How to Use the Monitor Size & Resolution Calculator
Enter your typical viewing distance in inches, and this tool suggests a comfortable monitor size range along with a matching resolution to reduce eye strain. It's a useful check before buying a new monitor or rearranging your desk setup.
For general office and desktop use, the recommended viewing distance is roughly 1.5 to 2.5 times the screen's diagonal size. A screen that's too large for a short distance forces your eyes to keep scanning back and forth, while a screen too small for a longer distance makes you lean forward to read text — both add up to more strain and worse posture over a workday.
Resolution matters just as much as size. At the same resolution, a larger screen has lower pixel density (PPI), which can make text and images look softer. As a general guide, 24 inches and under works well at FHD (1920x1080), 27-32 inches benefits from QHD (2560x1440) or higher, and anything above 32 inches should go 4K (3840x2160) to stay sharp.
Frequently Asked Questions
They need to be considered together. A screen too large for your distance forces your eyes and neck to keep moving to take it all in, while one too small makes you lean in to read text or details.
At the same resolution, a bigger screen has lower pixel density (PPI), which can look softer. As a rule, FHD suits 24 inches and under, QHD or higher suits 27-32 inches, and 4K is recommended above 32 inches.