Can a sideboard be a TV stand?
Width: match the TV, not the diagonal
TV sizes are measured corner to corner. The width of the screen itself:
| TV size | Screen width | Screen height | Sideboard to pick |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32 in | about 27.9 in | about 15.7 in | The Slat Cabinet, 31.5 in |
| 43 in | about 37.5 in | about 21.1 in | a 48-55 in sideboard |
| 55 in | about 47.9 in | about 27.0 in | The Stars & Stripes Sideboard, 55.1 in |
| 65 in | about 56.7 in | about 31.9 in | The Fluted Noir Sideboard, 62.6 in, or The Rattan Credenza, 66.9 in |
| 75 in | about 65.4 in | about 36.8 in | a 67 in sideboard at the very least |
Also check the distance between the TV's feet on its spec sheet. Many TVs stand on two feet near the ends, and both feet have to sit fully on the top, with a little margin from each edge.
Height: the screen sits higher
A common rule of thumb puts the middle of the screen near seated eye level, roughly 40-42 in off the floor for most sofas. Our sideboards are 29.5-35.4 in tall, so the middle of the screen lands higher. Assuming the TV's feet lift it about 3 in:
- 29.5 in sideboard: a 55 in TV centers at about 46 in, a 65 in TV at about 48 in
- 31.5 in sideboard: about 48 in and 50 in
- 35.4 in sideboard: about 52 in and 54 in
So in a living room, pick the lowest sideboard that fits the width, here the 29.5 in fluted one. The taller ones work best where you watch from higher up or farther away: a dining table, a kitchen counter, or a bed.
Weight: look for a published top rating
Most 55-65 in TVs weigh well under 100 lb with their stand, and the exact figure is on the spec sheet. Compare it with the sideboard's top rating. Among ours, the 55 in carved flag sideboard lists 180 lb for the top and the 31.5 in slatted cabinet lists 110 lb. The 62.6 in fluted and 66.9 in rattan sideboards are sold as TV consoles too, but their maker does not publish a top rating, so for a big TV ask first or mount the TV on the wall.
Anchor both pieces
A TV on a tall cabinet is top-heavy. All four sideboards here ship with an anti-tip kit or a wall anchor: use it, and strap the TV itself to the wall or the cabinet as well. This matters most in homes with children or with pets that jump on furniture.
Cables and devices
None of these sideboards lists a cable cut-out, so plan to run cables down the back or the side, or drill a hole in the back panel yourself. A streaming box or game console needs air: the 31.5 in cabinet has slatted doors that vent the inside, while solid doors are better left open while a console runs.
What it costs in 2026
Price bands from Amazon listings with 10 or more reviews, checked in October 2026:
- Small cabinets and cupboards: $90-120
- 48-63 in sideboards: $150-230
- 66-71 in sideboards: $219.99-299.99
- Plain 55-63 in TV stands: $47-130
A plain TV stand costs less. A sideboard is worth it when you want closed storage, or when the same piece has to work as a buffet later.
Our picks
- The Fluted Noir Sideboard - 62.6 x 15.6 x 29.5 in, the lowest here, push-to-open fluted doors, for a 65 in TV, $221.99
- The Rattan Credenza - 66.9 x 15.75 x 31.5 in, four rattan doors, room for a 65 in TV, $247.99
- The Stars & Stripes Sideboard - 55.1 x 15.7 x 35.4 in, top rated 180 lb, for a 55 in TV, $224.99
- The Slat Cabinet - 31.5 x 15 x 30.7 in, slatted doors, top rated 110 lb, for a small TV, $111.99
