Physical size of pictures and videos
Comparison of screen sizes by width, height, diagonal, area, and aspect ratio On 2D displays , such as computer monitors and TVs , display size or viewable image size (VIS ) refers to the physical size of the area where pictures and videos are displayed. The size of a screen is usually described by the length of its diagonal , which is the distance between opposite corners, typically measured in inches. It is also sometimes called the physical image size to distinguish it from the "logical image size," which describes a screen's display resolution and is measured in pixels .[ 1] [ 2]
History
The method of measuring screen size by its diagonal was inherited from the first generation of CRT televisions, which had picture tubes with circular faces. Being circular, the external diameter of the bulb was used to describe their size. Since these circular tubes displayed rectangular images, the diagonal measurement of the visible rectangle was smaller than the diameter of the tube due to the thickness of the glass surrounding the phosphor screen, which was hidden from the viewer by the casing and bezel . This method continued even when cathode ray tubes were manufactured as rounded rectangles. It had the advantage of being a single number specifying the size and was not confusing when the aspect ratio was universally 4:3. In the US , when virtually all TV tubes were 4:3, the size of the screen was given as the true screen diagonal with a ‘V’ following it (this was a requirement in the US market but not elsewhere). In virtually all other markets, the size of the outer diameter of the tube was given. What was a 27V in the US could be a 28" elsewhere. However, the V terminology was frequently dropped in US advertising referring to a 27V as a 27". This was not misleading for the consumer as the seller had to give the actual screen size by law. Flat panel displays by contrast use the actual diagonal of their visible display size, thus the size is the actual size presented to the viewer in all markets. This means that a similarly specified size of display will be larger as a flat panel display compared with a cathode ray tube display.
When the common aspect ratio shifted from 4:3 to 16:9, the new widescreens were labeled with a W in the US. A screen that is approximately the same height as a 27V would be a 32W. Vizio and other US TV manufacturers have introduced even wider screens with a 21:9 aspect ratio to match aspect ratios used in cinemas . To gauge the relative sizes of these new screens, the screen aspect must be considered. In a commercial market where multiple aspect ratios are being sold, it will always take two numbers to describe the screen size, some combination of diagonal, aspect ratio, height or width.
Set sizes are frequently given as a ‘class’ as screens from different manufacturers will have slight differences in size. However, the "class" should be within 1/2" of the actual size. The reasons for the different sizes within a class stem from differences in the manufacturers' equipment. As manufacturers move from one size to another, newer larger sizes must fit on the same size glass, though with fewer displays being cut from it. Some sizes fit well and maximize glass utilization, while other sizes fit more poorly and waste glass. For example, in some cases, increasing the screen size by even 0.1” can cause an LCD manufacturer to go from 12 screens fitting on their glass sheet to 9.
Optimal screen size and viewing distance
The resolution of the human eye (with 20/20 vision ) is about one minute of arc . For full HDTV resolution, this one minute of arc implies that the TV watcher should sit 3.2 times the height of the screen away (optimal viewing distance ). At this distance, the individual pixels cannot be resolved while simultaneously maximizing the viewing area. For more TV resolutions , see "The optimal viewing distance ".[ 3] [ 4]
The TV image is composed of many lines of pixels . Ideally, the TV watcher sits far enough away from the screen that the individual lines merge into one solid image. The watcher may sit even farther away and still see a good picture, but it will occupy a smaller portion of their visual field .
Common screen dimensions are listed in the table below (the most common diagonal dimensions in inches as of 2020 are bolded). If the display is not listed, then the following equations can be used. Note that D is the diagonal (in centimeters or inches), W is the width (in pixels), and H is the height (in pixels).
