What Size Monitor Should I Get? 24 vs 27 vs 32-Inch Sizes

Pick a monitor size by how far your eyes are from the screen, starting from 50 cm. In this calculation, a 24-inch meets the target from 50 cm eye-to-screen, a 27-inch from 56.73 cm, and a 32-inch from 66.22 cm. Right at those distances it is borderline.

Bigger screens mean sitting farther back. If you want two screens, check your desk width too.

Screen size by eye-to-screen distance

Find your distance in the table to see the largest size that meets the target. Assumptions: distance from eyes to screen surface. For 27- and 32-inch, the target is where the screen’s width looks as wide as a 24-inch does at 50 cm

“Closer” means closer than the target. Closer than 50 cm is closer than the target even for a 24-inch, so move your seat or the screen back.

How to measure your distance, and a calculator

Measure from your eyes to the screen with a tape measure.

1. Sit the way you sit for the longest. Leaning in or sitting back changes the distance
2. Measure from your eyes to the screen surface. With only a laptop, measure to where the monitor will sit
3. Choosing a desk first? Work it out from the desk depth, as in Does a 27-inch monitor fit a 60 cm deep desk?

For example, in this calculation a 27-inch meets its 56.73 cm target at 60 cm, but a 32-inch falls short of its 66.22 cm target.

Screen width by inch size

A “27-inch” is the diagonal of the screen, not its width.

• 24-inch (23.8”): 52.7 cm wide, 29.6 cm tall
• 27-inch: 59.8 cm wide, 33.6 cm tall, with 1.29× the area of a 24-inch
• 32-inch (31.5”): 69.8 cm wide, 39.3 cm tall, with 1.76× the area of a 24-inch

Comparing current models from Dell, LG, BenQ, ASUS and other major brands on their official specs, the width with frame and stand was 1.1–1.7 cm wider than the viewable area.

Two screens and desk width

Among current models from major brands, any model fits two screens on a desk 108.6 cm or wider for 24-inch, 123 cm for 27-inch, 143 cm for 32-inch. Right at those widths it is borderline.

Assumptions: width with stand for current models from major brands, side by side with no gap

• “Left” is the width left over, from the widest model to the narrowest
• Check the stand width on the spec sheet of the monitor you buy

Resolution and pixel size

Display scaling is the setting that makes text and buttons larger. At the same display scaling, text size follows pixel size. 1080p is 1920×1080, 1440p is 2560×1440 and 4K is 3840×2160.

Against a 24-inch 1080p screen at the same scaling, a 27-inch 1440p screen shows text at 0.85× the size and a 4K one at 0.57×. Both make text smaller, so plan to raise the display scaling on 4K.

A 32-inch 1440p screen is 0.99×: the same text size on a bigger screen. A 27-inch 1080p screen shows text at 1.13× the size, with the same screen space.

Raising the scaling shows less on screen at once. The 4K monitor guide works out how much.

Picks by size and resolution

Five combinations checked, 5 models picked. The conditions:

• Sold new on Amazon.com by Amazon or the maker
• The maker’s spec page shows the same model number as the listing
• At least 100 ratings and 4 stars or more

Of the Amazon.com listings checked, each pick is the cheapest that meets them. Listings sold and shipped by Amazon were compared with no shipping charge. Check prices on the store.

For 27-inch 1080p, see Does a 27-inch monitor fit a 60 cm deep desk?.

24-inch 1080p

The smallest combination, with a target of 50 cm or more from eye to screen, borderline right at it.

This listing has a size selector: pick the 24-inch LS24D304GANXZA (the Amazon.com-sold one; the LS24D300GANXZA is a different listing). Whether the ratings are pooled with other sizes wasn't checked.

27-inch 1440p

The standard pick with no scaling change, with a target of 56.73 cm or more from eye to screen, borderline right at it.

27-inch 4K

Used with the scaling raised, with a target of 56.73 cm or more from eye to screen, borderline right at it.

32-inch 1440p

For a wider workspace, with a target of 66.22 cm or more from eye to screen, borderline right at it.

32-inch 4K

For a big screen with fine detail, with a target of 66.22 cm or more from eye to screen, borderline right at it.

FAQ

What size monitor is best?

In this calculation, a 24-inch needs 50 cm eye-to-screen or more, a 27-inch 56.73 cm, a 32-inch 66.22 cm; right at those distances it is borderline.

Is a 27-inch monitor too big?

In this calculation, a 27-inch looks no wider than a 24-inch does at 50 cm once you sit 56.73 cm or more from the screen. Right at that distance it is borderline.

How wide are 24, 27 and 32-inch monitors?

The 24-inch is the 23.8-inch size and the 32-inch is the 31.5-inch size. The viewable width is 52.7 cm for a 24-inch, 59.8 cm for a 27-inch and 69.8 cm for a 32-inch.

Can two monitors fit side by side on a desk?

Among current models from major brands, any model fits two screens on a desk 108.6 cm or wider for 24-inch, 123 cm for 27-inch, 143 cm for 32-inch. Right at those widths it is borderline.

Among current 27-inch models from major brands, none fits two side by side on a 120 cm wide desk. Even the narrowest sticks out 1.94 cm.

1440p or 4K for a 27-inch monitor?

Against a 24-inch 1080p screen at the same scaling, a 27-inch 1440p screen shows text at 0.85× the size and a 4K one at 0.57×. Both make text smaller, so plan to raise the display scaling on 4K.

Is 1080p too blurry on a 27-inch monitor?

Against a 24-inch 1080p screen at the same scaling, a 27-inch 1080p screen shows text at 1.13× the size, with the same screen space. Bigger pixels make the picture a little less sharp.