What is the Best Angle To Watch TV In Bed?

Bedrooms are perfect for watching TV, so what’s the best angle to watch TV in bed without back or eye strain?

It is not difficult to find the best viewing angle for a TV in your bedroom, as there are some aspects that we will discuss in this article.

It’s important to note that a number of variables can affect the TV watching angle in your bedroom.

Some of these include the size and angles of your screen and viewing cone.

Your TV screen will perform better if you have a bigger angle to view the pixels being produced by the screen.

The vertical viewing angle of the TV in your bedroom should be no greater than 30 degrees for optimum viewing. It is usually advisable to have the TV tilted between 25 and 30 degrees in order to ensure an optimal viewing experience. 

What is a TV Viewing Angle?

The TV viewing angle is the point at which viewers can see the screen well. Most viewers have different TV preferences as well as how they choose to view them.

Different TVs have differing visual properties due to factors such as pixel brightness, stream-through screen components, and general screen engineering in its entirety.

The viewing angle on the TV will change where a TV’s image worsens when viewed from the side.

Most TVs always have the best possible quality when viewed directly opposite the TV screen. 

Consequently, for most TVs, the further you go over to the TV side, the less color there is, and the picture will be of poorer quality.

Viewing Angle Vs. Viewing Height for TV in Bedroom

For a good TV angle when watching in bed, you have to know how high to mount a TV in bedroom.

Proper TV installation height can help alleviate long-term health concerns caused by neck pain from a bad viewing angle. 

This can be done with proper guidance, such as using a TV flat-screen measurement chart often provided by major TV brands.

Eye Level 

With a simple calculation, you can figure out the ideal height for mounting your screen in the bedroom to ensure it is at eye level.

You don’t need to be good at math to do this.

You can measure the height of your television from the ground so that it is at eye level and your neck is held straight when sitting in the bed. 

This will allow you to keep your posture in a neutral position to prevent neck strains when watching.

The eye level can sometimes vary in a household with people of different heights. 

Note: To fix the height disparity in such a situation, you can average the tallest and shortest person in order to get the appropriate eye level. 

How to Measure Viewing Angle for Bedroom TV

Now you have a few variables to consider for your bedroom TV.

In most cases, image distortion and quality variation are the two main ones.

These parameters impact your TV screen primarily with how crisply or fuzzily something is displayed on television from certain viewing angles. 

Due to the mentioned image distortion and color shift, dimming on screen, and blurring of images, there is a range of quality loss specific to each type of TV.

These are the changes in brightness, color, and quality with your TV, both at the screen and through gamma and color shift. 

Picture Quality Loss

The angle from which the quality loss happens for a bedroom TV often starts after 30 degrees.

This also depends on several factors, like the panel type of your TV or whether you’re watching on a bigger or smaller screen.

Larger screens tend to see this deterioration faster with an increased viewing angle.

Ultimately, it’s sometimes difficult to know the exact viewing angle from which a certain screen would look best.

Your opinion and assessment of whether something decreases in quality will be based on how it looks through your eyes.

Types of Bedroom TVs Panels and Their Viewing Angle

VA [Vertical Alignment] Panel

With VA panels, the pixels are vertically aligned, resulting in poorer quality image clarity at higher viewing distances, even in the bedroom.

To counteract this shortcoming, major brands like Samsung use a technology called Wide Viewing Angle.

This results in a more refined-looking picture when viewed from either of the bedroom corners.

IPS Panel

IPS panels use a different method called In-Plane Switching.

It uses pixels to administer a superior horizontal viewing angle rather than the conventional vertical viewing angle found in VA panels.

OLED Panel

Overall, OLED TVs offer the best visual quality when it comes to watching TV from different angles.

It’s the best for bedrooms where the viewers are in two different beds but watching the same TV. 

The colors on an OLED screen are so accurate that you won’t notice any difference when viewing from different angles in your bedroom.

The OLED pixel prevents annoying fluctuations in the color and brightness of your TV, but it also causes distortion and might impair legibility.

OLED EVO Panel

OLED EVO is similar to OLED but with very minor differences.

The only real difference between the two panels, in terms of viewing characteristics, is brightness.

Both panels can show bright images even from oblique angles in the bedroom. 

Note: The Evo panel has better contrast and brightness. 

Watching TV from a Wide Angle

The truth’s narrower viewing angle makes it easier to see content with more clarity.

This is especially important in a bedroom because you can place the TV at different locations opposite the bed but still have a good viewing experience. 

A mobile wall mount allows for better flexibility if you have a bedside sofa or need to change positions when watching.

Note: With newer TV models, the higher the resolution, the sharper the image and the wider the viewing angle. 

Observe the Recommended Viewing Distance

Ensure you keep the viewing distance set at 3.5 times that of the TV’s size, which is not just its width but its diagonal length.

This is the optimal distance recommended by most TV manufacturers. 

The distance is ideal since most bedrooms are fairly smaller than living rooms.

Remember that calculating the screen size according to screen width or screen height may result in a smaller viewing distance. 

HD TVs and Viewing Distance

High-definition televisions are now on the market, which allows you to have a longer than standard distance.

If you have a 32″ television, you can put it 10 meters away as an example and reduce eye strain.

But bedrooms are typically small, keeping the viewing angle in mind; the TV shouldn’t be too far off.

Ideal TV Location in your Bedroom

One main thing to consider when trying to figure out the best angle to watch TV in bed is the location.

When selecting the installation location in the bedroom, think about where a large painting would hang.

For example, if you install your TV on a wall opposite the bed, it will be as if it is floating in the air. 

Consider height when deciding where to place your screen.

For example, since rotating brackets can reach up to tilt the screen slightly, this allows for more versatility in terms of where you can place it.

Bedroom Layout and TV Angle

The TV location might vary depending on your bedroom layout. For example, in a bedroom, you should be able to see the TV screen when seated in the middle of your bed.

Consider mounting the TV a little higher if you’ll be watching when lying in bed.

In a living room, the center of an HD TV will always be at the same height as our eyes, which guarantees perpendicular viewing on the screen.

In a bedroom, however, it can cause problems when placed on walls that are too low and with obstructing furniture.

Read Next: Is A Loft Considered A Bedroom? Definitive Answer!

Final Thought

It’s become increasingly common for people to install flat-screen TVs in their bedrooms, offering a richer and more dynamic content experience.

The flat-screen TVs improve your media experience and help you save on space, even in the bedroom. 

TV placement in a bedroom is important and shouldn’t be too close to the eyes; otherwise, you will strain your eyes.

The best angle to watch TV in bed is usually anywhere between 25 to 30 degrees.

It’s worth noting that modern TVs can also be oriented in a way that allows you to watch from any angle comfortably.