How Deep Should a TV Lowboard Be? Dimensions Guide

July 23, 2026

The ideal depth for a TV lowboard is between 35 cm and 50 cm, depending on the footprint of the television stand, the audio-visual components used, and the size of the room.

Determining the Right Depth for a TV Lowboard

When planning a living room layout, DIY enthusiasts are inevitably faced with finding the correct furniture dimensions. In most cases, a lowboard serves as the base for home entertainment electronics. The depth of this furniture unit determines whether devices stand securely, cabling remains hidden, and the room proportions look balanced. A lowboard is like the foundation of a house – if planned too narrow, the entire setup can literally become unstable.

Choosing the correct dimensions requires precise measurement of your existing equipment and consideration of walkways throughout the room.

Standard Dimensions and Room Suitability

Living room furniture is manufactured in various standard depths. These are based on standard electronic device sizes and typical room layouts.

Under 35 cm: These very slim designs are primarily suitable for rooms with limited space. They are often used when the television is mounted directly on the wall with a bracket and the furniture unit only holds small media players or decorative items. Similar to a chest of drawers with a depth of 30 cm or a chest of drawers with a depth of 35 cm, space saving is the main priority here.
35 cm to 45 cm: This is the most common dimension for TV lowboards and TV benches. Stand feet for most modern flat-screen televisions find a secure base within this range. Standard receivers and games consoles can also be accommodated without issue, while leaving sufficient space at the back for cable routing. Those seeking similar proportions for other living areas often opt for a chest of drawers with a depth of 40 cm or a chest of drawers with a depth of 45 cm.
Over 45 cm: Deep lowboards from 50 cm upwards are designed for home cinema enthusiasts. Large AV receivers require significantly more standing surface due to their casing design and the bulky cable looms at the rear.

Criteria for Choosing Lowboard Depth

To avoid purchasing mistakes, three key aspects should be measured before selecting the unit.

1. The Television Stand Feet

Modern TV sets often feature two wide-set V-shaped feet or a central, flat base pedestal. Measure the exact depth of these feet. The lowboard must be at least 5 cm deeper than the TV footprint to prevent accidental tipping if bumped.

2. Hi-Fi Components and Cabling

A frequent planning error is forgetting the connector plugs. An AV receiver might measure 35 cm deep on paper. However, factoring in the front volume dial and rigid HDMI and speaker cables at the rear, a realistic surface depth of 42 cm to 45 cm is often required. When assembling, check whether the furniture back panel includes a cable grommet or if you need to cut one yourself with a hole saw.

3. Room Walkways

The depth of the lowboard directly affects the usable area of the living room. At least 80 cm of clearance should remain between the TV unit and the coffee table or seating area.

Materials, Assembly, and Tools

Self-assembly TV furniture is usually made from chipboard or MDF, finished with a hard-wearing melamine resin coating or decorative foil. Assembly requires precision, as the furniture is subject to static loads from the weight of the television.

Assembly typically uses cam lock connectors and wooden dowels. If the lowboard features doors, these are generally attached to the cabinet body using a concealed cup hinge. Drawers operate on runners, where full extension runners provide access to the entire drawer interior.

Tools required for assembly:

Cordless screwdriver with matching bits (usually PZ2 or PH2)
Wooden mallet (for wooden dowels)
Spirit level (for precise alignment, especially important for wall-mounted units)
Tape measure or folding ruler

Solutions for Narrow and Wide Rooms

The depth of a lowboard must always be viewed in proportion to its width. A very long but shallow piece of furniture visually stretches the room, whereas a deep, short unit can look bulky.

For smaller wall sections, compact dimensions like a lowboard 140 cm or a lowboard 160cm are ideal. For medium-sized living rooms, a lowboard 180cm offers a good balance between storage capacity and space requirements.

Those with a large, continuous wall and a TV measuring 65 inches or larger should look towards extensive models such as a lowboard 220 cm or even a lowboard 250 cm. Visually, these large surfaces can be softened by the choice of finish. A lowboard in concrete effect brings an industrial character to the room, whilst a TV lowboard in beige creates a calmer, warmer atmosphere.

Related Room Concepts and Slim Furniture

The challenge of choosing the correct furniture depth is not limited to the living room. In hallways or bathrooms, space is often even tighter. Here, specialised dimensions are used to guarantee full functionality within minimal floor space. A bathroom cabinet depth 20 cm or even a bathroom cabinet depth 15 cm makes efficient use of recesses without restricting movement in front of the washbasin. The mechanical principles of assembly, however, remain identical to larger living room furniture.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How deep does a lowboard need to be for an AV receiver? Due to casing depth and rear cable connections, a standard AV receiver requires a lowboard with a minimum depth of 45 cm. For units with a solid back panel, a cut-out may be necessary to prevent heat build-up and provide clearance for rigid cables.

Can the television overhang the lowboard? The screen itself may extend beyond the edges of the lowboard. However, the television stand feet must rest entirely on the top panel, maintaining a safety margin of at least 2 cm to 3 cm from all edges.

How much clearance from the wall does a lowboard require? When the lowboard stands on the floor, skirting boards typically dictate the wall clearance (usually 1.5 cm to 2 cm). This gap is generally sufficient to run cables from devices down to the wall socket. Wall-hung lowboards are mounted flush; here, cable management is routed entirely inside the cabinet carcass or through recessed in-wall conduit channels.