Diagonal
5:4
Diagonal
4:3
Diagonal
3:2 (15:10)
Diagonal
8:5 (16:10)
Diagonal
5:3 (15:9)
Diagonal
16:9 (4²:3²)
Diagonal
64:27 (4³:3³ ≈ 21:9 )
d (cm)
d (in)
w (cm)
w (in)
h (cm)
h (in)
a (cm2 )
a (in2 )
d (cm)
d (in)
w (cm)
w (in)
h (cm)
h (in)
a (cm2 )
a (in2 )
d (cm)
d (in)
w (cm)
w (in)
h (cm)
h (in)
a (cm2 )
a (in2 )
d (cm)
d (in)
w (cm)
w (in)
h (cm)
h (in)
a (cm2 )
a (in2 )
d (cm)
d (in)
w (cm)
w (in)
h (cm)
h (in)
a (cm2 )
a (in2 )
d (cm)
d (in)
w (cm)
w (in)
h (cm)
h (in)
a (cm2 )
a (in2 )
d (cm)
d (in)
w (cm)
w (in)
h (cm)
h (in)
a (cm2 )
a (in2 )
9
3.5
7
2.76
6
2.36
39
15.35
9
3.5
7
2.76
5
1.97
38
14.96
9
3.5
7
2.76
5
1.97
36
14.17
9
3.5
8
3.15
5
1.97
36
14.17
9
3.5
8
3.15
5
1.97
35
13.78
9
3.5
8
3.15
4
1.57
34
13.39
9
3.5
8
3.15
3
1.18
28
11.02
9
3.7
7
2.76
6
2.36
43
16.93
9
3.7
8
3.15
6
2.36
42
16.54
9
3.7
8
3.15
5
1.97
41
16.14
9
3.7
8
3.15
5
1.97
40
15.75
9
3.7
8
3.15
5
1.97
39
15.35
9
3.7
8
3.15
5
1.97
38
14.96
9
3.7
9
3.54
4
1.57
32
12.60
10
4
8
3.15
6
2.36
50
19.69
10
4
8
3.15
6
2.36
50
19.69
10
4
8
3.15
6
2.36
48
18.90
10
4
9
3.54
5
1.97
46
18.11
10
4
9
3.54
5
1.97
46
18.11
10
4
9
3.54
5
1.97
44
17.32
10
4
9
3.54
4
1.57
37
14.57
11
4.3
9
3.54
7
2.76
58
22.83
11
4.3
9
3.54
7
2.76
57
22.44
11
4.3
9
3.54
6
2.36
55
21.65
11
4.3
9
3.54
6
2.36
54
21.26
11
4.3
9
3.54
6
2.36
53
20.87
11
4.3
10
3.94
5
1.97
51
20.08
11
4.3
10
3.94
4
1.57
43
16.93
13
5
10
3.94
8
3.15
79
31.10
13
5
10
3.94
8
3.15
77
30.31
13
5
11
4.33
7
2.76
74
29.13
13
5
11
4.33
7
2.76
72
28.35
13
5
11
4.33
7
2.76
71
27.95
13
5
11
4.33
6
2.36
69
27.17
13
5
12
4.72
5
1.97
58
22.83
18
7
14
5.51
11
4.33
154
60.63
18
7
14
5.51
11
4.33
152
59.84
18
7
15
5.91
10
3.94
146
57.48
18
7
15
5.91
9
3.54
142
55.91
18
7
15
5.91
9
3.54
139
54.72
18
7
15
5.91
9
3.54
135
53.15
18
7
16
6.30
7
2.76
113
44.49
25
10
20
7.87
16
6.30
315
124.02
25
10
20
7.87
15
5.91
310
122.05
25
10
21
8.27
14
5.51
298
117.32
25
10
22
8.66
13
5.12
290
114.17
25
10
22
8.66
13
5.12
285
112.20
25
10
22
8.66
12
4.72
276
108.66
25
10
23
9.06
10
3.94
231
90.94
29
11.6
23
9.06
18
7.09
423
166.54
29
11.6
24
9.45
18
7.09
417
164.17
29
11.6
25
9.84
16
6.30
401
157.87
29
11.6
25
9.84
16
6.30
390
153.54
29
11.6
25
9.84
15
5.91
383
150.79
29
11.6
26
10.24
14
5.51
371
146.06
29
11.6
27
10.63
11
4.33
311
122.44
34
13.3
26
10.24
21
8.27
557
219.29
34
13.3
27
10.63
20
7.87
548
215.75
34
13.3
28
11.02
19
7.48
527
207.48
34
13.3
29
11.42
18
7.09
513
201.97
34
13.3
29
11.42
17
6.69
503
198.03
34
13.3
29
11.42
17
6.69
488
192.13
34
13.3
31
12.20
13
5.12
409
161.02
36
14
28
11.02
22
8.66
617
242.91
36
14
28
11.02
21
8.27
607
238.98
36
14
30
11.81
20
7.87
584
229.92
36
14
30
11.81
19
7.48
568
