TV Stand vs Entertainment Center: Differences, Sizes and Which Fits Your Room

Short answer: a TV stand (also sold as a media console or TV console) is a single low piece, usually 10 to 25 inches tall, that holds the TV on top with drawers, doors or shelves underneath. An entertainment center is a larger, often multi-piece unit, typically 67 to 85 inches tall, that surrounds the TV with towers, a bridge or a hutch for far more storage. Pick a TV stand for smaller rooms, big screens and flexibility; pick an entertainment center when you need a lot of storage and want the TV wall to be the room's focal point.

This guide is for anyone deciding between the two for a living room, bedroom or media room. It defines each term, compares real dimensions and storage from the FUFU&GAGA range, and matches each type to the rooms it suits. You can see both formats side by side in our TV stands and entertainment centers collection.

TV Stand vs Media Console vs TV Console vs Entertainment Center

Retailers use these names loosely, which is why the proper name for a TV stand can be confusing. Here is how the terms are generally used:

• TV stand: the umbrella term for any piece of furniture designed to hold a television. It can be a simple open frame, a TV bench or a cabinet.
• Media console: a long, low TV stand with closed storage, such as cabinets and drawers, for media equipment like a cable box, AV receiver and gaming consoles. Most modern TV stands are media consoles.
• TV console: practically the same thing as a media console. Other names include TV unit, TV cabinet and media stand.
• Entertainment center: a larger piece or set of pieces built around the TV, with side towers, a bridge over the screen or a hutch on top. Also called a media center or wall unit.

The line between a console and a credenza or sideboard is blurry too; our article on media console vs. credenza covers that comparison.

Key Differences at a Glance

The main difference is that a TV stand sits under the TV, while an entertainment center surrounds it. The figures below come from the specs of FUFU&GAGA TV stands and entertainment centers.

Feature	TV stand / media console	Entertainment center
Height	Mostly 10–25" (floating units 6–10")	About 67–85"
Width	About 59–134"	About 81–126"
Depth	Mostly 11–16"	About 12–17"
Furniture weight	About 55–150 lb	About 145–300 lb
TV size limit	Set by top width; listed up to 88"	Set by the TV opening; listed 55–75"
Storage	Drawers, 1–4 cabinets, open shelves	4–6 cabinets plus open display shelves above and beside the TV
Pieces	One piece	One to four pieces
Moving and rearranging	Easy with one or two people	Harder; multi-piece units come apart
Visual effect	Low, open, minimalist	A stylish centerpiece that fills the wall

What Is a TV Stand?

A TV stand is a compact piece of furniture designed to put the screen at a comfortable viewing height while hiding devices and cables. Because it is low, it works with any TV size up to the width of its top, and it leaves the wall above free for art, a soundbar or a wall mounted TV.

Key Features of a TV Stand

• Low profile: most media consoles are 15 to 22 inches tall, which suits large TVs. See the formula in our TV stand size chart.
• Storage options: drawers, closed cabinets and open shelves for a cable box, streaming devices and game controllers.
• Cable management: rear cut-outs and routing holes keep wires out of sight.
• Styles: tapered legs, flat fronts, slatted or fluted doors, high gloss and natural wood.

The 78.7" Scandinavian natural TV stand media console with 4 drawers is a typical example: 15.7 inches tall and 15.6 inches deep, rated for TVs up to 75 inches.

Pros and Cons of a TV Stand

• Pros: fits big TVs, easy to move, suits small spaces and renters, often more affordable, pairs well with a wall-mounted TV.
• Cons: basic storage for a few devices; limited display space for books and decor.

What Is an Entertainment Center?

An entertainment center frames the television with storage on the sides and above. Entertainment centers provide extensive storage for media collections, books and multiple devices, and they turn the TV wall into a single built-in looking feature. Common types include one-piece wall units, three- and four-piece sets with a center TV stand and side towers, TV hutches with an overhead bridge, corner units and models with an electric fireplace.

Key Features of an Entertainment Center

• Multiple shelves and closed cabinets: the 92.7" oak and black entertainment center with overhead cabinets has six cabinets across three pieces and stands 80.1 inches tall.
• Display space: open shelves for decorative items, framed photos and collections.
• Load capacity: ratings are spread across the whole unit. The 81" white entertainment center with 4-door storage lists 500 lb in total.
• Room-filling width: the 126" mid-century entertainment center covers more than 10 feet of wall space.

