Screen Tools

Screen Size Calculator

Enter a diagonal, width, or height plus the aspect ratio to get every display dimension — in inches, cm, mm, feet, and meters.

All calculations run locally in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.

Selecting a resolution automatically sets its aspect ratio.

Custom aspect ratio (W : H)
:

Pick a resolution or aspect ratio, enter the diagonal you know, and press Calculate.

How to use

  1. Preset aspect ratio: pick a common shape such as 16:9 (most TVs and monitors) or 4:3 (older displays) — this tells the calculator the proportions of your screen.
  2. Predefined resolution: if you know the resolution (Full HD 1920×1080, 4K 3840×2160, etc.), select it and the matching aspect ratio is set automatically. PPI is then computed too.
  3. Custom aspect ratio: type the width and height numbers directly if your screen uses a ratio that is not in the presets.
  4. Known measurement: enter the one number you have — diagonal, width, or height — choose its unit (inches, cm, or mm), and select the matching "Calculate from" option.
  5. Press Calculate (or Reset to return to the default 27-inch, 16:9 screen). The results show every dimension in inches and centimeters, screen area, a shape diagram, an area comparison with common screens, and a full conversion table.

Screen size calculator: understanding display dimensions

When you shop for a TV, monitor, or laptop, the screen size is advertised as a diagonal measurement — a “55-inch TV” or a “27-inch monitor”. That single number does not tell you the actual width and height of the display. Those depend on the screen's aspect ratio, the shape of the rectangle. A 55-inch 16:9 TV and a 55-inch 21:9 ultrawide monitor end up with very different widths, heights, and total viewing areas.

What is aspect ratio? The aspect ratio describes the shape of a screen: 16:9 means the screen is 16 units wide for every 9 units tall. It is the most common ratio today, used by 4K TVs, Full HD monitors, and most laptops. Older TVs and some tablets use 4:3, which is closer to a square. Ultrawide monitors use 21:9 or even 32:9 for a much wider field of view, while 3:2 (Surface-style panels) and 16:10 (productivity laptops) sit somewhere in between.

How the dimensions are calculated. Diagonal, width, and height form a right triangle, so the Pythagorean theorem connects them. Given a ratio w:h and the diagonal:

  • Width = Diagonal × (w ÷ √(w² + h²))
  • Height = Diagonal × (h ÷ √(w² + h²))
  • Screen area = Width × Height

Two screens with the same diagonal but different ratios therefore have different widths, heights, and areas — a 55-inch 16:9 panel has roughly 1,292 square inches of viewing area, while a 55-inch 4:3 display offers about 1,452 square inches because its shape is less stretched.

Why screen size matters. Knowing the true width and height helps you check whether a TV fits the wall before mounting it, whether a monitor fits your desk, and how two displays really compare. Area is the fair comparison metric: a 65-inch TV has almost 40% more viewing area than a 55-inch one — not just 18% more as the diagonal numbers suggest — because area scales with the square of the diagonal.

Common screen sizes at a glance. Most TVs sold today run from 43 to 85 inches in 16:9. Monitors are commonly 24, 27, or 32 inches; laptops 13 to 17 inches. A 34-inch 21:9 ultrawide offers a wider workspace than a 34-inch 16:9 panel but less height, and a 49-inch 32:9 super ultrawide is essentially two 27-inch monitors side by side. Remember the results describe the panel itself — bezels add a few millimeters per side.

Units of measurement. Screens are listed in inches almost everywhere, but some regions and product sheets use centimeters or millimeters. One inch equals 2.54 cm or 25.4 mm, and the conversion table in the results also shows feet and meters for wall-mounting and desk planning.

Examples

Will a 34-inch ultrawide fit my desk?

A 34-inch 21:9 panel is about 31.3 in (79.4 cm) wide but only 13.4 in tall. Compare both numbers with your desk space before buying.

Wall-mounting a 65-inch TV

A 65-inch 16:9 TV measures roughly 56.7 × 31.9 in (144 × 81 cm). Use the conversion table to check the wall space in your preferred units.

Choosing a monitor for crisp text

Aim for roughly 110 PPI or more at your normal viewing distance. Select a resolution preset to see the PPI before ordering.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the advertised size different from the width?+
The advertised number is the diagonal, not the width. For a 16:9 display the width is roughly 87% of the diagonal — a "27-inch" monitor is only about 23.5 inches wide.
Can I calculate from width or height instead of diagonal?+
Yes. Enter the measurement you have and select the matching “Calculate from width” or “Calculate from height” option — the tool works out the other two dimensions from the aspect ratio.
What aspect ratio is my screen?+
Divide your resolution's width by its height: 1920×1080 → 16:9, 2560×1600 → 16:10, 3440×1440 → about 21:9. You can also pick a predefined resolution and the ratio is set for you.
Why do two screens with the same diagonal have different areas?+
Area depends on shape as well as diagonal. A 55-inch 4:3 display has about 1,452 sq in of area, while a 55-inch 16:9 TV has about 1,292 sq in — the squarer shape packs more area into the same diagonal.
What is a good PPI?+
Around 110 PPI is the traditional desktop sweet spot. 140+ looks noticeably sharper at arm's length; below 90 starts to look grainy for text work.
Does this include bezels?+
No — the calculation covers the visible panel only. Add each bezel's thickness twice (left/right, top/bottom) for the outer dimensions.
Can I use centimeters or millimeters instead of inches?+
Yes. Use the unit dropdown next to the input field (1 inch = 2.54 cm = 25.4 mm). The results always show inches and centimeters, plus a table with mm, feet, and meters.

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