223.62
36
14
30
11.81
18
7.09
558
219.69
36
14
31
12.20
17
6.69
540
212.60
36
14
33
12.99
14
5.51
453
178.35
38
15
30
11.81
24
9.45
708
278.74
38
15
30
11.81
23
9.06
697
274.41
38
15
32
12.60
21
8.27
670
263.78
38
15
32
12.60
20
7.87
652
256.69
38
15
33
12.99
20
7.87
640
251.97
38
15
33
12.99
19
7.48
620
244.09
38
15
35
13.78
15
5.91
520
204.72
39
15.4
31
12.20
24
9.45
746
293.70
39
15.4
31
12.20
23
9.06
734
288.98
39
15.4
33
12.99
22
8.66
706
277.95
39
15.4
33
12.99
21
8.27
688
270.87
39
15.4
34
13.39
20
7.87
675
265.75
39
15.4
34
13.39
19
7.48
654
257.48
39
15.4
36
14.17
15
5.91
548
215.75
43
17
34
13.39
27
10.63
910
358.27
43
17
35
13.78
26
10.24
895
352.36
43
17
36
14.17
24
9.45
861
338.98
43
17
37
14.57
23
9.06
838
329.92
43
17
37
14.57
22
8.66
823
324.02
43
17
38
14.96
21
8.27
797
313.78
43
17
40
15.75
17
6.69
668
262.99
47
18.5
37
14.57
29
11.42
1077
424.02
47
18.5
38
14.96
28
11.02
1060
417.32
47
18.5
39
15.35
26
10.24
1019
401.18
47
18.5
40
15.75
25
9.84
992
390.55
47
18.5
40
15.75
24
9.45
974
383.46
47
18.5
41
16.14
23
9.06
944
371.65
47
18.5
43
16.93
18
7.09
791
311.42
48
19
38
14.96
30
11.81
1136
447.24
48
19
39
15.35
29
11.42
1118
440.16
48
19
40
15.75
27
10.63
1075
423.23
48
19
41
16.14
26
10.24
1047
412.20
48
19
41
16.14
25
9.84
1028
404.72
48
19
42
16.54
24
9.45
995
391.73
48
19
44
17.32
19
7.48
834
328.35
51
20
40
15.75
32
12.60
1259
495.67
51
20
41
16.14
30
11.81
1239
487.80
51
20
42
16.54
28
11.02
1191
468.90
51
20
43
16.93
27
10.63
1160
456.69
51
20
44
17.32
26
10.24
1139
448.43
51
20
44
17.32
25
9.84
1103
434.25
51
20
47
18.50
20
7.87
924
363.78
53
21
42
16.54
33
12.99
1388
546.46
53
21
43
16.93
32
12.60
1366
537.80
53
21
44
17.32
30
11.81
1313
516.93
53
21
45
17.72
28
11.02
1279
503.54
53
21
46
18.11
27
10.63
1255
494.09
53
21
46
18.11
26
10.24
1216
478.74
53
21
49
19.29
21
8.27
1019
401.18
56
22
44
17.32
35
13.78
1523
599.61
56
22
45
17.72
34
13.39
1499
590.16
56
22
46
18.11
31
12.20
1441
567.32
56
22
47
18.50
30
11.81
1403
552.36
56
22
48
18.90
29
11.42
1378
542.52
56
22
49
19.29
27
10.63
1334
525.20
56
22
51
20.08
22
8.66
1118
440.16
58
23
46
18.11
36
14.17
1665
655.51
58
23
47
18.50
35
13.78
1638
644.88
58
23
49
19.29
32
12.60
1575
620.08
58
23
50
19.69
31
12.20
1534
603.94
58
23
50
19.69
30
11.81
1506
592.91
58
23
51
20.08
29
11.42
1458
574.02
58
23
54
21.26
23
9.06
1222
481.10
61
24
48
18.90
38
14.96
1813
713.78
61
24
49
19.29
37
14.57
1784
702.36
61
24
51
20.08
34
13.39
1715
675.20
61
24
52
20.47
32
12.60
1670
657.48
61
24
52
20.47
31
12.20
1639
645.28
61
24
53
20.87
30
11.81
1588
625.20
61
24
56
22.05
24
9.45
1331
524.02
64
25
50
19.69
40
15.75
1967
774.41
64
25
51
20.08
38
