Size Matters: Meeting Room Displays

Your Display’s Purpose and Size Matters

Knowing the purpose of your boardroom and the type of content that will be displayed on the screen is crucial in determining the perfect size of the display. For instance, design companies often display high-resolution images and videos, while architecture firms usually use AutoCad. The amount of detail displayed varies depending on the application, hence the need for different factors when deciding on the screen size (4 for AutoCad, 6 for PowerPoint, and 8 for vid.

Excel and PowerPoint, given their widespread use, are the most commonly displayed applications in about 90% of boardrooms and conference rooms. We thus cater to the application with the least amount of detail, which in this case, is Excel. The factor used for this application is 5.

This factor helps us determine the appropriate screen size for all room types. The calculation involves dividing the distance of the furthest viewer by this factor to determine the ideal screen height. For instance, if the viewer is situated 8 meters away, the optimal screen height would be 1.6 meters (or a 120″ diagonal).

Don’t Overlook the Ceiling Height

The height of the ceiling is another factor that could significantly influence the choice of the screen size. The standard suspended ceiling height in most offices is about 2.8m, while the average seated person’s eye height is roughly 1.20m from the ground. This leaves us with a vertical space of 160cm to install the screen.

It’s also essential to consider the room’s layout and the number of people who will be seated in it. For example, a classroom-style layout could make it difficult for some people to see the screen if it is installed too low. Therefore, the bottom of the screen should ideally be at a height of 1.25m from the floor, accommodating the maximum screen size of a 120″ screen. For larger venues, if more substantial displays are needed, distributing the video through additional projections or LCD displays throughout the room could be a practical solution to prevent obstructed views.

So, Should You Install a 55″ LCD Display?

Some clients often propose to install a 55″ LCD display in their boardrooms, assuming it would suffice. But is this always the best solution?

One of the reasons why clients prefer LCD displays is because they’re brighter than projectors, have a lower cost of ownership as no lamps need to be replaced (unless you have a laser projector), and are seemingly cheaper. However, this isn’t entirely accurate. While LCD displays may surpass projectors in some aspects, an appropriately sized LCD display can cost at least three times more than a projection solution of the same size.

The current sweet spot for cost versus screen size for an LCD display is at the 65″ mark. Anything larger becomes significantly more expensive, unless the cost of a Consumer television is being compared to that of a business projector. But, comparing Consumer Televisions and Professional Displays isn’t an apples-to-apples comparison, and for this, we recommend our detailed article discussing the differences between Consumer Televisions vs Professional Displays.

Choosing the Ideal Screen Size

In a typical boardroom seating arrangement, the distance between chairs would be approximately 800mm. Based on this, the following is merely a rough estimate based on the size of the boardroom and the distance of the furthest viewer using a factor of 5:

• Huddle rooms (4 seats or less): Furthest Viewer 2.4m away, screen height 480mm – 40″ Image
• Huddle rooms (6 seats or less): Furthest Viewer 3.4m away, screen height 680mm – 55″ Image
• Meeting Room (8 seats or less): Furthest Viewer 4.2m away, screen height 840mm – 65″ Image
• Meeting Room (10 seats or less): Furthest Viewer 5.6m away, screen height 1000mm – 90″ Image (Projection becomes a more viable option here)
• Meeting Room (12 seats or less): Furthest Viewer 7m away, screen height 1388mm – 100″ Image
• Boardroom (14 seats or less): Furthest Viewer 8m away, screen height 1600mm – 120″ Image

We hope this detailed guide provides insight into some of the critical factors you need to consider when choosing an appropriate screen solution for your boardroom. At PTS Managed Services, we aim to help our clients make informed decisions that satisfy their unique needs.

Don’t hesitate to delve deeper into our blog for more insightful articles, or contact us to speak with one of our experts. Let us help you create the perfect audio-visual setup that will elevate your presentations and meetings to a new level of clarity and engagement.