Everyday Life

Screen Size and PPI Calculator

Turn a diagonal measurement into actual width and height.

Your numbers

Your results

Width (in)
Width (in)
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Height (in)
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Width × height (cm)
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Screen area (sq in)
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Pixel density (PPI)
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Screen Size and PPI Calculator by TheCalcTools

How the Screen Size and PPI Calculator works

Enter the diagonal size and the aspect ratio, for example 16:9.

Width and height follow from the Pythagorean theorem and the ratio.

Add resolution to get pixels per inch, a measure of sharpness.

The formula

Width = D × a ÷ √(a² + b²)Height = D × b ÷ √(a² + b²)

Worked example

Using the default values shown in the calculator:

Diagonal (inches)27
Aspect ratio width16
Aspect ratio height9
Horizontal pixels2560
Vertical pixels1440
  1. Width = 27 × 16 ÷ √(16² + 9²) = 23.53 in; height = 13.24 in.
  2. That is 59.8 × 33.6 cm, with 108.8 pixels per inch.

Result:

Width (in)23.53
Height (in)13.24
Width × height (cm)59.8 × 33.6
Screen area (sq in)311.5
Pixel density (PPI)108.8

Frequently asked questions

Is a 27-inch monitor 27 inches wide?

No. 27 inches is the diagonal. A 16:9 screen is about 23.5 inches wide and 13.2 inches tall.

What PPI looks sharp?

Around 110 PPI is typical at desk distance. Phones exceed 400 PPI because they are held closer.

Sources and further reading

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This calculator gives estimates for information only. Check important results independently before you rely on them. See our disclaimer.