Should your tv stand be wider than your tv

Our 8 year old, 50-inch plasma TV died this weekend, and we are shopping for a new one. The 50-incher (that's the diagonal measurement) was sitting on top of a 60-inch console. The console is part of a "media center" set that we bought last year on closeout at Crate and Barrel, so it's not going to be replaced.

We want to go bigger with the new TV. I know a lot of folks on this forum are not into very visible big screen TVs, but we are huge sports fans and enjoy having parties themed around sports events. So we want to go as big as makes sense for the space that we have (at a price point that works for us). We are looking at 60, 65, 70, or even 75 inches (did I mention we are huge sports fans? I am already excited for the Super Bowl and sad that we won't have it in time for tomorrow's Wimbledon men's final).

All of the guidance I've seen for what size TV stand or console to get seems to be centered around furniture that actually holds the TV. It makes sense to me that if the TV is sitting on the stand, the stand has to be wider than the TV. I also would imagine that it's more visually appealing, even with a wall-hung TV, to have the stand be wider than the TV. But is it absolutely necessary? Would it look terrible to have a TV on the wall that is about 2-3 inches wider on each side beyond the edge of the console? We have shelves to either side of the console, but there is open wall space in between, so we have room to play with.

I'm planning to play around with butcher paper taped on the wall but wanted to see if anyone could point me to some rules of thumb. Guidance appreciated. Thank you!

Whether you have just purchased a new TV or are moving your old TV onto a new entertainment center, how well your TV fits on top of a stand is one of the most important things to pay attention to.

It is generally recommended that your stand be larger than your TV. Although, it is still possible to safely place a TV on top of a stand that is too small, just as long as you evaluate how sturdy it is from all angles first.

Table of Contents

• Safety Considerations
• Can You Put a Bigger TV on a Smaller Stand?
  • Weight
  • Width
  • Placement in the Room
• What Are Some Alternatives?

Safety Considerations

First and foremost, any heavy piece of furniture has the potential to fall over if it is not properly mounted or secured. This includes TVs that are placed atop stands that are too small to support their weight.

If a TV is not mounted and secured as recommended and it falls, it can easily injure your pets, your kids, or yourself. It can also permanently ruin the TV and your floor.

Just as dangerous is placing a TV that is too heavy on top of a stand that is not made to support that much weight. Your stand could break and your TV could fall, leading to the same issues described above.

Can You Put a Bigger TV on a Smaller Stand?

So, can a TV be bigger than the stand? Unfortunately, there is no straightforward answer to this question.

While it is completely possible to put a larger TV on a smaller stand, three important factors that need to be determined are weight, width, and placement in the room.

Weight

This is by and large the most important factor when determining if a certain stand can fit a certain TV. The stand you choose needs to be able to safely withstand the entire weight of your TV with some room to spare.

Every piece of furniture has a weight limit that the manufacturer sets. This is to inform the consumer about the maximum amount of weight that can be safely placed before damage or injury occurs.

Failure to pay attention to the weight limit of your stand is a recipe for disaster. If the TV comes crashing down, you have not only ruined two pieces of furniture but potentially hurt yourself or somebody else in the process.

Do some research to determine the weight of your TV and the weight limit of the stand. If you’re unsure how much weight your furniture can hold, research comparable items and use your best judgment.

When in doubt, do not place your TV on top of it.

Width

It is not necessarily a problem if your TV is wider than your stand. Because tube TVs are rarely made anymore, flat-screen TV’s being wider than the stand they are on is actually quite common.

The biggest problem would arise if the stand is exceptionally narrow when compared to the width of the TV. If the sides of the TV stick out too far, it could be easy for it to tip to one side or the other, and even get knocked over by accident by somebody walking by.

Even if the weight limits are checked and deemed to be safe, a TV that is way too wide for a stand may require you to consider other options.

Placement in the Room

After you’ve checked the weight limits on your furniture and determined that the width of the TV is not an issue, the last factor to consider is where you are going to place it in the room.

Putting a TV with its back towards a wall is the safest option, just as long as the sides of the TV do not obstruct anything you may need access to, like hallways, corners, and windows.

If you plan to place your TV in a more central area of the room, you may want to reconsider, especially if it is too wide for the stand. Not only can it get knocked over from the front or the back, but it can be accidentally hit while someone is walking through.

What Are Some Alternatives?

If you still don’t feel comfortable placing your TV on a stand that is smaller, consider mounting it to the wall instead. This removes the need for a stand altogether.

Alternatively, you can just purchase a stand that would fit your TV safely or, as a last resort, place your TV on the ground for the time being.

Final Thoughts

Not only can an improperly placed TV look unappealing, it can also be a safety hazard in the home. Fortunately, there is a way to properly and safely place a larger TV on a smaller stand, so long as you take the important factors of weight, width, and placement into consideration.

How much bigger should your TV stand be than your TV?

How wide should a TV stand be for a 65 inch TV?

How should a TV fit on a TV stand?