And, if your working space is tight, you’ll be able to reconsider the size, resolution and pixel density of the display in order to counterbalance the distance.Īs you can see, all these elements-display resolution, pixel density, size of the display and minimum viewing distance-are interlinked and for best results should be reviewed together. The ‘minimum viewing distance’ is a compelling factor that should be examined ahead of buying a monitor, as it will allow you-amongst other ergonomic details-to check if your desk has enough depth to grant the required distance between your eyes and the screen. You may get relatively close to the computer screen when you’re performing a task that requires focus and attention, while some other times you may want to recline on your chair, increasing the distance between your eyes and the display. If you pay attention to your own posture while sitting at your desk during a normal working day, you’ll probably find that you tend to adjust your viewing position at short intervals. However, the ‘minimum viewing distance’ can provide very useful information when comparing monitors, especially when you’re considering the physical constraints of your room and the size of your desk. Recommended viewing distances should be taken as a guide-scientific consensus regarding the resolution of the human eye has changed over time and every person’s experience is different. Mobile devices-such as phones, tablets and high-end laptops-are excluded from the chart above as they normally have smaller screens with very high pixel densities, specifically designed to be used at very short viewing distances.

Pixel Density and Minimum Viewing Distance chart To help you compare, I have compiled a list of some of the most commonly found monitor sizes, resolutions and related pixel densities (see chart below), including the minimum viewing distance for each display.

This calculation is often simplified by assuming a user with 20/20 vision, which is what is considered the average clarity of vision of the population. There are formulas and online calculators designed to work out the minimum viewing distance for a particular screen. Minimum Viewing Distance is, consequently, the minimum distance you should keep between your eyes and the screen if you want to avoid distinguishing individual pixels on the display. Therefore, if you were to sit at-or farther than-a defined ‘minimum viewing distance’ from your monitor, you wouldn't be able to see the individual pixels on the screen, increasing the perceived sharpness of the images. There is a maximum level of detail that the naked human eye is able to discern at a distance. While all of these aspects are important, the key here is to understand how these elements combine and influence each other. how far you sit from the screen or how good is your eyesight. Some of these factors are physical elements of the actual monitor, like ‘resolution standard’, ‘screen size’ and ‘pixel density’, while others are a bit more subjective, e.g.

But several conditions come into play when we examine the perceived resolution of a display. ‘Resolution’ is one of the first words you’ll encounter in the ‘specifications’ of a computer monitor.

Best resolution calculator