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Outdoor TVs: Weatherproof Entertainment for Your Patio, Pool, or Backyard
An outdoor TV is a television built specifically to handle rain, humidity, temperature swings, and direct sunlight, conditions that would ruin a standard indoor TV within weeks. Unlike an indoor television, an outdoor TV uses a sealed, corrosion-resistant housing to keep moisture and debris out, along with a brighter screen and anti-glare coatings to stay watchable in daylight. Outdoor televisions turn your patio, pool area, or backyard into a real entertainment destination, built for life outside.
Outdoor TV vs. Indoor TV: What's Actually Different
An indoor TV isn't designed to handle moisture, dust, insects, or temperature extremes, and manufacturers explicitly warn against using one outdoors since it can void the warranty and lead to real damage over time. An outdoor TV solves this with a sealed housing, weatherproof components, and a brighter display, some models are built to handle temperatures as low as -22°F and as high as 122°F, well beyond what a standard TV can tolerate. Outdoor screens are also considerably brighter than indoor models, with some outdoor-rated displays reaching up to 3 times the brightness to stay visible in daylight.
Choosing the Right TV for Your Sun Exposure
Where you plan to install your TV determines which type you need, and getting this wrong can significantly shorten its lifespan.
- Full Sun: Built for direct, uncovered sunlight exposure, full sun TVs use the brightest screens available along with anti-glare coatings and additional protection against heat and moisture.
- Partial Sun: Designed for covered spaces like a patio, pergola, or gazebo with only partial, indirect exposure to the elements. Partial sun models are weatherproofed internally but still need to be installed under some form of cover, not simply in dappled shade from trees.
- Shade: Built for fully covered spaces like a screened porch or covered patio with no direct sunlight. Shade TVs prioritize moisture resistance and offer a cost-effective option, but their screens aren't calibrated for sunlight and shouldn't be installed anywhere with direct exposure.
Choosing the Right Size and Features
To find the right size, measure your typical viewing distance in inches and divide by 1.5. If you'll be watching from about 8 feet away (96 inches), that works out to a 60 to 65 inch screen. Remember, TVs are always measured diagonally, corner to corner. Once you've settled on a size, decide between a smart TV or a standard model. Most outdoor TVs today come as smart TVs with built-in Wi-Fi, letting you stream directly without a separate box or extra cables. Standard outdoor TVs skip the internet connectivity but still connect to your existing cable or satellite service, and can support external streaming devices if you want one later.
Outdoor TV Brands to Know
- SunBriteTV: Purpose-built for the outdoors from the ground up rather than adapted from an indoor design, with the longest track record in the outdoor TV category.
- Samsung: Brings The Terrace lineup, using Samsung's Neo QLED technology in a design engineered specifically for full sun and partial sun installations.
- Titan: The widest range of any brand in the lineup, spanning covered patio, partial sun, and full sun models across multiple series and screen technologies.
Setting Up Your Outdoor TV
Outdoor TVs mount just like indoor models using the standard VESA pattern, though a few things matter more outside. Always keep your TV away from direct heat sources like grills, patio heaters, and fireplaces, which can warp the screen or damage internal components, and bring in a contractor if you need to run power or make an indoor connection. Mounting is a two-person job, with wall, ceiling, articulating, and pole mounts available depending on your space and how much flexibility you want in viewing angle. Once your TV is up, an outdoor soundbar helps your audio compete with wind and open air since built-in speakers often aren't enough outside, and a protective cover adds an extra layer of defense against the elements when it's not in use.
Talk to a BBQGuys Expert About Outdoor TVs
Read our outdoor TV buying guide for a deeper dive into sizing, brightness, and sun exposure, browse our Outdoor TV FAQ for answers to more specific questions, or check out our outdoor TV mounting guide before you install. Call one of our experts at 1-877-743-2269, available daily to help you find the right outdoor TV for your backyard.
