Trying to decide between a 85-inch and a 98-inch TV? You're not alone — it's one of the most common TV size dilemmas. The difference looks small on paper, but a 98" TV has 33% more screen area than a 85".

Above you'll find an interactive size calculator, real dimensions, viewing distance recommendations, and the most common mistakes people make when choosing between these two sizes.

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85 inch vs 98 inch TV size comparison

How TV Sizes Are Measured: TV sizes like "85-inch" or "98-inch" refer to the diagonal of the viewable screen, corner to corner. These measurements exclude the bezel and the stand, so the total physical footprint will be slightly larger.

The Difference: A 98" TV has 33% more screen area than a 85" TV — that's like adding an extra 1,009 square inches of viewing space!

85" TV

Screen Width: 74.1 inches

Screen Height: 41.7 inches

Screen Area: 3,087 sq inches

Recommended Distance: 10.5-17 feet

Best For: Dedicated home theaters, large open spaces

98" TV

Screen Width: 85.4 inches

Screen Height: 48.0 inches

Screen Area: 4,104 sq inches

Recommended Distance: 12.5-20 feet

Best For: Commercial spaces, dedicated home theaters

Read the video transcript
[00:00:00] An 85-in TV already feels pretty massive. But jumping to a 98 in TV, that's a much bigger leap than most people expect. So, let me show you what that looks like. So, we'll take our TV size calculator here, and we have 85 in and 98 in. And we're going to overlay them. Watch this. A 98 in TV is 33% more [00:00:23] screen area than an 85 in TV. And remember, that's 33% of an already huge television. That works out to over a,000 square in of additional viewing space. That's not a small upgrade. And hey, if you want more nononsense TV buying tips, subscribe to the channel. It helps us out to create more content like this. [00:00:44] So, once you get into sizes like 85 in, especially 98 in, these are big, heavy TVs, and I'd recommend professional delivery and installation. That's a really good idea. And always check the dimensions before you buy. You may need bigger furniture, stronger wall mount, or even more space on that wall than you [00:01:04] think. And you need to think about how close you're sitting to that TV. It's easy to get overwhelmed by these big TVs. We have a calculator on TVsimplified.com to help you check that out. So, I hope all of this helped and thanks for watching.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Forgetting about stand width: A 98" TV's feet can span well beyond the screen width. If your stand or furniture is too narrow, the feet will overhang or be unstable. Measure your stand's usable width before buying.

Ignoring the box size for transport: The packaging for a 98" TV is significantly larger than the screen itself and often too large for most vehicles. Measure your vehicle's opening before buying, or arrange for store delivery.

Underestimating viewing distance: Sitting too far away makes even a 98" feel small. A good rule of thumb is roughly 1.5× the diagonal — about 12.5 feet for a 98", 10.5 feet for a 85".

Not accounting for bezel and stand dimensions: The actual footprint with stand is larger than the screen alone. Measure height, depth, and leave 2–4 inches of ventilation clearance if placing in a cabinet or entertainment center.

Underestimating adaptation to larger screens: Many buyers report that a TV that feels "too big" at first quickly becomes normal, leading to regret for not going bigger. If both sizes fit your space and budget, choose the larger.

85 vs 98 Inch TV: Quick FAQ

How wide is a 98 inch TV?

About 85.4 inches wide (48 inches tall) for the viewable screen on a 16:9 TV. Overall width may be slightly more with the bezel.

How wide is a 85 inch TV?

About 74.1 inches wide (41.7 inches tall) for the viewable screen on a 16:9 TV. Overall width may be slightly more with the bezel.

Is a 98 inch TV too big for my room?

It depends on viewing distance. As a quick guide, ~1.5× the diagonal works well: ~12.5 feet for 98". If you sit much farther, consider going larger; much closer, consider 85".

Will a 98 inch TV fit on my old TV stand?

Check the stand width (feet span). Many 98" models use wide-set feet that need a wider surface than the screen width alone suggests.

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