Best Monitor Size For Gaming [Ultimate Guide]
If you are a gamer, the properties of the monitor you choose to use significantly impact your overall gaming experience. The resolution, refresh rate, color accuracy, and most importantly, the size of the monitor are some of the crucial properties that you need to critically consider before choosing a gaming monitor to buy.
In this article, our focus will be on size. If you are keen to learn more about the appropriate size of a gaming monitor, keep reading. We shall discuss the appropriate size of a gaming monitor for different scenarios. By the end of this article, you will surely have a concrete answer of the monitor size you need based on how you would love to play your games.
Let’s get started
What Is The Best Monitor Size For Gaming?
For most people, the sweet spot for a gaming monitor is usually between 24 to 27″. Most gamers find 24″ monitors good enough for most games as long they have a resolution of at least 1080P. Most Pro gamers also love using 24″ monitors because they are the standard size for most tournaments and also limit head movement to ensure full focus.
Best Viewing Distance
One of the major factors that determine the size of the gaming monitor you need is the viewing distance. The further you are from the monitor, the larger the monitor you will likely need. But what is the ideal viewing distance for the best gaming experience? For the best experience, the ideal viewing distance is usually 1.5 to 2.5 times the monitor size.
For instance, if you are gaming on a 24-inch monitor, it is best to sit 36 to 60 inches (3 to 5 feet) away from the screen. That means for larger monitors, like 27 or 32-inches, you will need to be even further away for better viewing. Sitting too close to a big monitor will usually lead to more head movement, which is generally not good, especially for those who game for several hours.
It is also best to choose a distance where the light from the screen doesn’t strain your eyes. If you realize you are straining your eyes while looking at the monitor, you can either get close or far away from your monitor till you get to a position where you can comfortably view the screen without any straining.
Best 1080p Monitor Size for Gaming
Another crucial factor you need to consider while choosing the best monitor size for gaming is the resolution. For a 1080P monitor, we recommend not choosing Anything above 24″. A 24″ 1080P monitor has a pixel density of 92, which is usually good enough for most games. More pixels per inch usually translate into a much sharper and clearer image.
Having a pixel density less than 90 will usually make the images start looking blurred, especially when you get closer to the monitor. So, if you decide to go for a 1080P monitor, you should consider choosing one with 20, 21, 22, or 24 inches for the best image quality. But if someone gifts you a 27″ 1080P monitor, you can still use it, but your images will not be as sharp and clear as someone using a 24″ monitor or smaller with the same resolution.
The good news is that 1080P gaming monitors are becoming cheaper; you can now get good quality 24″ 1080P gaming monitors with a high refresh rate for as low as $200 on Amazon. With 1080P, you will have the freedom to even go for monitors with higher refresh rates without significantly paying more money. For instance, this Asus 24″ gaming monitor supports up to 144Hz refresh rate at just $200. As a gamer, you are better off getting a 1080P monitor with a higher refresh rate than a 4K that supports only 60Hz.
1440P is becoming a common resolution configuration in several gaming monitors today. This configuration gives you slightly more pixels per inch than the 1080p option; you will obviously get a clearer image too. The best monitor size for a 1440p resolution monitor is usually 27″ or 32″. But a 24″ also does a better job if you want a clearer image.
With a 1440P 27″ monitor, you will be getting a pixel density of 108ppi, which is above the 92ppi that we get on the 24″ 1080p monitor. The 1440P 32″ is also a good option for those who need a larger display. It will give you a pixel density of 92ppi, just like the popular 1080p 24″ monitors.
For people who want larger displays, you will be okay going for a 27 or 32″ with 1440p resolution. These options will give you a sharp and clear image. The advantage of going for the smaller size is that you will have some extra dollars to get one with a higher refresh rate.
However, you need to ensure the games you are playing support 1440p or higher resolution if you are to take advantage of all the pixels in your display. If the games or your computing hardware can’t support a resolution more than 1080P, you are better off going for the 24″ or 27″ full HD option.
