How Big Is a 24 Inch Monitor?
A 24-inch 16:9 monitor measures about 20.9 inches wide and 11.8 inches tall — roughly the width of two sheets of letter paper side by side. This has been the default desktop monitor size for over a decade, and for good reason. It's large enough to work comfortably all day, small enough to fit on virtually any desk, and cheap enough that you can easily buy two. Most office monitors, esports gaming displays, and budget screens come in this size.
24-Inch Monitor Dimensions by Aspect Ratio
Exact width and height calculated from the 24-inch diagonal at each common aspect ratio.
| Aspect Ratio | Width | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 16:9 | 20.92" (53.13 cm) | 11.77" (29.89 cm) |
| 16:10 | 20.35" (51.69 cm) | 12.72" (32.31 cm) |
| 21:9 | 22.06" (56.03 cm) | 9.45" (24.01 cm) |
| 4:3 | 19.2" (48.77 cm) | 14.4" (36.58 cm) |
Resolution and Pixel Density at 24 Inches
| Resolution | Pixel Density |
|---|---|
| 1080p (Full HD) | 91.8 PPI |
| 1440p (QHD) | 122.4 PPI |
| 4K (UHD) | 183.6 PPI |
Ideal resolution: 1080p (Full HD)
At 24 inches, 1080p delivers 92 PPI. That's sharp enough that text looks clean at normal viewing distance, and it means your GPU doesn't need to work hard to push pixels. This is why 24-inch 1080p monitors dominate esports — you get high refresh rates (144Hz, 240Hz, even 360Hz) without needing an expensive graphics card. Some 24-inch monitors come in 1440p, which is noticeably sharper (122 PPI) but you'll want to use 125% scaling in Windows.
Who Should Buy a 24-Inch Monitor?
Competitive gamers: The esports standard. At 24 inches, your eyes can take in the entire screen without moving your head, which means faster reaction times. Almost every professional CS2, Valorant, and League of Legends player uses a 24-25 inch monitor.
Office workers: The corporate default for a reason — fits on standard-issue desks, pairs well with laptops, and is easy to mount on monitor arms. Most people can comfortably work with a single 24-inch display for typical office tasks.
Dual-monitor setups: Two 24-inch monitors sit side by side in about 42 inches — perfect for a standard 48-inch desk. This gives you significantly more usable space than a single larger monitor while keeping each screen at a comfortable viewing angle.
Budget builds: The price-to-performance sweet spot. A good 24-inch IPS monitor at 1080p 144Hz can be found for very reasonable prices, making it the go-to recommendation for anyone building their first gaming PC.
Viewing Distance
Recommended: 20-28 inches (50-70 cm)
Most people sit about 24-26 inches from a 24-inch monitor, which puts it roughly at arm's length. At this distance, you can see the full screen with minimal eye movement. Sitting closer than 20 inches makes the edges harder to track; sitting much farther makes small text harder to read.
Desk Space Requirements
Requires about 22 inches of desk width including a typical stand. Works on desks as shallow as 24 inches, though 28-30 inches of depth is more comfortable. The stand footprint is usually compact — around 8-10 inches deep.
How 24 Inches Compares to Other Sizes
vs. smaller monitors: Compared to 22 inches, you get about 19% more screen area. The difference is noticeable in everyday use — an extra column of icons, a wider document view, more breathing room for everything. The price difference is minimal.
vs. larger monitors: A 27-inch monitor offers 27% more screen area and is significantly more immersive for gaming and media. But 27 inches at 1080p looks noticeably blurry (82 PPI), so you'd want 1440p, which costs more and demands a better GPU. If you're happy with 1080p, 24 inches is the right call.
Buying Advice
At 24 inches, prioritize refresh rate and panel type over resolution. For gaming, look for 144Hz IPS. For office work, any IPS panel will do — pay attention to stand adjustability (height, tilt, pivot) since a fixed stand can cause neck strain. Avoid TN panels unless you're specifically buying for competitive gaming response times.
Compare 24-Inch Monitors
See how a 24-inch monitor looks next to other sizes on a virtual desk.