14.96
1935
761.81
64
25
53
20.87
35
13.78
1861
732.68
64
25
54
21.26
34
13.39
1812
713.39
64
25
54
21.26
33
12.99
1779
700.39
64
25
55
21.65
31
12.20
1723
678.35
64
25
59
23.23
25
9.84
1444
568.50
66
26
52
20.47
41
16.14
2127
837.40
66
26
53
20.87
40
15.75
2093
824.02
66
26
55
21.65
37
14.57
2013
792.52
66
26
56
22.05
35
13.78
1960
771.65
66
26
57
22.44
34
13.39
1924
757.48
66
26
58
22.83
32
12.60
1864
733.86
66
26
61
24.02
26
10.24
1562
614.96
69
27
54
21.26
43
16.93
2294
903.15
69
27
55
21.65
41
16.14
2258
888.98
69
27
57
22.44
38
14.96
2171
854.72
69
27
58
22.83
36
14.17
2114
832.28
69
27
59
23.23
35
13.78
2075
816.93
69
27
60
23.62
34
13.39
2010
791.34
69
27
63
24.80
27
10.63
1684
662.99
71
28
56
22.05
44
17.32
2467
971.26
71
28
57
22.44
43
16.93
2428
955.91
71
28
59
23.23
39
15.35
2334
918.90
71
28
60
23.62
38
14.96
2273
894.88
71
28
61
24.02
37
14.57
2231
878.35
71
28
62
24.41
35
13.78
2161
850.79
71
28
66
25.98
28
11.02
1811
712.99
74
29
58
22.83
46
18.11
2647
1042.13
74
29
59
23.23
44
17.32
2604
1025.20
74
29
61
24.02
41
16.14
2504
985.83
74
29
62
24.41
39
15.35
2439
960.24
74
29
63
24.80
38
14.96
2394
942.52
74
29
64
25.20
36
14.17
2318
912.60
74
29
68
26.77
29
11.42
1943
764.96
76
30
60
23.62
48
18.90
2832
1114.96
76
30
61
24.02
46
18.11
2787
1097.24
76
30
63
24.80
42
16.54
2680
1055.12
76
30
65
25.59
40
15.75
2610
1027.56
76
30
65
25.59
39
15.35
2562
1008.66
76
30
66
25.98
37
14.57
2481
976.77
76
30
70
27.56
30
11.81
2079
818.50
79
31
61
24.02
49
19.29
3024
1190.55
79
31
63
24.80
47
18.50
2976
1171.65
79
31
66
25.98
44
17.32
2862
1126.77
79
31
67
26.38
42
16.54
2787
1097.24
79
31
68
26.77
41
16.14
2735
1076.77
79
31
69
27.17
39
15.35
2649
1042.91
79
31
73
28.74
31
12.20
2220
874.02
81
32
63
24.80
51
20.08
3223
1268.90
81
32
65
25.59
49
19.29
3171
1248.43
81
32
68
26.77
45
17.72
3049
1200.39
81
32
69
27.17
43
16.93
2969
1168.90
81
32
70
27.56
42
16.54
2915
1147.64
81
32
71
27.95
40
15.75
2823
1111.42
81
32
75
29.53
32
12.60
2366
931.50
86
34
67
26.38
54
21.26
3638
1432.28
86
34
69
27.17
52
20.47
3580
1409.45
86
34
72
28.35
48
18.90
3442
1355.12
86
34
73
28.74
46
18.11
3352
1319.69
86
34
74
29.13
44
17.32
3290
1295.28
86
34
75
29.53
42
16.54
3187
1254.72
86
34
80
31.50
34
13.39
2671
1051.57
99
39
77
30.31
62
24.41
4787
1884.65
99
39
79
31.10
59
23.23
4710
1854.33
99
39
82
32.28
55
21.65
4529
1783.07
99
39
84
33.07
53
20.87
4410
1736.22
99
39
85
33.46
51
20.08
4329
1704.33
99
39
86
33.86
49
19.29
4193
1650.79
99
39
91
35.83
39
15.35
3514
1383.46
107
42
83
32.68
67
26.38
5552
2185.83
107
42
85
33.46
64
25.20
5463
2150.79
107
42
89
35.04
59
23.23
5253
2068.11
107
42
90
35.43
57
22.44
5115
2013.78
