Screen Resolution Calculator
Calculate resolution, PPI, aspect ratio, pixel density, and megapixels in seconds. Enter custom values or use presets for MacBook, iMac, iPhone, 1080p, 1440p, 4K, and 8K displays.
Needed to calculate PPI (pixels per inch)
Common export sizes at 16:9
Common screen resolutions
| Name | Resolution | Aspect ratio | Megapixels | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD (720p) | 1280 x 720 | 16:9 | 0.9 MP | Minimum for web video |
| Full HD (1080p) | 1920 x 1080 | 16:9 | 2.1 MP | Standard for tutorials and sharing |
| QHD (1440p) | 2560 x 1440 | 16:9 | 3.7 MP | Crisp software demos |
| 4K UHD | 3840 x 2160 | 16:9 | 8.3 MP | High-detail recordings, future-proofing |
| 5K | 5120 x 2880 | 16:9 | 14.7 MP | Pro displays (Studio Display) |
| 8K UHD | 7680 x 4320 | 16:9 | 33.2 MP | Cutting-edge production |
| MacBook Air 13" | 2560 x 1664 | 16:10 (approx.) | 4.3 MP | Native Retina laptop capture |
| MacBook Pro 14" | 3024 x 1964 | 3:2 (approx.) | 5.9 MP | Native Retina laptop capture |
| iMac 24" (4.5K) | 4480 x 2520 | 16:9 | 11.3 MP | Native Retina desktop capture |
| Vertical (9:16) | 1080 x 1920 | 9:16 | 2.1 MP | TikTok, Reels, Shorts |
Why use our screen resolution calculator?
- Instant results as you type - no submit button, no page reload
- One-click presets for MacBook, iMac, iPhone, 1080p, 1440p, 4K, and 8K displays
- PPI and dot pitch calculated from your screen diagonal
- Detects the closest standard aspect ratio (16:9, 16:10, 21:9, and more)
- Shows matching export sizes for screen recordings at your aspect ratio
- Free, private, and runs entirely in your browser
Frequently asked questions
What is screen resolution?
Screen resolution is the number of pixels a display can show, expressed as width by height - for example 1920 x 1080. More pixels means more detail can be shown at once. Resolution alone does not tell you how sharp a screen looks; that also depends on the physical size of the screen, which is what PPI measures.
How is PPI calculated?
PPI (pixels per inch) is the diagonal pixel count divided by the diagonal size in inches: PPI = sqrt(width^2 + height^2) / diagonal. For example, a 27-inch 4K monitor is sqrt(3840^2 + 2160^2) / 27 = 163 PPI.
What PPI counts as a Retina display?
Apple uses "Retina" for displays where individual pixels are not visible at typical viewing distance. For laptops and desktops that is roughly 218 PPI and above (MacBook Pro 14" is 254 PPI, iMac 24" is 218 PPI). Phones are held closer, so they need higher densities - modern iPhones are around 460 PPI.
What is aspect ratio and why does it matter?
Aspect ratio is the proportional relationship between width and height. 16:9 is the standard for monitors, TVs, and video platforms like YouTube. 16:10 is common on MacBooks, 21:9 and 32:9 on ultrawide monitors, and 9:16 for vertical video on TikTok, Reels, and Shorts. Matching your export aspect ratio to the destination avoids letterboxing and cropping.
What resolution should I record my screen at?
Record at your display's native resolution for the sharpest result, then export at a standard size. 1080p (1920 x 1080) is the safe default for sharing and tutorials, 1440p or 4K is better for software demos with small UI text. If you record on a Retina Mac, your capture is often 2x the logical resolution, which downscales beautifully to 1080p or 1440p.
What are megapixels on a display?
Megapixels is the total pixel count divided by one million. A 1080p display is about 2.1 MP, 1440p is 3.7 MP, 4K is 8.3 MP, and 8K is 33.2 MP. Doubling resolution in each dimension quadruples the pixel count, which is why 4K video files and exports are much larger than 1080p.
Recording your screen?
Tight Studio is an all-in-one screen recorder and video editor for Mac. Record, edit, and share polished demos in minutes.
- Screen recording with smart auto-zoom
- Built-in video editor with real-time effects
- AI narration and automatic captions
- One-click shareable links
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