What size TV unit for a 65 inch TV? Widths for 43 to 75 inch TVs

A 65 inch TV is about 144cm across the picture and 145 to 146cm including its frame, so a TV unit for a 65 inch TV needs at least 156cm of clear width: the TV plus about 5cm each side. For a balanced look, choose a unit 20 to 40cm wider than the TV, roughly 165 to 185cm. Measure the TV itself, not its diagonal. If the unit has uprights that rise beside the screen, measure the space between them, not the length of the shelf. On our framed units, that means a shelf of about 183cm (pipe) or 195cm (BOX-IT) or more.

Below are the sums for 43 to 75 inch TVs, what to check on height and depth, and which of our industrial TV units fit each size.

How wide is a 55, 65 or 75 inch TV?

TV sizes are measured corner to corner, so the number on the box says little about width. Picture sizes below are for a standard 16:9 screen; the frame adds a centimetre or two and the stand adds height.

The stand heights are from one popular Samsung range. Your TV's spec sheet gives its exact width and "height with stand".

How wide should a TV unit be?

Wider than the TV. A common rule is at least 10cm wider than the TV, and 20 to 40cm wider for a balanced look. We use 10cm of clear space (5cm each side) as the working minimum. Any less and the TV looks squeezed, and on a framed unit there is no room for your hands when lifting it on and off.

On an open-topped bench, the clear width is the length of the top. On a unit whose uprights rise beside the screen, it is the gap between the end uprights, which is always less than the shelf length.

What size TV unit for a 55, 65 or 75 inch TV?

Figures are approximate, from our size charts; confirm the space between the uprights for your length with us before ordering.

This table applies the 10cm rule to the space between the uprights shown on each unit's size chart, using our standard upright positions. Every unit can be made to any exact length within its range, so each figure is the shortest length that gives your TV enough room. If your room is tight, tell us your TV's width when you order and we will check the fit.

• BOX-IT TV media unit: about 81, 121, 161 and 201cm between the end uprights at 120, 160, 200 and 240cm (the length less about 39cm).
• Chunky pipe TV media unit: about 93, 133, 173 and 213cm at the same lengths (the length less about 27cm).
• TV unit with side towers: two 58cm towers leave 84, 124 or 164cm at 200, 240 or 280cm.
• Long TV sideboard: the wall brackets rise 15cm above the top about 18cm in from each end; keep the TV between them (the length less about 39cm).

On both ranges the uprights pass through holes in the shelves, so their positions are set when the unit is made. On the pipe units, tell us when you order if you need a leg moved.

Will my TV fit under a top shelf or in a media wall unit?

Usually only up to 43 inch, and some 50 inch sets in the BOX-IT units. The BOX-IT media wall unit, the BOX-IT TV unit with top shelf and the pipe TV unit with top shelf all have a shelf above the screen, so the TV has to fit a bay in both directions:

• BOX-IT units: the bay is 74cm high, and about 81 or 82cm wide at 120cm long and 121cm wide at 160cm.
• Chunky pipe unit: the bay is 69cm high, and about 93cm wide at 120cm long and 133cm wide at 160cm.

Allowing a few centimetres to lift it in and out, the TV's height on its stand should be no more than about 70cm for a BOX-IT bay and 65cm for the pipe bay. A 55 inch TV is about 124cm wide and 76cm tall on its stand, so it will not fit either bay. Many 50 inch TVs are 69 to 70cm tall on their stands, which is a squeeze in the BOX-IT bay and too tall for the pipe bay, so check your TV's "height with stand" first. For a bigger TV, choose a unit that is open above the screen, such as the BOX-IT TV media unit or the long sideboard.

How high should the TV sit?

TV makers' guides, such as TCL's, suggest that when you are seated your eyes should be roughly level with the centre of the screen. Our TV shelf sits about 82cm off the floor on the BOX-IT units and about 78cm on the pipe units, which is closer to sideboard height than to a low TV bench. Put a typical 65 inch TV on its stand on the BOX-IT shelf and the middle of the picture is about 128cm up.

