The 30-degree rule recommends sitting far enough away that a television fills roughly 30 degrees of your field of view, offering a comfortable balance for general viewing. The guidance matters because sitting too close can contribute to eye strain, dryness and fatigue, while the ideal distance also depends on room layout and personal preference.

The rule equates to about 1.6 times the screen’s diagonal size: around 7 feet 4 inches for a 55-inch TV, 10 feet for a 75-inch model and 11 feet 4 inches for an 85-inch screen. A more immersive 40-degree option requires sitting closer, at about 1.2 times the diagonal, while the extreme 62-degree approach places viewers much nearer; for a popular 65-inch TV, the distances are approximately 8.7, 6.5 and 4.6 feet respectively.