Different Size Screens: What Audience Size Are They Best For?

Choosing the right screen size can make or break visibility in a meeting room, conference, or live event. Below is a practical guide for LCD Screen Hire (32″–86″) with typical audience sizes and recommended viewing distances. We’ll also cover how to use relay screens alongside LED videowalls and projection for bigger rooms.

The quick answer (LCD 32″–86″)

How to read the table:

• Detailed text (6H) = spreadsheets, fine text.

• Presentations (8H) = slides with typical fonts/graphs.

• Video (10H) = video or big, bold content.

• Distances are approx max viewing distance from the screen.

*Typical audience size assumes conventional slide decks and standard room lighting. If your content is dense (lots of small text), pick the next size up—or add relay screens.

Rule of thumb: If the furthest participant sits beyond the “Presentations (8H)” distance, go bigger or add relay screens.

When to use each size

• Small meeting rooms (up to ~10 people): 40″–50″
  Great for Meeting room updates and huddle spaces.

• Boardrooms / workshops (10–20): 55″–65″
  Ideal for Conference equipment setups with varied content.

• Breakouts and medium sessions (20–40): 65″–75″
  Solid for Event AV tracks and town-hall side rooms.

• Large rooms & small stages (40–60): 85–86″
  Works as a main display for compact theatres—or as Relay Screens further back in bigger spaces.

Relay screens: the secret to bigger rooms

If you’re using LED videowalls or projection for the main stage, add Large Screen LCDs as Relay Screens so everyone catches detail without squinting.

Where to place them

• Sightline islands: Drop a 65″–86″ halfway back on tall stands to cover rear seating.

• Wide rooms: One relay per block (left/middle/right), angled toward each seating bay.

• Overflow / corridors: 43″–55″ outside doors for latecomers or networking areas.

Signal tips for smooth results

• Use a distribution amp or matrix to feed identical content to all screens.

• Keep latency consistent across relays so slides and audio feel in sync.

• For very long cable runs, use SDI or HDBaseT with quality cabling.

LCD vs Projection vs LED videowall

• LCD Screens (32″–86″)
  Fast to deploy, bright in ambient light, perfect for Event Screens and Meeting room hire. Add wheels/stands for flexible placement.

• Projection
  Best value for big images on stages and plenaries. Works brilliantly once lights are managed. Consider a confidence monitor (50″–65″) at stage front.

• LED videowall
  Superb impact in high ambient light and wide rooms. Add LCD Relay Screens deep in the audience for text-heavy slides.

Five quick planning checkpoints

1. Furthest seat distance: Is it inside the “8H” number for your screen size?

2. Content density: Lots of small text? Choose the next screen size up.

3. Ambient light: Bright rooms favour larger LCDs or LED; dim for projection.

4. Room width: Wide rooms often need left/right Relay Screens.

5. Accessibility: Ensure subtitles and charts are readable from all seats.

Ready to spec your room?

Tell us your room dimensions, seating layout, content type (slides/video/spreadsheets), and expected headcount—we’ll recommend the right mix of Event Screens and relay display positions.