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How big is a 42-inch 16:9 monitor? Dimensions, desk depth and seat distance

By TechCompare · Updated · How we check

A 42-inch 16:9 screen is about 93.0 cm (36.61 inches)36.61 inches (93.0 cm) wide and 52.3 cm (20.59 inches)20.59 inches (52.3 cm) tall. Frame and stand aren't counted here.

The 42" 16:9 monitor panel next to a 32" 16:9 reference

Drawn to scale so you can see the size difference at a glance

42" 16:9 monitor: 93.0 cm (36.6 in)36.6 in (93.0 cm) × 52.3 cm (20.6 in)20.6 in (52.3 cm) · 4863 cm² (754 in²)754 in² (4863 cm²)
32" 16:9: 70.8 cm (27.9 in)27.9 in (70.8 cm) × 39.8 cm (15.7 in)15.7 in (39.8 cm) · 2823 cm² (438 in²)438 in² (2823 cm²)
Width difference: 22.1 cm (8.7 in)8.7 in (22.1 cm) (23.8%) · Height difference: 12.5 cm (4.9 in)4.9 in (12.5 cm) (23.8%) · Area ratio: 0.58×
Both panels share a corner and are drawn at the same scale, so the extra width and height of the larger screen are true to size. Open these two in the full Screen Size Comparison ›
This exact 42″ vs 32″ overlay, pre-loaded. Swap the reference, change either panel, or flip units.
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A 42-inch 16:9 screen measures 93.0 cm (36.61 inches)36.61 inches (93.0 cm) wide by 52.3 cm (20.59 inches)20.59 inches (52.3 cm) tall, giving you about 4863 cm² (754 square inches)754 square inches (4863 cm²) of screen area. LG sells its 42-inch 4K OLED as a TV rather than a monitor, so the desk fit is up to you. It's about 72% more area than a 32-inch.

Dimensions
93.0 cm × 52.3 cm36.6" × 20.6"
36.6" × 20.6"93.0 cm × 52.3 cm
Screen area
754 sq in
4863 cm²
Aspect ratio
16:9
106.7 cm (42") diagonal42" (106.7 cm) diagonal

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How this is calculated

In metric, 93.0 cm wide by 52.3 cm tall, or about 4863 cm². The panel is 21 inches tall, which is why the seat matters. The 40-degree seat sits 1.3 m (4.2 ft)4.2 ft (1.3 m) back, and the 30-degree seat sits 1.7 m (5.7 ft)5.7 ft (1.7 m) back. Your desk has to hold that distance plus the stand, or the panel goes on a wall mount behind the desk.

Verdict

Use a 42-inch 4K panel only if your desk is deep enough for the 40-degree seat, 1.3 m (4.2 ft)4.2 ft (1.3 m) from the screen, or you're ready to wall mount it. The panel measures 93.0 cm (36.61 in)36.61 in (93.0 cm) wide by 52.3 cm (20.59 in)20.59 in (52.3 cm) tall for about 4863 cm² (754 in²)754 in² (4863 cm²) of area. Width isn't the problem: a 48-inch (122 cm) desk holds the panel with room at each side.

Pixel density is the weak spot. At 105 PPI, the panel is a little less dense than a 27-inch 1440p monitor at 109 PPI, so small text looks softer up close. Closer than 83 cm (33 inches)33 inches (83 cm), single pixels show.

The rest is use. OLED panels can hold burn-in when a taskbar or game HUD stays in one place for hours, so hide static items when you can.

More Screen Size scenarios

24" 16:9 monitor
The classic desktop size: big enough for a browser plus sidebar, and it fits on any desk.
View details
27" 16:9 monitor
A 27-inch 16:9 monitor measures 23.53 inches (59.8 cm) wide by 13.24 inches (33.6 cm) tall, giving you about 312 square inches (2010 cm²) of screen area, excluding the bezel.
View details
32" 16:9 monitor
A 32-inch 16:9 monitor measures 27.89 inches (70.8 cm) wide by 15.69 inches (39.8 cm) tall, giving you about 438 square inches (2823 cm²) of screen area.
View details

Related guides

42-inch TV as monitor viewing distance
The seat distance that fits a 42-inch screen on a desk.
View guide
Single 42" OLED on a standard desk
The desk footprint and depth for a 42-inch OLED.
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Single 42" OLED on a monitor arm
Weight, VESA and clamp checks for a 42-inch OLED arm.
View guide
55" 16:9 TV screen size
The next size up, for a room with a longer seat.
View guide
Screen size chart
Width, height and area of common screen sizes, in inches and cm.
View guide

Frequently asked questions

What are the exact dimensions of a 42-inch 16:9 screen?
A 42-inch 16:9 screen is 93.0 cm (36.61 inches)36.61 inches (93.0 cm) wide and 52.3 cm (20.59 inches)20.59 inches (52.3 cm) tall, with about 4863 cm² (754 square inches)754 square inches (4863 cm²) of area. A TV's frame and stand add to the outside size, so check the 'without stand' figure for a wall mount.
How deep does a desk need to be for a 42-inch screen?
Start with where your eyes sit, not the desk edge. Add the stand's depth behind the screen, and if the total is more than your desk holds, a wall mount or a deeper desk is the fix.
What PPI does a 42-inch 4K screen have?
About 105 PPI. For comparison, a 27-inch 1440p monitor runs 109 PPI.
Is a 42-inch OLED good for PC gaming?
It can be, mainly for dark scenes and games with deep shadows, where OLED contrast stands out. If one window sits on screen all day, a different panel type may suit you better.

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