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Curved Monitor Visualizer

Visualize and compare different monitor curvatures and their depth.

Screen A

Aspect Ratio (W:H)

Note: 21:9 screens are often not exactly 21:9, but very close.

Screen A depth: 5.22 cm (2.06 in)2.06 in (5.22 cm) | width: 78.45 cm (30.89 in)30.89 in (78.45 cm)

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Curved monitor specs explained

A curved monitor's spec sheet lists the same diagonal and aspect ratio as a flat one, plus a curve rating. Those three numbers set the whole shape of the screen.

What do 800R, 1000R, 1500R and 1800R mean?

The number is the radius in millimeters of the circle a monitor would form if its curve continued all the way around. For example, 1500R means a radius of 1.5 meters (59 inches), so the complete circle would be 3 meters (118 inches) across. A smaller number means a tighter curve. The radius is a geometric reference, not a required viewing distance.

RatingRadiusCommon use
800R0.8 m (31.5 in)31.5 in (0.8 m)A tight curve for immersive gaming and simulation
1000R1.0 m (39.4 in)39.4 in (1.0 m)Immersive gaming and ultrawide displays
1500R1.5 m (59.1 in)59.1 in (1.5 m)Gaming and mixed work use
1800R1.8 m (70.9 in)70.9 in (1.8 m)A gentler curve for work and mixed use

Width, depth and arc angle by size

The table works out the width, depth and arc angle for common sizes with the same math as the visualizer above.

ScreenCurveFlat widthWidth edge to edgeDepthArc angle
27" 16:91500R59.8 cm (23.5 in)23.5 in (59.8 cm)594 mm (23.4 in)23.4 in (594 mm)30 mm (1.2 in)1.2 in (30 mm)23°
32" 16:91000R70.8 cm (27.9 in)27.9 in (70.8 cm)694 mm (27.3 in)27.3 in (694 mm)62 mm (2.4 in)2.4 in (62 mm)41°
34" 21:91500R79.4 cm (31.3 in)31.3 in (79.4 cm)785 mm (30.9 in)30.9 in (785 mm)52 mm (2.1 in)2.1 in (52 mm)30°
34" 21:91000R79.4 cm (31.3 in)31.3 in (79.4 cm)773 mm (30.4 in)30.4 in (773 mm)78 mm (3.1 in)3.1 in (78 mm)45°
49" 32:91800R119.8 cm (47.2 in)47.2 in (119.8 cm)1176 mm (46.3 in)46.3 in (1176 mm)99 mm (3.9 in)3.9 in (99 mm)38°
49" 32:91000R119.8 cm (47.2 in)47.2 in (119.8 cm)1128 mm (44.4 in)44.4 in (1128 mm)174 mm (6.9 in)6.9 in (174 mm)69°
What the columns mean
Flat width
The width the panel would have if you pressed it flat. It comes from the diagonal and aspect ratio, the same as on a flat monitor. A 34-inch 21:9 screen is 79.4 cm (31.3 inches)31.3 inches (79.4 cm) wide when flat.
Width edge to edge
The straight line between the two side edges. The curve makes it a bit shorter than the flat width, and it's the width the screen takes up on your desk.
Depth
How far the middle of the screen sits behind the line between its edges. It's extra desk depth the panel takes up, before you count the stand.
Arc angle
How much of a full circle the screen covers. From the center of the curve, which is a distance equal to the radius, it's also the angle the screen spans in front of you.

The R definition matches Samsung's curved monitor guide. The widths, depths and angles are worked out from the diagonal, aspect ratio and radius, treating the flat width as the length of the curve.

How to use this tool

  1. Enter the diagonal size

    Type the curved monitor's diagonal in inches. For a 34-inch ultrawide, enter 34. The diagonal defines how wide the panel is before any curvature is applied.

  2. Set the aspect ratio

    Pick 16:9, 21:9, or 32:9, or choose Custom and enter any width:height pair. Ultrawides are usually 21:9 and super ultrawides 32:9, so the presets cover common curved monitors.

  3. Choose the curve rating

    Enter the R rating in millimeters (800R, 1000R, 1500R, 1800R, or 0 for flat). Smaller R means more aggressive curve. The visualizer renders the top-down footprint of the panel at that curve.