107
42
91
35.83
55
21.65
5021
1976.77
107
42
93
36.61
52
20.47
4863
1914.57
107
42
98
38.58
41
16.14
4076
1604.72
117
46
91
35.83
73
28.74
6659
2621.65
117
46
93
36.61
70
27.56
6553
2579.92
117
46
97
38.19
65
25.59
6301
2480.71
117
46
99
38.98
62
24.41
6136
2415.75
117
46
100
39.37
60
23.62
6023
2371.26
117
46
102
40.16
57
22.44
5833
2296.46
117
46
108
42.52
45
17.72
4889
1924.80
122
48
95
37.40
76
29.92
7251
2854.72
122
48
98
38.58
73
28.74
7135
2809.06
122
48
101
39.76
68
26.77
6861
2701.18
122
48
103
40.55
65
25.59
6681
2630.31
122
48
105
41.34
63
24.80
6558
2581.89
122
48
106
41.73
60
23.62
6352
2500.79
122
48
112
44.09
47
18.50
5323
2095.67
127
50
99
38.98
79
31.10
7868
3097.64
127
50
102
40.16
76
29.92
7742
3048.03
127
50
106
41.73
70
27.56
7444
2930.71
127
50
108
42.52
67
26.38
7249
2853.94
127
50
109
42.91
65
25.59
7116
2801.57
127
50
111
43.70
62
24.41
6892
2713.39
127
50
117
46.06
49
19.29
5776
2274.02
140
55
109
42.91
87
34.25
9520
3748.03
140
55
112
44.09
84
33.07
9368
3688.19
140
55
116
45.67
77
30.31
9007
3546.06
140
55
118
46.46
74
29.13
8771
3453.15
140
55
120
47.24
72
28.35
8610
3389.76
140
55
122
48.03
68
26.77
8339
3283.07
140
55
129
50.79
54
21.26
6989
2751.57
147
58
115
45.28
92
36.22
10587
4168.11
147
58
118
46.46
88
34.65
10418
4101.57
147
58
123
48.43
82
32.28
10017
3943.70
147
58
125
49.21
78
30.71
9754
3840.16
147
58
126
49.61
76
29.92
9575
3769.69
147
58
128
50.39
72
28.35
9274
3651.18
147
58
136
53.54
57
22.44
7773
3060.24
152
60
119
46.85
95
37.40
11330
4460.63
152
60
122
48.03
91
35.83
11148
4388.98
152
60
127
50.00
85
33.46
10720
4220.47
152
60
129
50.79
81
31.89
10439
4109.84
152
60
131
51.57
78
30.71
10247
4034.25
152
60
133
52.36
75
29.53
9924
3907.09
152
60
140
55.12
59
23.23
8318
3274.80
163
64
127
50.00
102
40.16
12891
5075.20
163
64
130
51.18
98
38.58
12684
4993.70
163
64
135
53.15
90
35.43
12197
4801.97
163
64
138
54.33
86
33.86
11877
4675.98
163
64
139
54.72
84
33.07
11658
4589.76
163
64
142
55.91
80
31.50
11292
4445.67
163
64
150
59.06
63
24.80
9464
3725.98
178
70
139
54.72
111
43.70
15421
6071.26
178
70
142
55.91
107
42.13
15174
5974.02
178
70
148
58.27
99
38.98
14591
5744.49
178
70
151
59.45
94
37.01
14208
5593.70
178
70
152
59.84
91
35.83
13947
5490.94
178
70
155
61.02
87
34.25
13508
5318.11
178
70
164
64.57
69
27.17
11322
4457.48
203
80
159
62.60
127
50.00
20142
7929.92
203
80
163
64.17
122
48.03
19819
7802.76
203
80
169
66.54
113
44.49
19057
7502.76
203
80
172
67.72
108
42.52
18557
7305.91
203
80
174
68.50
105
41.34
18216
7171.65
203
80
177
69.69
100
39.37
17643
6946.06
203
80
187
73.62
79
31.10
14787
5821.65
213
84
167
65.75
133
52.36
22206
8742.52
213
84
