Monitor Distance And Height Calculator

Work out monitor distance and height instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Monitor Distance And Height Calculator

Viewing distance scales with screen width, about 1.2 times the width for comfortable text reading. Screen centre should sit 15 to 20 degrees below eye level, because the relaxed resting gaze is downward, so the height drop is the viewing distance times the tangent of that angle. The top of the screen should be at or just below eye level.

Formulas

Viewing distance

Distance = screen width x 1.2; width = diagonal x 0.8716 for a 16:9 panel

Screen height

Centre height = eye height - distance x tan(viewing angle)

Worked example

With the default values below, Monitor Distance And Height Calculator returns Recommended viewing distance of 71.7. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Seated eye height above the flooraccepts 80–160 cm: 120 cm
Screen diagonalaccepts 10–60 in: 27 in
Downward viewing angle to screen centreaccepts 0–45 °: 15 °

Results

Recommended viewing distance: 71.7 cm
Height of screen centre: 100.8 cm
Height of the top of the screen: 117.6 cm
Screen width at 16 to 9: 59.8 cm

Step by step

1Values used
2Viewing distance
3Screen height
4Recommended viewing distance= 71.7 cm
5Height of screen centre= 100.8 cm
6Height of the top of the screen= 117.6 cm
7Screen width at 16 to 9= 59.8 cm

Assumptions and limits

The result is derived only from the 3 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
Figures are rounded for display to 1 decimal place, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.
Preliminary estimate only. Display screen equipment assessment should follow the applicable regulations and consider individual vision correction.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Preliminary estimate only. Display screen equipment assessment should follow the applicable regulations and consider individual vision correction.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the Monitor Distance And Height figure worked out?

Distance = screen width x 1.2; width = diagonal x 0.8716 for a 16:9 panel. Viewing distance scales with screen width, about 1.2 times the width for comfortable text reading.

Why should the screen be below eye level?

Looking slightly down is the natural resting position and it keeps the eyelids partly covering the eye, which reduces tear evaporation and dry eye symptoms.

What values do I need to enter?

This calculator takes 3 inputs: Seated eye height above the floor, Screen diagonal, Downward viewing angle to screen centre. The pre-filled defaults are a realistic worked example — replace them with your own site or project figures.