the style within those limits. A sturdy, simple unit will serve a large screen better than an elaborate but lightweight design.
Mounting the television on the wall changes the comparison. The unit no longer carries the screen’s weight, so its main jobs become storage and visual balance.
With a 55 inch television on the wall, you can choose a shorter unit, or even use a sideboard or low shelving beneath it. With a 75 inch screen on the wall, a long low unit still helps to ground the arrangement, but the weight rating matters less.
Make sure your wall can take the load. Solid masonry walls are usually straightforward, while stud walls need fixings into the timber frame or specialist anchors. Our wall TV brackets UK sale range includes options for both sizes, each with a clear weight and size rating.
Many people buy a TV unit for their current television, then upgrade the screen a few years later. If there is any chance you will move to a larger size, consider choosing a unit that can handle it now.
A unit around 180 cm wide with a generous weight rating will look fine under a 55 inch screen, especially with a lamp or plant at each end, and it will be ready for a 75 inch model later. The reverse is not true: a unit sized tightly for a 55 inch television will be too short for a 75 inch one.
Larger screens produce more light and contrast in a dark room. Soft lighting behind or beneath the unit reduces the difference between a bright picture and the surrounding wall. Our guide to LED TV units for UK living rooms explains how built in lighting can make big screen viewing more comfortable.
If you are building a full media wall around a large television, an integrated fireplace is another option for adding warmth and a focal point. We cover this in detail in our piece on TV units with integrated fireplaces for UK homes.
If your room is modest and your seating is relatively close to the wall, a 55 inch television on a well chosen unit of around 150 cm is usually the more comfortable arrangement. If you have a larger room, a longer viewing distance and a wall that can carry the scale, a 75 inch screen on a long, sturdy unit can look impressive and settled. Measure first, choose construction to match your screen, then let style guide the final decision. Explore both sizes at Furniture in Fashion.
It is not advisable. The television should not overhang the unit, and the unit must be rated for its weight. A short unit also looks unbalanced under a large screen.
Around 140 to 160 cm usually looks balanced, as long as the feet of your television fit securely on the top.
It depends on the viewing distance. If you sit around three metres or more from the screen, it can work well. Closer than that, a 55 or 65 inch screen may be more comfortable.
If you might upgrade your television, a slightly longer unit with a higher weight rating gives you room to grow.
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