Screen Size Calculator

Calculate the physical width, height, and area of any screen from its diagonal size and aspect ratio. Add resolution for PPI, dot pitch, and megapixel count. Auto-detect your screen resolution, get SMPTE and THX viewing distance recommendations, and check Retina quality. Supports all aspect ratios including 16:9, 21:9, 4:3, and custom.

Screen Dimensions
23.53 in
16:9
13.24 in
Ratio16:9
Decimal1.778
Landscape

Physical Dimensions

Width, height, diagonal, and viewable area of your screen

Width

23.53 inches

59.8 cm

Height

13.24 inches

33.6 cm

Diagonal

27.00 inches

68.6 cm

Screen Area

311.5 sq in

2010 sq cm

Pixel Density

PPI, dot pitch, resolution, and Retina assessment for your display

Pixels Per Inch

109

PPI

Dot Pitch

0.233

mm

Resolution

2560x1440

Megapixels

3.7

3,686,400 px

Retina at SMPTE Distance
Pixels invisible beyond 31.6 in (80 cm) — closer viewing may reveal pixels

Recommended Viewing Distance

SMPTE and THX industry standards based on your screen width

SMPTE Standard

30° viewing angle

3 ft 8 in

112 cm

THX Immersive

36° viewing angle

3 ft 0 in

92 cm

THX Back Row

26° viewing angle

4 ft 3 in

129 cm

SMPTE recommends 30° for home theater. THX standards range from 26° (back row) to 36° (immersive).

What Is Screen Size?

Understanding diagonal measurement and physical dimensions

Screen size refers to the diagonal measurement of a display, measured from one corner to the opposite corner. While the diagonal is the standard way screens are marketed, the actual width and height depend on the screen's aspect ratio.

Two screens with the same diagonal but different aspect ratios will have different physical dimensions. For example, a 27-inch 16:9 monitor is 23.53 x 13.24 inches, while a 27-inch 16:10 monitor is 22.90 x 14.31 inches — narrower but taller.

16:9

Widescreen

TVs, monitors, laptops

21:9

Ultrawide

Gaming & productivity

4:3

Standard

Classic & iPads

How Are Screen Dimensions Calculated?

The Pythagorean theorem relates the diagonal, width, and height. Combined with the aspect ratio, we can derive exact physical dimensions from just the diagonal measurement.

Formulas
width = diagonal × (ARw / √(ARw² + ARh²))
height = diagonal × (ARh / √(ARw² + ARh²))
area = width × height

Example — 27" 16:9 Display

Width

23.53"

27 × 16/√(16²+9²)

Height

13.24"

27 × 9/√(16²+9²)

Area

311.5 sq in

23.53 × 13.24

How to Use This Calculator

Follow these steps to find your screen dimensions

1. Enter Diagonal

Type the diagonal measurement in inches or centimeters. This is the number advertised for your TV, monitor, or laptop.

2. Pick Aspect Ratio

Select from 11 presets (16:9, 21:9, 4:3, etc.) or enter a custom ratio. The calculator filters matching resolutions automatically.

3. Read Dimensions

Instantly see physical width, height, area, and orientation. Toggle between inches and centimeters with one click.

4. Add Resolution (Optional)

Select a resolution to unlock PPI, dot pitch, megapixels, Retina assessment, and viewing distance recommendations.

Common Screen Sizes at a Glance

Popular diagonal sizes and their physical dimensions (16:9 aspect ratio)

DiagonalWidthHeightArea
24"20.92"11.77"246.1 sq in
27"23.53"13.24"311.5 sq in
32"27.89"15.69"437.5 sq in
40"34.86"19.61"683.6 sq in
43"37.48"21.08"790.3 sq in
50"43.58"24.51"1068.2 sq in
55"47.94"26.96"1292.4 sq in
65"56.65"31.87"1804.8 sq in
75"65.37"36.77"2403.7 sq in
85"74.09"41.67"3087.0 sq in

Viewing Distance Explained

Optimal viewing distance depends on screen size and resolution. Sitting too close causes eye strain, while sitting too far reduces immersion. Industry standards provide guidelines:

SMPTE (30°)

The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers recommends a 30° horizontal viewing angle. This is the most widely cited home theater standard.

THX Immersive (36°)

THX recommends a 36° viewing angle for an immersive cinema-like experience at home. This puts you closer to the screen.

THX Back Row (26°)

The minimum acceptable viewing angle per THX standards. Beyond this distance, the screen may feel too small.

About Screen Size Calculator

How screen dimensions are calculated from diagonal and aspect ratio

A screen size calculator converts the diagonal measurement of a display into its actual physical width, height, and viewable area. Since screens are marketed by diagonal size, the real dimensions depend on the aspect ratio. This tool uses the Pythagorean theorem to compute exact dimensions, and optionally calculates pixel density (PPI), dot pitch, and recommended viewing distances using SMPTE and THX industry standards. It also supports auto-detecting your screen resolution.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about screen size, dimensions, and display specifications