Screen size calculator

Calculate physical screen dimensions from diagonal size and pixel resolution. Find optimal viewing distances based on visual acuity and field-of-view angles.

Screen Input

Screen size

Type of aspect ratio = Cinema 'Flat'
Screen dimensionsmminchfootmeter
Screen diagonal288"24ft7.32m
Screen width253"21.1ft6.44m
Screen height137"11.4ft3.48m
Screen surface241 sq.ft.22.4

Pixel density

Pixel size = 3.22 mm = 0.127 inch
Pixel density = 7.9 dpi (dots-per-inch)
Pixel density = 0.3 dpmm (dots-per-mm)

Viewing distance

Viewing distancesmminchfootmeter
Minimum viewing distance
max 70° viewing angle for full field-of-view experience
181"15.1ft4.6m
Visual Acuity minimum distance
pixel < 1/60° so that individual pixels cannot be seen
436"36.3ft11.1m
Ideal viewing distance
30° viewing angle for full field-of-view experience
473"39.4ft12m
Maximum viewing distance
min 26° viewing angle for full field-of-view experience
549"45.7ft13.9m

Examples

Frequently Asked Questions

How is screen size calculated from diagonal?

Using the Pythagorean theorem: width = diagonal × cos(atan(height/width ratio)), height = diagonal × sin(atan(height/width ratio)). The aspect ratio determines how the diagonal splits between width and height.

What is the ideal viewing distance for a TV?

For a 30° field-of-view (recommended for immersive viewing), sit at a distance of about 1.6× the screen width. For 4K TVs, you can sit closer (1.2×) since pixels are smaller.

What does DPI mean for screens?

DPI (dots per inch) measures pixel density. Higher DPI means sharper images. Retina displays typically have 200+ DPI, making individual pixels invisible at normal viewing distances.

Why does aspect ratio matter?

Aspect ratio (width:height) affects how content is displayed. 16:9 is standard for HD video, 21:9 for ultrawide monitors, and 4:3 for older content. Mismatched ratios result in letterboxing or cropping.