Pros and Cons of an Entertainment Center

• Pros: the most storage capacity, a strong focal point, hides cables and clutter behind closed doors, and gives a cohesive look to the TV wall.
• Cons: the TV opening limits screen size; needs more floor space and wall space; heavier to assemble and move; can dominate smaller living rooms.

How Much Bigger Should an Entertainment Center Be Than the TV?

For an entertainment center, the key measurement is the TV opening, not the overall width. The TV body (about 0.87 times the screen diagonal) should fit inside the opening with at least 1 to 2 inches on each side for airflow and cables. The three-piece unit above has a 69.1-inch opening and is rated for TVs up to 75 inches, whose bodies are about 65 to 66 inches wide. Several entertainment centers and hutches in our range are rated for TVs up to 55 inches. If you plan to upgrade to a larger TV in the next few years, a TV stand is the safer choice, because its open top does not cap the screen size.

Which One Fits Your Room?

Small Rooms and Apartments

A TV stand is the better fit for smaller living rooms. A low console or a floating TV stand keeps sightlines open, lets natural light reach the room and uses less floor space. The 63" floating TV stand with LED lights and 3 drawers is 9.8 inches tall and mounts to the wall, ideal for minimalist spaces with a wall mounted TV above.

Large Living Rooms and Open-Plan Spaces

In a large room, a small console can look lost on a long wall. Choose either a long media console of 94 inches or more, or an entertainment center that fills 8 to 10 feet of wall width and gives the room a clear focal point.

Media Rooms and Movie Nights

If you have an AV receiver, several gaming consoles, sound systems and a media collection, an entertainment center keeps everything organized behind closed cabinets. Check that cabinet depth fits your receiver plus cables, and look for vented backs. Some entertainment centers add an electric fireplace for cozy movie nights; read our electric fireplace TV stand safety guide first.

Bedrooms

Bedrooms usually call for a TV stand. Choose a slightly taller one if you watch from bed, or a TV lift cabinet that hides the screen when you are not watching, such as the 63" TV stand dresser with hidden TV lift, which doubles as a dresser with 9 drawers.

Renters and Frequent Movers

A freestanding TV stand is easier to move and rearrange and needs no large wall installation. Even so, plan to anchor it with a small wall strap, especially with kids at home.

Do People Still Use TV Stands?

Yes. Even with more wall mounted TVs, most homes still need somewhere to put the cable box, streaming devices, soundbar and gaming consoles, and a low media console under the TV is the most common answer. Entertainment centers have also returned in a slimmer, modular form, with open shelving, flat fronts and natural wood rather than the bulky oak wall units of the 1990s.

Wall Mount, TV Stand or Entertainment Center?

• Mount the TV and add a TV stand when you want the cleanest look and full control of screen height. A low console below holds devices and hides cables. For floating units, see the exact height to hang floating TV stands.
• Put the TV on a stand when you rent, change rooms often or cannot drill into the wall, and when you want to keep the option of a bigger TV.
• Choose an entertainment center when storage needs come first and the TV size you want fits the opening.

Safety for Tall Units

Tall, heavy entertainment centers and the TVs on them must be anchored. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends anchoring TVs and furniture such as bookcases securely to the wall and keeping heavier items on lower shelves (CPSC). The Anchor It! site shows how to install a wall strap. Also check weight capacity for your full setup with our TV stand weight capacity guide.

The Verdict

Choose a TV stand or media console if you have a big or growing TV, a small or medium room, a wall-mounted TV, or a tight budget. Choose an entertainment center if you need extra storage, want a display space for books and decor, and have a wide wall in a large room. Either way, measure your wall width, TV width and devices before you shop, then compare both formats in the FUFU&GAGA TV stand and entertainment center collection.

FAQ

What is the proper name for a TV stand?

"TV stand" is the general term. Low cabinets with closed storage are usually called media consoles or TV consoles, and you will also see TV unit, TV cabinet and media stand. Larger units around the TV are entertainment centers or wall units.

Is a media console the same as a TV stand?

A media console is a type of TV stand: long, low and built with cabinets or drawers for media equipment. All media consoles are TV stands, but a simple open TV stand is not a media console.

Can a TV be bigger than the entertainment center opening?

No. The TV body must fit inside the opening, ideally with 1 to 2 inches on each side. If your TV is wider, choose a TV stand, whose open top allows a larger screen.

Is an entertainment center a dated look?

Not in its current form. Modern entertainment centers use slimmer frames, open shelves, flat fronts and natural wood. Bulky closed wall units with a boxed-in TV opening read as more dated.