Before you order, sit where you watch and have someone tape the outline of the screen on the wall at that height. If it feels high, a lower bench may suit your room better.

How deep should a TV unit be?

Shelves come 22cm or 30cm deep, and for a TV we recommend 30cm. A BOX-IT unit stands 23 or 31cm out from the wall, a pipe unit about 25 or 34cm. Check the depth of your TV's feet or pedestal fits inside 30cm: most 55 and 65 inch stands do, but some 75 inch stands are deeper. The lower shelf has 35cm of clear height on the BOX-IT units (37cm on the pipe units). That is room for a games console lying flat, a set-top box, a soundbar or a row of records.

Media wall or TV unit: which suits your room?

A built media wall is a framed and boarded false wall: building work. Our media wall unit gives a similar look as furniture, 213cm tall, so check your ceiling height and coving first.

If you have a long wall and a large TV, the BOX-IT long TV sideboard is the simplest answer: up to 320cm long, with room for a 75 inch TV from about 217cm.

How are our industrial TV units made?

Every unit is made to order, to your length. Both ranges use 38mm FSC certified kiln-dried Scandinavian redwood shelves, waxed by hand in one of seven finishes: Clear Wax, Lime Wax, Grey Wash, Forest Brown, Antique Oak, Rugger Brown or Jacobean. If you are matching existing furniture, order timber samples in the wax finishes first.

BOX-IT is built from 25mm mild steel box section, in raw steel with a clear lacquer or black powder coat. Each post ends in a plate and a narrower sleeve. The sleeve passes up through a hole in the shelf, the plate is screwed to the underside, a dress flange covers the joint on top, and the next post slides over the sleeve. The BOX-IT TV media unit stands on fixed steel foot plates, and its outer uprights turn back to the wall beside the screen. If your floor is not level, we will send shims to pack the legs. It is a two person build, and the wall fixings included are for solid masonry.

Chunky pipe is a heavier look in black powder coat or antique black. The frame screws together by hand, one shelf at a time, stands on flat base flanges and fixes to the wall through a flange on each outer leg; we recommend solid masonry.

Both ranges are made to be fixed to the wall, which stops the unit tipping forward once it is properly fixed. That is worth having with a large screen and children or pets about.

Ready to choose?

Measure your TV's width and its height on its stand, and find the row for your TV in the table above. Then browse our industrial TV media units and enter the length you need. Delivery is free to the UK mainland.

TV unit sizing: frequently asked questions

What size TV unit do I need for a 65 inch TV? Is 180cm enough? You need at least 156cm of clear width, because a 65 inch TV is about 145 to 146cm wide with its frame; 165 to 185cm gives a balanced look. On an open top, 180cm is enough, with about 17cm each side. On a framed unit it is not, because the uprights take up room. Choose a chunky pipe TV media unit from about 183cm, or a BOX-IT TV media unit from about 195cm.

Is a 200cm TV unit big enough for a 75 inch TV? A 75 inch TV is about 168cm wide with its frame, so an open 200cm top leaves about 16cm each side, which is enough. Our pipe TV unit at 200cm has about 173cm between its legs. The TV fits, but with under 3cm each side. For a comfortable 5cm each side, choose the pipe unit from about 205cm or the BOX-IT TV media unit from about 217cm.

Can I put a 55 inch TV in a media wall unit? Not in ours. The BOX-IT media wall bay is 74cm high and about 121cm wide at its longest. A typical 55 inch TV is about 124cm wide and 76cm tall on its stand. The bay suits most 43 inch TVs, and some 50 inch TVs no taller than about 70cm on their stands. For a 55 or 65 inch TV, look at the BOX-IT TV media unit or the long sideboard, which are open above the screen.

Can you make a TV unit to an exact length? Yes. Choose the next listed length up on the product page and enter the exact length you need. Any length within the unit's range can be made.

What guarantee and delivery do the units come with? Delivery is free to the UK mainland. Every unit carries our 25-year manufacturing guarantee, and the timber has a 2-year warranty.