Best monitor size for gaming 2024 – display sizes compared
All you need to know about different monitor sizes - especially for gaming
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What is the best monitor size for gaming? While it might seem like a fairly easy-to-answer question, finding the perfect size monitor for your needs has become much more difficult at sizes available sizes continue to expand. Today’s market is a sea of available monitor sizes, ranging from the portable 13-15″ monitor right up to the enthusiast level 55″ and above. As monitors get bigger and better (we’re looking at you, 57″ Samsung Odyssey Neo G9), we’ll keep you updated with what’s the current best screen size for gaming in 2024.
Luckily, we have a ton of experience when it comes to reviewing the best gaming monitors and can confidently recommend what gaming monitor size is right for what game, scenario, or environment. So, if you want to find the best monitor size for gaming, look no further, we have you covered.
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0349″ monitor
Best monitor size for gaming – quick summary
| Monitor size | Usage |
|---|---|
| Up to 18″ | Portable gaming for on the road |
| 23″ – 25″ | 1080p competitive esports |
| 27″ | 1440p gaming |
| 25″ – 29″ | 1080p ultrawide |
| 28″ – 32″ | 4K gaming |
| 34″ ultrawide | 1440p ultrawide gaming |
| 38″ – 49″ ultrawide | Up to 4K ultrawide gaming |
| 55″ or higher | Up to 8K gaming |
How is monitor size measured?
Before we dive too deep into the nitty-gritty, monitor size is measured diagonally, just like TV dimensions. So, a 27-inch monitor will actually be about 24 inches wide and 17 inches tall. In comparison, a 24-inch display will be about 20 inches wide and 12 inches tall. This may not sound like a lot, but there is a pretty significant bump in available screen space for every few diagonal inches you get.
In fact, you can figure it out by just finding the area. Multiply 18 by 10 and you get 180 square inches. Multiply 20 by 12 and you get 240 square inches. A mere two diagonal inches gives you 60 square inches. Below, we’re going to dive into the standard monitor sizes and common resolutions that go along with them.
What are the standard monitor sizes?
There are a number of ‘standard’ monitor sizes – basically those of which are most commonly found on monitors. These have changed over the years as new standards come into place, specifically for ultrawide and super ultrawide displays. Let’s take a look.
22-inch monitor
There are a plethora of gaming monitor sizes to chose from, with manufacturers catering for every budget and environment. A commonplace to start is around the 22-inch mark but gaming monitors can go all the way up to 49″ ultrawide and this is before we even get on to gaming TVs!
Considered on the smaller side nowadays, 22-inch monitors often have anywhere from a 1366×768 to a 1920×1080 (Full HD/1080p) resolution. These have been pretty much wiped out by the spread of 24-inch monitors, but you’ll still see a few of them popping up as solid budget options.
24-inch monitor
BenQ ZOWIE XL2546K
Refresh Rate
240Hz
Response time
1ms (GtG)
Screen size
24.5″
Resolution
1920 x 1080
24-inch monitors are the standard and are most frequently seen with a 1080p resolution. You may also see some 1440p and even 4K 24-inch monitors out there, but these aren’t typically considered ideal for this resolution.
27-inch monitor
ASUS TUF Gaming VG279QM
Size
27″
Refresh Rate
280Hz
Response Time
1ms
Panel
IPS
Maximum Resolution
1920 x 1080
27-inch monitors are usually seen with 1440p resolutions nowadays, though occasionally you’ll see 1080p or 4K on them as well. 27-inch monitors are the norm these days, with even the odd esports fanatics picking this up over the more sensible 24-inch.
32-inch monitor
ASUS ROG SWIFT PG32UQX
Refresh Rate
144hz
Response time
4ms GTG
Screen size
32”
Resolution
3840 x 2160
This is where some of you might be thinking: “Wait, isn’t that just a TV?”. While 32-inch monitors are on the larger side, they still hold a place with some gamers, offering a better viewing experience, and are usually found with resolutions anywhere from 1080p to 4K, with full 4K being your best option for this larger display.
49-inch monitor
Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 (S49AG95NC)
Refresh rate
240Hz
Response time
1ms GTG
Screen size
48.8″
Resolution
5120 x 1440
The 49-inch Super ultrawide monitor is currently a smash hit amongst gamers – with AAA games looking absolutely fantastic on this size and aspect ratio. Beware though, a 49-inch monitor doesn’t come cheap, but if budget is no bother, playing games like Flight Simulator or racing games get taken to an entirely new level.
