Monitor sizes: How to find the perfect screen size
When buying a screen for the PC, the first decision is the size of the diagonal. In this article we show you which monitor sizes are suitable for which applications.
Monitor size: It depends on the resolution
The largest screen is of no use if the resolution is small. The resolution indicates how many pixels the screen can display. This determines how much space there is on the screen for program windows.
- The minimum for new PC monitors is currently Full HD with 1920 x 1080 pixels.
- As a rule, screens with 24 to 27 inches use the Full HD resolution. An image is displayed small on the smaller screens, and the same image is displayed larger on a larger one with the same resolution.
- Higher resolutions are also common for screens larger than 27 inches. For gaming or professional applications such as video editing or CAD, a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels is recommended.
- Novelties are screens with 4K resolution (4096 × 2160). These require corresponding computing power.
The right monitor size: You have these options
Which monitor size fits you depends on the applications for which you want to use your PC. The screen size is measured in inches. An inch corresponds to 2.54 centimeters.
- 17 inches: The standard monitor has 17 inches (43.18 cm) screen diagonal with a resolution of 1280 x 1024 pixels. This is completely sufficient for normal office applications and surfing the Internet. Nevertheless, this small monitor size is no longer up-to-date, most of them now use larger models.
- 19-inch: The 19-inch monitors (48.26 cm) are slightly better for the eyes. They mostly use the same resolution as the smaller 17-inch monitors. As a result, they no longer offer space for applications, but the typeface is larger and so easy on the eyes.
- 22 inches: You have more space on a 22-inch monitor (55.88 cm) with 1680 x 1050 pixels. A comfortable size for working at the desk.
- 24 inches: Full HD is usually available from 24 inches (60.92 cm). On 1920 x 1080 pixels you have enough space for multitasking. Two windows can easily be placed side by side. 24-inch monitors are also a good choice as a gamer monitor.
- 27 inch: If you like it a bit bigger, you can use the 27 inch monitor (68.58 cm). Here the resolution becomes the topic. With Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) the individual pixels can already be seen when you look closely. The 2560 x 1440 pixels are worthwhile here.
- 30 inches and more: Screens with 30 inches and more usually only make sense for professional applications such as Photoshop, video editing or CAD programs. Such applications can be optimally used on a large, high-resolution monitor. For gaming, you can also think about 4K resolution at this size.
