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Nearly Half of TV Shoppers Want a TV Bigger Than 65 Inches

CNET's survey found that, if money's no object, Americans crave huge screens.

Headshot of David Katzmaier
Headshot of David Katzmaier
David Katzmaier Editor in Chief
David leads the editorial team at CNET. We create expert reviews, articles and video on every aspect of technology, from AI to Zoox. We are thoroughly, proudly human.
Expertise A 25-year CNET veteran, David has been reviewing TVs since the days of CRT, rear-projection and plasma. He created CNET's methodology for testing TVs, streaming services and AI tools. Prior to CNET he wrote for Sound & Vision magazine and eTown.com. Credentials
  • Although still awaiting his Oscar for Best Picture Reviewer, David does hold certifications from the Imaging Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Standards and Technology on display calibration and evaluation.
David Katzmaier
2 min read
Man next to television

Lots of people would a want 100 inch or larger TV, like this 115-inch TCL, in their homes.

 David Katzmaier/CNET

If you want a gigantic TV, you're not alone. Huge TVs are getting less expensive and more popular every year, and our appetite for those massive screens is growing too.

A new survey by CNET and YouGov found that the 65-inch screen size is the most desirable, but if money were not an issue, 43% of respondents would want a TV that's even bigger. Nearly a third (30%) want a TV in the 75- or 85-inch size range, while a sizable number – 13% – want a TV 100 inches or larger.

I've been reviewing TVs for more than 25 years, and frankly I'm not surprised that people want bigger screens. Huge images in the home are really impressive, capturing a bit of the magic of a movie theater. What raised my eyebrows about these results is just how big folks are willing to go. A 100-inch or larger TV is incredibly big and bulky, making it unsuitable for medium-sized rooms and apartments, and can dominate a living space even when it's turned off.

On the other hand, lots of respondents said that they wanted 55-inch or smaller TVs too. Here are the full results of our size question.

Unfortunately, money is an object, so we also surveyed how much people are willing to spend on their next TV. Only 5% of consumers are willing to pay $2,000 or more, and 73% aren't willing to pay more than $1,000.

I was also interested to see that a hefty 40% wanted to spend under $500 on their next TV and that 8% didn't want a new TV in their houses at all.

For folks with a limited budget who want large screens, today's TV market has plenty of options. Numerous 75- and 85-inch TVs can be found for less than $1,000, especially during sales – for example, in the run-up to the Super Bowl in a couple of weeks. These models might not have the best image quality in our comparison reviews, but they're likely good enough for a lot of viewers who prioritize size.

Other takeaways from the survey include:

  • Millennials are the most interested in large TVs, with 10% of millennial respondents saying they would opt for a TV of more than 100 inches if money were not an issue.
  • 25% of Millennials would be willing to spend over $1,000 on their next TV, compared to 15% of Boomers.
  • New TVs are desirable across all income levels. Even among the lowest-income respondents, 90% were still willing to spend money on a new TV.

Methodology

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 1,186 adults, of which 1,141 would put a TV in their house. Fieldwork was undertaken Dec. 16-17, 2024. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all US adults (aged 18-plus).