Bigger, smaller, and everything in-between
There are smaller, larger, and in-between displays. There’s nothing magically different about in-between sizes; they’re just out of the norm. However, we truly recommend sticking in the 24 to 27-inch range for most users. Any smaller and you compromise too much screen space, any larger and it starts to defeat the purpose of using a desktop to begin with. Sometimes a 32″ monitor is really great if you want a fully immersive 4K experience though, there are even 42″ or bigger 16:9 monitors like the ASUS PG42UQ which is stepping in TV territory.
What about ultrawide displays?
Most modern monitors have an aspect ratio of 16:9. Although 16:10 is seen somewhat rarely (and more commonly in laptops), for the sake of this article, we’re assuming the monitors to be 16:9. However, there has been influx of 21:9 monitors in the market for a while now, otherwise known as “Ultrawides”. These have since been one-upped by 32:9 monitors, which can be known as super ultrawide.
Make no mistake, ultrawide monitors can be a great option depending on the game title you favor most. Racing games, in particular, look their absolute best with an ultrawide, so getting a monitor with a high resolution could make a lot of sense. Our best monitor for iRacing guide will help you out there. Not every genre is really suited for this kind of resolution though. Some modern FPS titles, for instance, won’t support a horizontal FOV wider than 90 degrees. This is fine on a 16:9 monitor, but on an ultrawide monitor, it can result in a stretched or distorted image. If you’re playing competitively or playing primarily FPS titles, then you probably don’t want to use an ultrawide display unless you know it’s compatible with your games of choice. Furthermore, with there being so much screen space, you can find yourself taking an extra second to check the mini-map, leaving you at a disadvantage over gamers with smaller aspect ratios.
Ultrawide monitors for gaming were in a shaky position for while, but ultrawide support in games is much more widespread than it used to be when they first started coming out. A wider display equals a wider field of view, much wider. For this reason, some multiplayer titles, especially those in the FPS genre, choose not to support super ultrawide displays, though most now accommodate for 21:9 at the very least.
What about multi-display setups?
Multi-display setups are a whole other can of worms. Nobody seems to agree on what the right screen size is, how many screens you should have, or what configuration you should run them in. But gaming with these can be pretty great, especially if you run them in a 1×3 or 3×3 configuration. They offer a similar level of immersion as an ultrawide display, but the same issues that apply with ultrawide gaming apply here.
Generally speaking, you don’t need to worry as much about compatibility here, since you can still play a game in fullscreen on one monitor and use the rest of your monitors for something else. Be sure to check out our best dual monitor or 3 monitor setup guides for more information.
Which monitor size is best for me?
What is the best screen size for gaming? The fact is, different size monitors are great for specific games but it is also down to what you do with your monitor too. For the ultimate immersive experience with your single-player games, there is no doubt that a 27-inch and upward will be best for the job. This goes for gamers who work from home too, giving you more screen real estate to play with when writing up those documents or editing videos. Competitive players may want more information available to their eyes without having to move their head or they may have a low powered PC that cant handle the larger screen sizes.
Let’s go over each screen size and run through why each option might be best for you.
22-inch
If you are tight on space, play relatively close to the screen, or are on a strict budget, a 22-inch monitor may be the only one you can go for. That being said, if you can afford a little extra you should always bump up to at least a 24-inch, 1080p display if you want a good gaming experience.
24-inch
If you’re going to be gaming at a 1080p resolution, then a 24-inch display would be best. A higher-res display at this size may result in a sharper image, but you can accomplish that with supersampling or anti-aliasing for much less money. Additionally, higher resolutions on 24-inch displays can make UI elements, subtitles, and even the operating system harder to interact with.
24-inch is still favored amongst a lot of esports enthusiasts and is also a great starting point for any new gamers out there.
27-inch
At normal viewing distance and a 1440p resolution, this would generally provide the best gaming experience. While 24”/1080p is fine, 27”/1440p is undoubtedly the better experience, thanks to the fact that it takes up more of your field of view and boasts a higher resolution. If you can run your games at native resolution on this display, you probably won’t need to kick up AA too much, and you shouldn’t experience any problems with UI and system navigation, either.
27-inch displays work well with 1080p too but at 1440p resolution you have a lot more screen space to work with, making this size monitor great for gaming and working from home too.
32-inch
Well as good as 32-inch gaming monitors look, the extra viewing distance required can potentially cause some eye strain depending on the games you are playing. With gaming monitors this size, you probably aren’t going to be able to sit as close as you would with your 24-27-inch monitored so beware of that. We are encroaching on TV sizes here but in all honesty, a single-player game has never looked better than on a 32-inch screen, especially in 4K.
