Screen Size Comparator - Monitor & TV Size Comparison Tool

Compare screen sizes side-by-side or overlaid in real scale. Calculate screen width, height, surface area, and pixel density (PPI) for monitors, TVs, and smartphones.

A Screen A (Reference)

Load Preset

Diagonal Size

Aspect Ratio

Resolution Width

Resolution Height

B Screen B (Comparison)

Load Preset

Diagonal Size

Aspect Ratio

Resolution Width

Resolution Height

Simulator & View Setup

Simulated Desk Width 60 in / 152 cm

Resize to check if the screens will physically fit on your desk surface.

Use Metric System (cm / sq. cm)

Screen A Screen B

True Scale Workspace

Technical Specifications

Metric	Screen A	Screen B
Diagonal
Width
Height
Aspect Ratio
Screen Area
Pixel Density

Screen Comparison Summary

Display Area Difference

What is the Screen Size Comparator?

The screen size comparator is an interactive display-planning utility designed to help buyers visualize the physical footprint, width, height, and overall area of different screens before making a purchase. When buying a new computer monitor, TV, or laptop, relying solely on the diagonal screen size in inches can be highly misleading. This is because aspect ratio has a massive impact on the physical dimensions of the screen.

By utilizing a display size calculator that maps diagonal measurements and aspect ratios directly to physical length units, this tool draws side-by-side or overlay visualizations to show the real difference. It allows users to place monitors on a simulated office desk, providing immediate answers to space planning questions.

The Mathematics of Screen Dimensions

Most consumers assume a larger diagonal size always translates to a larger screen area. However, the aspect ratio dictates the geometry. To calculate the physical dimensions of a screen, our screen size comparison tool utilizes standard geometry equations derived from the Pythagorean theorem:

Height = Diagonal / √(RatioWidth² + RatioHeight²) * RatioHeight
Width = Height * (RatioWidth / RatioHeight)

Because of these mathematical constraints, wider aspect ratios yield smaller total areas for the same diagonal size. For instance, a 34-inch ultrawide monitor (21:9) actually has about 12% less surface area than a 34-inch traditional widescreen TV (16:9). A screen area calculator is essential to understand what you are getting.

Comparing Widescreen vs Ultrawide vs Super Ultrawide

Selecting the right aspect ratio depends on your workflow or gaming preferences. Here is a breakdown of the three most common aspect ratios:

16:9 (Standard Widescreen): The default ratio for almost all modern televisions, console gaming, and general web browsing. It is highly optimized for video playback since most streaming content is formatted in 16:9.
21:9 (Ultrawide): Popular for productivity and immersive PC gaming. A 34-inch 21:9 screen is physically the same height as a 27-inch 16:9 monitor, but offers 30% more horizontal space, allowing you to easily place three windows side-by-side.
32:9 (Super Ultrawide): Equal to two standard 16:9 monitors placed side-by-side without any dividing bezels in the middle. These screens (commonly 49 inches diagonal) are excellent for complex multi-tasking, audio editing timelines, and flight simulators.

Pixel Density, PPI, and Visual Sharpness

Beyond the physical size, screen clarity is defined by its pixel density, measured in Pixels Per Inch (PPI). By inputting your display resolution (e.g. 1920x1080 or 3840x2160) into our monitor size comparison dashboard, the tool calculates the PPI.

A larger screen with a low resolution will look blocky and pixelated, while a smaller screen with high resolution will be incredibly sharp but may require operating system scaling to prevent text from being too small. For desktop monitors, a PPI between 90 and 110 is generally considered the sweet spot for native reading comfort at standard viewing distances of 60 to 70 centimeters.

How to Plan Your Setup with the Desk Simulator

Set Screen Parameters

Load one of our standard presets to automatically populate sizes and resolutions, or adjust the diagonal slide rule and aspect ratio options to represent custom hardware specifications.

Configure Your Desk Space

Input the exact width of your office desk. The desk visualizer will automatically redraw the desk boundary to show you if the display setup fits your space or overflows the edges.

Toggle Keyboard Reference

Enable the keyboard overlay. Drawing a standard tenkeyless keyboard and mouse helps anchor your visual perspective, showing exactly how large the monitors look compared to real objects.

Switch View Modes

Use "Comparison Overlay" to stack the screens and directly compare the vertical height of different shapes. Switch to "Side-by-Side" to plan dual-screen setups or TV installations.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I calculate screen width and height from the diagonal size?

The diagonal size alone is not enough to determine screen dimensions because the aspect ratio changes the shape. By using the Pythagorean theorem (A² + B² = C²) and the aspect ratio (Width / Height), you can calculate the exact physical width and height of any display panel.

Why does a 34-inch ultrawide screen have a smaller area than a 34-inch television?

For a given diagonal measurement, a square screen (1:1 aspect ratio) yields the maximum possible surface area. As the screen becomes wider and shorter (increasing the aspect ratio aspect, e.g., 21:9 or 32:9), the total height drops significantly, resulting in less overall screen surface area compared to a standard 16:9 widescreen or 4:3 screen of the same diagonal.

How is PPI (Pixels Per Inch) calculated?

PPI is determined using the resolution and diagonal screen size. First, find the diagonal resolution in pixels using the Pythagorean theorem: Diagonal Pixels = √(Width² + Height²). Then, divide the diagonal pixels by the physical diagonal screen size in inches.

How does a 27-inch 16:9 monitor compare to a 34-inch 21:9 ultrawide?

A 34-inch 21:9 ultrawide monitor has the exact same physical height as a 27-inch 16:9 monitor, but it is about 30% wider. This makes transitioning from a 27-inch screen to a 34-inch ultrawide feel like adding extra width to the sides of your existing workspace without losing vertical space.

Can I use this screen size comparator to check if a monitor fits my desk?

Yes. Our tool includes an interactive desk simulator. You can input the width of your desk and place both monitors side-by-side to visually inspect whether the screens will fit within your physical desk boundaries or if they will overhang.