Choosing The Right Monitor: Understanding Screen Size

Knowing the size of your monitor is important for several reasons. It can help you determine the quality of your viewing experience, ensure you have the right setup, and make informed decisions when buying or upgrading your monitor. While computer monitors come in standard and widescreen versions, with sizes typically ranging from 13 to 43 inches for desktops and 11.6 to 17 inches for laptops, determining the exact size of your monitor can be done through manual measurement or by checking the model number and specifications.

Check your Windows display settings

Checking your monitor size on a Windows computer is a simple process. Here are step-by-step instructions for finding out your monitor size:

• Right-click on your desktop and select "Display settings" from the context menu. This will open the Display settings page.
• Scroll down and click on "Advanced scaling settings" under "Scale and layout".
• On the Advanced scaling settings page, click on "Advanced sizing of text and other items".
• This will open the Control Panel's "Screen Resolution" settings. This page will show a diagram of your monitor(s) with their resolutions listed underneath.
• To find your monitor size, look for the diagonal measurement of your screen. This is typically listed in inches, such as "24 inches" or "27 inches". You can find this information in the monitor's specifications or in the documentation that came with your computer.
• If you can't find the diagonal measurement, you can calculate it using your monitor's resolution and aspect ratio. Use the following formula: Diagonal screen size = √(height^2 + width^2). For example, if your monitor has a resolution of 1920 x 1080 and an aspect ratio of 16:9, the diagonal screen size would be approximately 21.5 inches.
• Once you know your monitor size, you can adjust your scaling settings to change how text and other items appear on your screen.

Other methods for Windows users

If you recently purchased your monitor, the size should be listed on the receipt or packing list. You can also find the model number on the back of the monitor and look up the corresponding monitor size on the manufacturer's website or through a search engine.

If you prefer a hands-on approach, you can physically measure your monitor size using a tape measure or ruler. First, turn off your monitor and unplug it from any power source. Then, measure the distance from the top-left corner of your screen to the bottom-right corner, moving diagonally across the screen. Note the measurement in centimetres or inches.

Check your Mac display settings

To check your Mac display settings, follow these steps:

• Click on the Apple icon in the upper-left corner of the screen.
• Select "About This Mac".
• In the window that appears, click on the "Displays" tab.
• On the next screen, you will see information about the display(s) you have built-in or attached to your Mac.
• The screen resolution is the set of numbers listed after the size of the display. For example, "27-inch (2560 x 1440)" indicates a 27-inch display with a 2560 x 1440-pixel resolution.
• If you have multiple displays connected to your Mac, you will see all of them listed here.
• To adjust your resolution settings, click on the "Displays Preferences" button, which will take you to the "System Preferences" where you can modify your display settings.

Alternatively, you can use a tape measure or ruler to physically measure your screen size. Here's how:

• Turn off your monitor and unplug it from the power source.
• Measure the distance from the top-left corner of your screen to the bottom-right corner, moving diagonally across the screen.
• Note the measurement in inches or centimetres. This will give you the diagonal measurement of your screen, which is the standard way to measure monitor size.

By checking your Mac display settings, you can find out the size of your monitor and adjust the resolution to suit your needs.

Physically measure your monitor

To physically measure your monitor, you will need a measuring tape or a ruler.

First, place the measuring tape or ruler at the bottom-left corner of the screen. Then, extend it diagonally to the top-right corner. The measurement you read at the end will be the size of your monitor in inches.

Alternatively, you can measure the width and height of the screen in inches and use the Pythagorean theorem to calculate the diagonal length. For example, if the height is 10 inches, multiply that by itself (10x10=100). Then, multiply the length, 16 inches, by itself (16x16=256). Add the two numbers together (100+256=356), then find the square root of the sum (√356=18.9).

Check the model number

If you want to know the size of your monitor, you can check the model number. The model number of the monitor usually includes the size of the monitor. For example, an Acer 20-inch screen could have a model number of S201HL. The "20" after the "S" indicates the size of the monitor. Typically, a model number starts with one or two letters, followed by numbers. The first two numbers after the letters usually represent the size of the monitor. If you're still unsure, you can search for the model number online to find out the exact size.

Check your laptop specifications

There are several ways to check your laptop specifications and find the size of your monitor.

Check the Manufacturer's Website

One way to find your monitor size is to look up your laptop's model number on the manufacturer's website. You can usually find the model number in the specifications or documentation that came with your laptop. Alternatively, you can find the model number by following these steps:

• Press the Windows key and "R" on your keyboard simultaneously to open the Run dialog box.
• Type "msinfo32" in the Run dialog box and press Enter.
• On the displayed page, locate the System Model name.
• Search for this model name in a web browser, which should direct you to the manufacturer's website. Here, you can find the comprehensive specifications of your laptop, including the screen size.

Check the Manufacturer's Manual

When you purchase a new laptop, it usually comes with a manufacturer's manual, a small booklet that includes all your laptop's specifications, including the screen size.

Physically Measure Your Screen

You can also physically measure your screen size using a tape measure or ruler. Here's how:

• Turn off your monitor and unplug it from any power source.
• Measure the distance from the top-left corner of your screen to the bottom-right corner diagonally.
• Note the measurement in centimetres or inches.

Check Your Display Settings

If you're using a Windows computer, you can check your display settings to find your monitor size:

• Right-click on your desktop and select "Display settings" from the context menu.
• Click "Advanced scaling settings" under "Scale and layout".
• On the Advanced scaling settings page, click "Advanced sizing of text and other items".
• This will open the Control Panel's "Screen Resolution" settings, where you can view a diagram of your monitor(s) with their resolutions listed underneath.
• To find your monitor size, look for the diagonal measurement of your screen, usually listed in inches (e.g. "24 inches" or "27 inches").

It's important to note that screen size and screen resolution are different. Screen size refers to the physical dimensions of your screen in inches, while screen resolution refers to the number of pixels on the screen, which affects picture quality.

Frequently asked questions