How Do You Find the Right Monitor Size for Your Distance?
When buying a new monitor, people often ask "how big should I get?" — but what actually matters is the real distance from your desk to the screen. The same 27-inch monitor can feel overwhelming at 40cm but too small to read at 100cm. This calculator takes your actual viewing distance and works backward to the monitor size range that's easiest on your eyes.
Why the Distance-to-Size Ratio Matters
A monitor with too wide a viewing angle forces your eyes to keep moving across the screen, building fatigue, while one that's too small pulls your body forward to read text comfortably. Eye strain is generally lowest when the viewing distance (cm) falls between 2.2 and 2.8 times the monitor's diagonal size (inches).
Choosing Based on Your Desk Setup
If your desk is too shallow to increase the distance, it's better to pick a smaller monitor within the calculated range rather than a large one. Bumping the resolution up to QHD or 4K can keep text sharp even on a smaller screen, reducing eye strain without needing more desk depth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Eye strain is lowest when distance (cm) is 2.2-2.8x the monitor size (inches).
Pick a smaller monitor within range and raise resolution to compensate.
No — TVs recommend 3x the diagonal size or more; the standard differs.