Quick answer
Display tools calculate a screen’s pixel density (PPI), print resolution (DPI), a monitor’s real width and height, aspect ratio and resolution names, and the frame time for a refresh rate.
Display Tools covers the math behind screens — how sharp a display actually is, how big a monitor needs to be at a given viewing distance, what resolution and aspect ratio combinations make sense together, and how refresh rate factors into the overall picture. These questions come up whether you’re buying a new monitor, comparing phone or laptop screens by spec sheet, or trying to understand why two displays with the same resolution can look noticeably different in sharpness.
Six tools live in this section. The PPI Calculator measures screen sharpness (pixels per inch), while the DPI Calculator covers print resolution (dots per inch), which is a different question. The Monitor Size Calculator works out a screen’s real width and height from its diagonal and aspect ratio. The Aspect Ratio Calculator and Resolution Calculator handle the relationship between a display’s width-to-height ratio and its pixel resolution, useful when comparing a 16:9 monitor to a 21:9 ultrawide. And the Refresh Rate Calculator turns refresh rate (Hz) into frame time and shows how it relates to motion smoothness.
These tools are commonly used together — for example, checking a monitor’s PPI with the PPI Calculator, then confirming its aspect ratio and resolution combination make sense with the Aspect Ratio Calculator and Resolution Calculator before you buy.
Which One Do You Need?
Which display tool answers your question:
- How sharp is a screen at its size and resolution? PPI Calculator
- How wide and tall is a 27" or 34" monitor? Monitor Size Calculator
- What is 2560 × 1440 called, and how many megapixels? Resolution Calculator
- Is this resolution 16:9, 21:9 or something else? Aspect Ratio Calculator
- What frame time does 144Hz or 240Hz give? Refresh Rate Calculator
- Will this photo print sharp at this size? DPI Calculator
- Which resolution should my next monitor be? 1080p vs 1440p vs 4K
Resolution also decides how hard your graphics card works: the FPS Calculator and the bottleneck pages show the same parts at 1080p, 1440p and 4K.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between DPI and PPI?
PPI (pixels per inch) measures how densely a screen’s actual pixels are packed and is the standard way to describe display sharpness. DPI (dots per inch) is more commonly used for printers and mice/input devices. The terms are sometimes used loosely and interchangeably online, but they technically describe different things.
How do I know what monitor size is right for my desk?
It depends on your viewing distance, the resolution you’re pairing it with, and personal preference, but the Monitor Size Calculator can help you compare physical dimensions across different diagonal sizes and aspect ratios so you’re not guessing from the number alone.
Does a higher refresh rate always mean a better experience?
A higher refresh rate (measured in Hz) generally means smoother-looking motion, but the benefit is capped by your GPU’s ability to actually produce frames at that rate, and by how sensitive you personally are to the difference. See the Refresh Rate Calculator and FPS Calculator for how frame rate and refresh rate interact.