Glossary A–ZLetter S
Screen size (diagonal)
Screen size is the distance between two opposite corners of the visible picture area and is usually given in inches.
One inch equals 2.54 centimetres. A 55-inch display therefore has a diagonal of just under 140 centimetres.
The diagonal is the usual size figure when buying. How wide and high a screen actually is only follows together with the aspect ratio. At 16:9, a 55-inch display is about 122 centimetres wide and 68 centimetres high. For planning on the wall, in a recess or in a totem, the bezel and enclosure that add to the picture area also count.
A common misunderstanding is that a larger diagonal is automatically easier to read. Whether content can be seen well also depends on viewing distance, resolution and design. Two displays with the same diagonal but different aspect ratios have picture areas of different sizes. It is therefore worth checking the dimensions in the data sheet before ordering.