171
67.32
128
50.39
21851
8602.76
213
84
178
70.08
118
46.46
21010
8271.65
213
84
181
71.26
113
44.49
20460
8055.12
213
84
183
72.05
110
43.31
20083
7906.69
213
84
186
73.23
105
41.34
19452
7658.27
213
84
197
77.56
83
32.68
16303
6418.50
251
99
196
77.17
157
61.81
30845
12143.70
251
99
201
79.13
151
59.45
30351
11949.21
251
99
209
82.28
139
54.72
29184
11489.76
251
99
213
83.86
133
52.36
28419
11188.58
251
99
216
85.04
129
50.79
27897
10983.07
251
99
219
86.22
123
48.43
27019
10637.40
251
99
232
91.34
98
38.58
22646
8915.75
259
102
202
79.53
162
63.78
32743
12890.94
259
102
207
81.50
155
61.02
32219
12684.65
259
102
216
85.04
144
56.69
30980
12196.85
259
102
220
86.61
137
53.94
30167
11876.77
259
102
222
87.40
133
52.36
29613
11658.66
259
102
226
88.98
127
50.00
28681
11291.73
259
102
239
94.09
101
39.76
24039
9464.17
274
108
214
84.25
171
67.32
36708
14451.97
274
108
219
86.22
165
64.96
36121
14220.87
274
108
228
89.76
152
59.84
34731
13673.62
274
108
233
91.73
145
57.09
33821
13315.35
274
108
235
92.52
141
55.51
33199
13070.47
274
108
239
94.09
134
52.76
32155
12659.45
274
108
253
99.61
107
42.13
26950
10610.24
282
111
220
86.61
176
69.29
38776
15266.14
282
111
226
88.98
169
66.54
38155
15021.65
282
111
235
92.52
156
61.42
36688
14444.09
282
111
239
94.09
149
58.66
35726
14065.35
282
111
242
95.28
145
57.09
35069
13806.69
282
111
246
96.85
138
54.33
33966
13372.44
282
111
260
102.36
110
43.31
28468
11207.87
386
152
301
118.50
241
94.88
72711
28626.38
386
152
309
121.65
232
91.34
71548
28168.50
386
152
321
126.38
214
84.25
68796
27085.04
386
152
327
128.74
205
80.71
66992
26374.80
386
152
331
130.31
199
78.35
65761
25890.16
386
152
336
132.28
189
74.41
63692
25075.59
386
152
356
140.16
150
59.06
53383
21016.93
See also
References
^
Knerl, Linsey (August 16, 2024). "Monitor Screen Sizes: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Right Computer Display" . hp.com . Retrieved September 14, 2024 .
^
Knerl, Linsey (August 22, 2024). "What Is My Screen Resolution? A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding and Optimizing Display Resolution" . hp.com . Retrieved September 14, 2024 .
^ Demers, Cedric; Wiszniewska, Adriana (Mar 12, 2021). "TV Size to Distance Calculator and Science" . rtings.com . Retrieved 14 September 2024 . ^
Shukla, Gaurav (March 19, 2023). "What's the Best TV Viewing Distance?" . howtogeek.com . How-To Geek. Retrieved 14 September 2024 .
Designation
Usage examples
Definition (lines)
Rate (Hz)
Interlaced (fields)
Progressive (frames)
Low, MP@LL Standard, Enhanced, High,
HDTV , BD , HD DVD , HDV 720
24, 30, 60; 25, 50
1080, 1440
60; 50 24, 30, 60; 25, 50
Ultra-high
