Display PPI and Viewing-Distance Calculator
Loading this tool…
If the tool does not appear, check your connection and reload this page.
Enable JavaScript to use the calculator. The explanations and worked example below remain available.
Understand your display calculation
How to calculate PPI and viewing distance
Enter the visible screen diagonal in inches, choose the native resolution or enter custom horizontal and vertical pixel counts, and measure the distance from your eyes to the screen in centimetres. Choose a planning profile to compare the same screen at different seating distances. The geometry assumes a flat rectangular image with square pixels and a centered viewing position.
PPI, pixel pitch, pixels per degree, and field of view
PPI is the diagonal pixel count divided by the diagonal size in inches. Pixel pitch is 25.4 divided by PPI, in millimetres. Neither changes when you move your chair. Field of view describes the angle occupied by the screen; the displayed PPD is horizontal pixels divided by that horizontal angle, an average across the image. Distance changes these angular values, not the panel's physical resolution.
What the planning profiles mean
The desktop profile uses a horizontal field of view of 35–50°, TV uses 30–40°, and mixed use uses 32–45°. These are this calculator's planning assumptions, not universal comfort limits or eyesight requirements. The detail labels are rough comparisons. Text size, scaling, content, and personal preference still matter.
Worked example: 27-inch 1440p at 70 cm
For a 27-inch, 2560 × 1440 display viewed from 70 cm, the calculation gives 108.79 PPI, 0.233 mm pixel pitch, 46.24° horizontal field of view, and 55.36 horizontal PPD. The desktop planning range is approximately 64–95 cm. The live comparison keeps diagonal size and distance fixed while changing resolution.
What this calculator does not measure
This tool does not measure eyesight, panel quality, HDR, refresh rate, response time, or input lag. Curved screens and non-square pixels are not modeled. A higher PPI or PPD alone does not establish which display will look or feel better for your games.