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Screen Size Comparison

Screen A

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

Screen A: 53.1 cm × 29.9 cm - 1587.9 cm²

About this tool

The Screen Size Comparison tool translates diagonal inches into real physical dimensions, including width, height, and total viewing area, so you can see what a display will actually look like on your desk, wall, or in your hand. Screen sizes are almost always quoted as a single diagonal number, which is deceptive: a 34-inch 21:9 ultrawide and a 34-inch 16:9 monitor share a headline spec but occupy completely different footprints.

Use it whenever you're upgrading a monitor, TV, phone, or tablet and want to know how much extra space it will occupy or how much more content will fit on screen. Enter each device's diagonal in inches plus its aspect ratio (16:9, 21:9, 32:9, 4:3, 3:2, or anything custom) and the tool returns width and height in millimetres and inches, plus the total screen area so you can directly compare two options by something more meaningful than a diagonal.

Formula

Given a diagonal D and aspect ratio width:height = w:h, the screen width is D × w / sqrt(w² + h²) and the height is D × h / sqrt(w² + h²). Area is simply width × height. Percentage differences between two displays are computed from their areas, not their diagonals, which is why a 10% larger diagonal usually means roughly 21% more screen area.

When to use it

Reach for this when you're deciding between two monitor sizes, picking a TV for a specific room, or comparing phone generations where diagonal marketing masks a narrower or taller new aspect ratio. Pair it with the PPI Calculator to check whether the bigger screen is actually sharper, and the Curved Monitor Visualizer if you're weighing a flat 32-inch against a curved 34-inch ultrawide.

Frequently asked questions

How do I compare a 27-inch monitor to a 32-inch monitor?
Enter both diagonal sizes along with their aspect ratios (both 16:9 for typical monitors). A 32-inch 16:9 display has roughly 39% more screen area than a 27-inch 16:9 display, noticeably larger, but often the same 1440p pixel count, which means lower pixel density on the bigger screen.
Why does the same diagonal look bigger in 16:9 than 21:9?
Diagonal size doesn't describe the screen, it only describes one line across it. A 34-inch 21:9 ultrawide is about 80 cm wide but only 34 cm tall, while a 34-inch 16:9 display would be around 75 cm wide and 42 cm tall. Same diagonal, very different shape and area.
Is screen area more important than diagonal size?
For productivity, yes. Screen area determines how much content fits on screen at a readable size. A 32-inch 16:9 monitor gives you roughly 2,160 cm² of real estate versus about 2,830 cm² for a dual-27-inch setup, which is why many users prefer two smaller monitors over one large one.
How big is a 55-inch TV compared to a 65-inch TV?
A 65-inch 16:9 TV is about 18% wider, 18% taller, and 40% larger in area than a 55-inch. Viewing distance matters: the step up from 55 to 65 inches is usually only worth it if you sit within about 2-2.5 metres of the screen.
What's the difference between screen size and display size?
Marketing uses "screen size" to mean the diagonal of the visible panel, measured corner to corner. "Display size" can also include the bezel in some older specs, so a display advertised as 27-inch class might have a 26.9-inch viewable area. Our calculator assumes you're entering the viewable diagonal.
Can I compare a phone and a tablet side by side?
Yes, enter each device's diagonal and aspect ratio (phones are typically 19.5:9 or 20:9, tablets 4:3 or 16:10). You'll see exact width and height in millimetres, which is the fastest way to check whether a new tablet actually has more usable area than your current phone.

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