34-inch
If you find yourself spotting a 34 inch monitor, it’s likely that we’re talking about an ultrawide display here. These are most commonly at the 1440p resolution, more specifically 3440 x 1440. What you’re getting here is a 21:9 ultrawide monitor which is perfect for immersive gaming and productivity, if you’ll be using it for work (or hobbies) as well. We recommend these for single-player games where you can immerse yourself in the experience, but they’re pretty great entry point to ultrawide if you’re interested in that in any way.
49-inch
49 inch monitors are where you’ll find the super ultrawide displays come into play. These are commonly 32:9 ultrawide panels, with resolutions commonly found to be at the 5120 x 1440 standard – that’s two standard 16:9 1440p monitors side by side. This takes the 34-inch ultrawides to the next level and really bumps up the immersion, with a screen that surrounds your field of view. They’re commonly curved to account for the width. Same use-case as the 34″ really, just even wider.
TVs
If you want to game at 4K on console, you should probably just get a TV. For PC gamers, 4K monitors vary in all the sizes above, giving you a nice plethora of options to choose from. If 32-inch seems small for your gaming plans though, it still may be worth investing in a TV over a monitor as you can benefit from the resolution and aspect ratio along with better viewing angles.
If you insist on having the highest resolution and the highest fidelity gaming experience, you should look into getting a 45-65 inch 4K TV. Then you can mount it on your wall, and use it for playing games from your couch or bed.
On the other hand, large TV-size monitors do also exist to give you more of a hybrid option – like the PG42UQ or BenQ MOBIUZ EX480UZ.
Best monitor size for gaming FAQs
Is a 27-inch monitor too big for gaming?
A 27-inch monitor is far from being too large, and on the whole it is still a great choice for gaming if you would prefer to use a larger screen. The picture will still be crisp and clear. You will also be able to see the finer details of your game.
The only thing that you will need to take into consideration when using a 27-inch monitor is that because it is larger than 24-inches, you may need to move your head to see the corners of the screen. While this does not bother many people, it can be a dealbreaker for others who want to see all the areas of their screen at all times.
When looking at certain types of games, a 27-inch monitor may not be the best option. However, it is not too big, and if you already own this size of monitor, there is no real need to purchase a smaller one, it will work just fine.
Is a bigger monitor better for gaming?
When it comes to the size of monitor you should purchase, everyone does have their personal preferences.
However, the consensus is that if a monitor is too large this can impact your gaming experience negatively. This is because larger monitors require you to move your head in order to see all of the screen, which is not ideal for some games.
In addition to this, while you will need to take into consideration the inches of the monitor, the resolution of the monitor will need to be factored in too. For example, using a 4K monitor to play a 1080p resolution game is not a great idea as this will cause the image to be blurrier.
In general, 24-inch monitors are the best option. Anything smaller than this can make it more difficult to see the game effectively. While you can use 27-inch monitors, they are not as ideal for gaming. 32-inch monitors do tend to be too large for gaming.
However, there are no set rules to this. The ideal screen size will be down to the individual person.
Is 32 inch too big for gaming?
When it comes to screen sizes for gaming, there are mixed opinions on 32-inch screens. In general, 32 inches is likely too big for gaming, and it is not the optimum size. However, some people disagree with this and prefer to use larger screens.
The only issue with 32-inch screens is that they will have a lower refresh rate. For gaming, you will want to have the best refresh rate as possible, and you will want to avoid using a monitor that will impact this.
Why do pro gamers use 24-inch monitors?
The majority of pro gamers will use 24-inch monitors for gaming because this is the standard size that is used in professional tournaments. Given this, when playing games in general, it makes sense for them to use the same screen size, resolution and refresh rate that would be used in a tournament.
There are set specifications given in tournaments to ensure that they are fair for all the people participating.
Final word
Different monitor sizes can be best for a number of different gaming scenarios but assuming normal viewing distance and a 16:9 display, we recommend either a 1080p 24-inch monitor or a 1440p 27-inch monitor. A 1440p 27-inch monitor could be considered a little big for some esports players but if you can get used to a panel of this size, this is the optimal overall.
Aside from monitor size, you may also want to take aspects like panel type and refresh rate into consideration. Modern displays and GPUs will all support standards like HDMI and DisplayPort, but if you’re still using VGA or DVI you may want to double-check what ports your monitor supports and consider buying an adapter if you need one.
All that being said, don’t go buying large monitors with big resolutions unless you have the hardware to back it up. Before you look into buying a higher-res display, make sure that you have a system powerful enough to play games at your ideal resolutions. We recommend our and $500 and $600 builds for 1080p gaming, with $1000 and higher being ideal for 1440p, and $2000 and higher for 4K gaming.
What monitor size are you currently rocking? have you increased the size and noticed any changes with gameplay from your favorite AAA titles? Let us know over in the comments.
