Soundbar Sizes: Width, Height and Depth, and Which Fits Your TV
Soundbar dimensions decide three things: whether the bar looks right under your TV, whether it blocks the bottom of the screen, and whether it fits the shelf or cabinet you have in mind. Here are real sizes and how to check each.
Soundbars range from about 22 in (56 cm) wide for compact models to 46–51 in (117–130 cm) for flagship Dolby Atmos bars. Current models are 2.2–3 in (56–75 mm) tall and 3.7–5.4 in (94–138 mm) deep. A bar a little narrower than the TV, such as 40–50 in for a 65-inch set, looks best.
- Compact bars
- 22–26 in (56–65 cm)
- Full-size bars
- 41–51 in (104–130 cm)
- Typical height
- 2.2–3 in
- Typical depth
- 3.7–5.4 in
On this page
Soundbar dimensions by model
There is no standard soundbar size. Bars cluster into two groups: compact models of 22 to 26 in for smaller TVs and bedrooms, and full-size models of 41 to 51 in, which hold more drivers and usually support Dolby Atmos.
| Soundbar | Inches | Millimeters | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sonos Ray | 22.0 × 2.8 × 3.7 | 559 × 71 × 95 | 4.3 lb (1.95 kg) |
| Bose TV Speaker | 23.4 × 2.2 × 4.0 | 594 × 56 × 102 | n/a |
| Sonos Beam (Gen 2) | 25.6 × 2.7 × 3.9 | 651 × 69 × 100 | 6.2 lb (2.8 kg) |
| Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar | 41.1 × 2.3 × 4.2 | 1045 × 58 × 107 | 12.7 lb (5.75 kg) |
| Sony Bravia Theater Bar 8 | 43.3 × 2.5 × 4.4 | 1100 × 64 × 113 | n/a |
| Sonos Arc Ultra | 46.4 × 2.95 × 4.35 | 1178 × 75 × 111 | 13.0 lb (5.9 kg) |
| Samsung HW-Q990D | 48.5 × 2.7 × 5.4 | 1232 × 70 × 138 | 17.0 lb (7.7 kg) |
| Sony Bravia Theater Bar 9 | 51.2 × 2.5 × 4.4 | 1300 × 64 × 113 | n/a |
Height varies by about an inch across the whole range, from 2.2 in (Bose) to 2.95 in (Arc Ultra). Depth matters more than people expect: the Samsung Q990D is 5.4 in deep, which is more than some floating shelves and too deep for a narrow ledge in front of the TV's feet.
Soundbar size for your TV
Most people want the bar to be narrower than the TV, so it doesn't overhang the frame. The table gives each TV's approximate overall width (screen width plus a thin bezel) and the bar widths that fit beneath it.
| TV size | TV width (approx.) | Bars that fit without overhang | Proportionate choice |
|---|---|---|---|
| 43 in | 38 in (97 cm) | Up to about 37 in | Compact bar, 22–26 in |
| 50 in | 44 in (112 cm) | Up to about 43 in | 26–43 in |
| 55 in | 48.5 in (123 cm) | Up to about 48 in | 40–46 in |
| 65 in | 57 in (145 cm) | All models above | 41–51 in |
| 75 in | 66 in (168 cm) | All models above | 46–51 in |
| 85 in | 75 in (190 cm) | All models above | 48–51 in, or separate speakers |
Sound does not demand a wide bar. A wide bar can place left and right drivers farther apart, but modern bars use angled and up-firing drivers and processing to spread sound, and a 25 in Beam can fill a small room. The width choice is mostly about looks and the number of drivers you pay for. Under a 75 or 85-inch TV, even the widest bars cover only about 70 to 80% of the TV's width; that is normal and looks fine.
Will the soundbar block the TV screen?
This is the most common soundbar sizing problem. If the TV stands on its own feet on the same furniture, the gap between the furniture and the bottom of the screen has to be taller than the bar.
- Find the gap. Subtract the TV's height without stand from its height with stand. That is roughly the space under the panel. Samsung's 75-inch DU7200, for example, is 37.9 in tall alone and 39.6 in on its feet: a 1.7 in gap. Its feet have a raised position (40.6 in), which makes the gap 2.7 in.
- Compare with the bar height. A 2.3 in Bose Smart Ultra fits under that TV only in the raised position. A 2.95 in Arc Ultra does not fit under it at all.
- Check for a soundbar stand position. Some TVs have one for this reason. Sony's 85-inch Bravia 7 stands 1111 mm tall in the standard position and 1165 mm in the soundbar position, against a panel height of 1087 mm: the gap grows from 24 mm (0.9 in) to 78 mm (3.1 in), enough for Sony's own 64 mm tall bars.
- Otherwise, change the layout. Put the bar on a shelf below the TV, wall-mount the TV above the bar, or choose a TV with a center pedestal stand that leaves room in front.