But all in all, if you are choosing a 1440p monitor, it is best to go for displays between 24″ to 32″ for the best image quality. However, for this resolution, the sweet spot for most gamers is 27″. Anything above 32″ will ruin your experience not only because of the more head movement you will have to make but also the image quality.
1440p monitors are also not so expensive like they used to be a couple of years back. You can get yourself a good Samsung or LG 27″ 1440p gaming monitor for as low as $299. They are almost $100 more expensive than the 24″ 1080p option. However, the extra cost is worth it if you are the kind of person that wants to get a good image quality on a monitor larger than 24″.
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The ideal size for any 4K gaming monitor is 27 or 32″. Yes, even a 42 or 43″ monitor will give you a really good image because both of these at 4K will have a pixel density that is over 100ppi. However, monitors more than 32″ are not ideal for gaming since they will require you to be more than 5 feet away to get the best experience.
4K gaming monitors are still not as popular as 1080P or 1440P for 2 reasons. 1) They give you less value for money when compared to the Full HD and 2K options. 2) Most games do support 4K resolution at high refresh rates. For most gamers, the experience is way better if they play 1080p games at higher framerates (120Hz or 144Hz) than playing 4K at 60Hz.
But if your favorite games are playable at higher framerates while in the 4K resolutions, then go grab yourself a 27 or 28″ 4K monitor because you will surely have a better image than someone playing the same game in 1080p or 1440p. Before you go ahead to spend more than $700 on a gaming monitor, check the maximum resolution and framerate configurations of your favorite games to determine whether you really need a 4K monitor.
Most of the popular games are still locked at 60fps if you want to play them in 4K. However, if you are buying a monitor that you intend to use for a couple of years to come, then a 4K option would be a good investment. A 4K 120Hz or 144Hz monitor will cost you over $600 if you want to get one from the top brands like LG, Samsung, or Sony.
UltraWide gaming monitors are the ideal option for people who want to have a wider field of view while gaming. These monitors have a 21:9 aspect ratio compared to the standard 16:9 that we are all used to. The ideal monitor size for this aspect ratio is 34″ with a 1440P resolution. A 1080p option is not good enough for a monitor of this size. Its pixel density is similar to what you would get on a 27″ 1080P monitor with the standard aspect ratio.
So, if you choose to go ultrawide, 34″ (3440×1440 resolution) is the best option for the best gaming experience. You can get yourself this kind of monitor for about $450 to $700 on Amazon, depending on the brand you choose and other features like the refresh rate.
You can also choose a 4K version if you want to get an even better picture, more so if the games you intend to play support relatively high framerates at this resolution. However, these are usually very expensive (more than $1000) and generally not worth the extra investments since more of the popular games do not utilize all the features they come with.
All in all, ultra-wide monitors are really great for gaming because they give you a wider field of view without having to constantly pan around. If the kind of games you play requires having a wide field of view, then investing in a 34″ ultrawide monitor is worth the extra cost because it will surely enhance your experience.
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The best gaming monitor sizes for higher framerates are 24″ and 27″. The size will usually not affect the framerate of your monitor. It is the resolution that has a major impact. Increasing the resolution of the game will often require lowering the framerates, mainly due to computing limitations.
However, if you have the option of choosing between a smaller monitor with a higher framerate or a bigger one with a lower framerate, then choosing the smaller one will always be a better option. Your gaming experience will always be better at higher framerates compared to having a larger display with the standard 60Hz.
As we have shared above, the size of the monitor you choose to buy will significantly impact your overall gaming experience. While selecting the size to buy, you also need to consider other features, most notably the resolution. Going for a larger screen size (say 32″) with a lower resolution will usually lead to bad picture quality.
The goal is to choose a monitor with a pixel density of at least 90ppi. Anything less than this is not good enough. If you have a tight budget, it is best to buy a smaller monitor with an acceptable pixel density than going for a larger-sized one with a lower pixel density. You are better off viewing small but clear images than the large and blurred ones.
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