  4. Compare against a flat reference

    Add a second display with a different curve rating (or 0 for flat) to overlay both top-down views. See how much desk depth the curve consumes and how much narrower the curved panel is edge to edge.

About this tool

The Curved Monitor Visualizer draws a top-down view of curved displays so you can see what 800R, 1000R, 1500R, and 1800R look like before you buy a panel you've never tried. Curve specs are quoted as a radius in millimeters (smaller is more curved), and that number is abstract until you see it next to other options or a flat reference.

Enter the diagonal size, aspect ratio, and curve rating for any display. The visualizer draws the physical footprint of the panel from above, with its depth and its width edge to edge, so you can see how much room the curve takes on your desk.

Formula

A monitor rated NR has a radius R of N millimeters.

This model treats flat-equivalent panel width as arc length s, so curve depth is R x (1 - cos(s / (2R))) and chord width is 2R x sin(s / (2R)). Keep lengths in the same units and angles in radians.

At a distance R from the center of the screen, the viewer is at the center of curvature. This is a geometric reference, not a required viewing distance.

When to use it

Reach for this tool when deciding between a curved ultrawide and a flat widescreen, comparing curve ratings across brands or two monitors with similar specs but different curves (e.g. a 1000R 34-inch vs. a 1500R 34-inch), or checking whether an aggressive curve matches your desk setup and how much depth it takes up.

Pair with the Screen Size Comparison to see how much more desk space the physical curve will consume.

Popular curve scenarios

Pre-computed curvature guidance for common monitor sizes and use cases.

1000R 34" ultrawide
Aggressive gaming curve with a 1 m radius
View details
1500R 34" ultrawide
A balanced curve for mixed use
View details
1800R 34" ultrawide
A gentle curve for productivity
View details

Curve comparisons

Head-to-head breakdowns of specific curvature ratings, such as flat vs 1500R, 800R vs 1000R, and other pairings found on consumer monitors.

Flat vs 1500R
On a 34-inch ultrawide, a 1500R panel bows 2.1 in (52 mm) from edge to edge, and a flat panel doesn't bow at all.
Read comparison
1500R vs 800R
On a 34-inch ultrawide, 800R bows 3.8 in (96 mm), against 2.1 in (52 mm) for 1500R.
Read comparison
Flat vs 800R
An 800R curve wraps a 34-inch ultrawide through 57 degrees, and a flat panel has no curve.
Read comparison

Frequently asked questions

What does 1000R, 1500R, or 1800R actually mean?
The R number is the radius, in millimeters, of the circle the curve would complete if you extended it all the way around. A 1000R curve traces a circle with a radius of 1 meter, and 1800R traces one with a radius of 1.8 meters, so smaller numbers mean a tighter, more aggressive curve.
Is 1000R or 1800R better for gaming?
1000R suits immersive single-user gaming because its tighter curve bends the edges of a wide screen toward you. Its 1 meter (39 inches) radius is also fairly close to a typical 60-80 cm desk seat. 1800R is gentler and better suited to shared viewing or productivity where straight lines matter more than immersion.
Are curved monitors good for office work?
Yes, on ultrawide sizes (34-inch and up), where a subtle 1500R-1800R curve reduces the head-turning needed to read the edges. On 24-27-inch monitors the curve is usually unnecessary because the screen is already within your straight-on field of view.
Do curved monitors distort straight lines?
Slightly, yes. Drawing a horizontal line across a curved panel looks bowed if you view it from far off-axis. Sitting centered in front of the screen keeps that effect small, and a tighter curve shows more of it than a gentle one.
What viewing distance should I sit at for a curved monitor?
The same distance you'd use for a flat monitor of that size, which is usually 60-80 cm at a desk. The R number is the distance at which your eyes would sit at the center of the curve: 1 meter (39 inches) for 1000R and 1.8 meters (71 inches) for 1800R. You don't need to sit exactly there. Most people sit closer than that, and the curve still brings the edges closer to you than a flat panel of the same width would.
Is 800R too aggressive for a desktop monitor?
It can be for regular desktop work, where it feels enveloping, but it works well for sim racing and flight sims. A fixed 800R monitor has its curve center about 80 cm (31.5 in) in front of the screen, close to a desk seat, so it suits a single user with controlled seating. It is a specialist curve rather than a default for 49-inch ultrawides, where 1000R, 1800R, and 3800R are common.

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