A bar that sits right in front of the screen can block the TV's remote sensor, usually at the bottom edge. Bars with up-firing Atmos drivers (Arc Ultra, Q990D, Bose Smart Ultra) also need open space above them; under an overhanging shelf they lose most of the height effect.
Soundbar height and depth for shelves and cabinets
- Open shelf: the bar must sit at the front edge, not recessed, or the cabinet sides reflect and muffle the sound. Shelf depth needs to be at least the bar's depth, so 4 to 6 in for any model above.
- Shelf height: allow at least 2 in above the bar for Atmos models. For the Arc Ultra that is a 5 in opening; for compact bars, 3 to 4 in is enough.
- Width: add 2 in or more to the bar's width so side-firing drivers, such as those on the Arc Ultra, are not boxed in.
- On the TV stand: stand depth must cover the TV feet and the bar side by side if the bar goes in front, typically 16 to 18 in. The TV stand size guide gives console depths by TV size.
Wall-mounting a soundbar
Wall brackets add about 0.5 to 1 in behind the bar. Center the bar under the TV and leave 2 to 4 in (5–10 cm) between the TV's bottom edge and the top of the bar. For the TV itself, the same rules as any wall mount apply: the screen center near seated eye height, which puts the bar about 15 to 25 in above the floor below a 55 to 85-inch TV.
Plan the cables before drilling. Most bars connect to the TV through HDMI eARC, and an in-wall cable kit or a recessed outlet behind the TV keeps both runs out of sight.
Subwoofer and rear speaker sizes
Many bars ship with, or can add, a wireless subwoofer. Subwoofers are far bulkier than the bar and usually sit on the floor beside the sofa or the TV unit.
| Subwoofer | Size | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Sonos Sub Mini (cylinder) | 12.0 in tall × 9.1 in diameter (305 × 230 mm) | 14 lb (6.35 kg) |
| Sonos Sub 4 | 15.3 H × 15.8 W × 6.2 D in (389 × 402 × 158 mm) | 26 lb (11.8 kg) |
| Samsung HW-Q990D subwoofer | 8.7 in wide × about 16 in tall and deep (220 × 413 × 410 mm) | 25.8 lb (11.7 kg) |
The Sonos Sub 4 is slim enough (6.2 in) to stand on its edge behind a sofa or lie flat under one with about 7 in of clearance. Box-shaped subs like Samsung's need a floor footprint of about 9 × 16 in. Rear surround speakers are smaller, typically a few inches wide and 5 to 8 in tall, and mount on stands or wall brackets behind the seating.
Soundbar channel numbers and what they mean for size
A soundbar's channel count tells you roughly how many speaker groups it has, which drives its width.
- 2.0 or 2.1: left and right only, plus a subwoofer if the second number is 1. Usually compact bars of 22 to 36 in.
- 3.0 to 5.0: adds a center channel for dialogue, and sometimes side-firing drivers. Compact to mid-size bars.
- 5.1.2, 7.1.4, 11.1.4: the third number counts up-firing height channels for Dolby Atmos. These are the full-size 41 to 51 in bars, often sold with rear speakers and a sub (the Q990D is an 11.1.4 system).
For TV widths at every size, see the TV size chart; the screen size guide explains how screen width relates to the advertised diagonal.
Frequently asked questions
How tall is a soundbar?
Most current soundbars are 2.2 to 3 in (56–76 mm) tall. The Bose TV Speaker and Smart Ultra are about 2.2 to 2.3 in, Sony's Bravia Theater bars 2.5 in and the Sonos Arc Ultra 2.95 in. Older designs can be taller: the original Sonos Arc is 3.4 in (87 mm).
How wide should a soundbar be for a 55-inch TV?
A 55-inch TV is about 48.5 in wide, so a bar between 25 and 48 in fits under it without overhanging. Compact bars around 25 in work but look small; 40 to 46 in bars look proportionate.
Can a soundbar be wider than the TV?
It can, and it will work fine, but it usually looks odd and may not fit the TV furniture. A bar between roughly 60% and 100% of the TV's width looks proportionate. Under a 43 to 50-inch TV, a 46 in or wider bar overhangs the screen.
What are the dimensions of a soundbar subwoofer?
Wireless subwoofers are roughly 12 to 16 in tall. Sonos' Sub 4 is 15.3 × 15.8 × 6.2 in (389 × 402 × 158 mm) and 26 lb; the cylindrical Sub Mini is 12 in tall and 9.1 in across, at 14 lb. Samsung's Q990D sub is 8.7 in wide and about 16 in tall and 16 in deep.
How much space do you need between the TV and a soundbar on the wall?
Leave 2 to 4 in (5–10 cm) between the bottom of the TV and the top of the bar. That clears cables and lets an Atmos bar's up-firing drivers fire without the TV blocking them.