40 vs 55 Inch TV: Size Comparison to Scale
A 55-inch TV has 89% more screen area than a 40-inch one. Side by side, that's 33.2 cm more width and 18.7 cm more height. The picture below shows both screens in true relative scale.
Both screens drawn to the same scale, aligned at the bottom-left corner.
| Parameter | 40″ cm | 40″ in | 55″ cm | 55″ in | Δ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Width | 88.6 cm | 34.9 in | 121.8 cm | 47.9 in | +38% |
| Height | 49.8 cm | 19.6 in | 68.5 cm | 27.0 in | +38% |
| Area | 4411 cm² | 684 in² | 8339 cm² | 1293 in² | +89% |
The difference in numbers
The 55″ screen is 33.2 cm wider (+38%) and 18.7 cm taller (+38%) than the 40″ screen. You would need about 1.9 screens of 40″ to cover the area of one 55″ screen.
Recommended viewing distance
40″: 1.22 m – 1.65 m (4.0 ft – 5.4 ft)
55″: 1.67 m – 2.27 m (5.5 ft – 7.5 ft)
Questions about 40″ vs 55″
Which size should I buy for my room?
Match the diagonal to your seating distance — our viewing distance calculator turns a comfortable distance into a recommended size range for any screen.
Is 55″ too big if I sit close?
If you sit closer than about 1.67 m, a 55″ screen can feel oversized — the 40″ option keeps a comfortable field of view at shorter distances.
Why compare area instead of diagonal?
Area is what you actually see. Two screens with the same diagonal but different aspect ratios can differ in area by 10% or more, which diagonal alone hides.