How Big Is a 38 Inch Monitor?
A 38-inch ultrawide (21:9) measures about 34.5 inches wide and 14.8 inches tall. It's essentially a scaled-up version of the 34-inch ultrawide with about 25% more area — and it's notably taller, giving you the height of a 30-inch 16:9 monitor with ultrawide width. This is a premium category dominated by high-end productivity and professional monitors.
38-Inch Monitor Dimensions by Aspect Ratio
Exact width and height calculated from the 38-inch diagonal at each common aspect ratio.
| Aspect Ratio | Width | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 16:9 | 33.12" (84.12 cm) | 18.63" (47.32 cm) |
| 16:10 | 32.22" (81.85 cm) | 20.14" (51.16 cm) |
| 21:9 | 34.93" (88.72 cm) | 14.97" (38.02 cm) |
| 4:3 | 30.4" (77.22 cm) | 22.8" (57.91 cm) |
Resolution and Pixel Density at 38 Inches
| Resolution | Pixel Density |
|---|---|
| 1080p (Full HD) | 58 PPI |
| 1440p (QHD) | 77.3 PPI |
| 4K (UHD) | 115.9 PPI |
Ideal resolution: 3840x1600 (QHD+ Ultrawide)
At 38 inches, the native resolution is typically 3840x1600, delivering about 110 PPI — sharp and comfortable. This resolution gives you 11% more vertical pixels than 3440x1440, which translates to real extra usable space.
Who Should Buy a 38-Inch Monitor?
Finance professionals: Traders and analysts love 38-inch ultrawides for fitting multiple data streams, charts, and spreadsheets across one seamless display.
Developers: Room for a code editor, terminal, and browser all visible at once without any overlap. The extra height over 34-inch ultrawides means less vertical scrolling.
Video editors and colorists: Even more timeline visibility than 34 inches, with the extra vertical space useful for toolbars and preview windows.
Viewing Distance
Recommended: 30-44 inches (75-110 cm)
You need a deeper desk or monitor arm to push this display far enough back. At under 28 inches, the edges are too far into your peripheral vision for comfortable work.
Desk Space Requirements
Needs about 35 inches of desk width and at least 30-32 inches of depth. This is a large monitor that dominates most desks. A monitor arm is almost essential.
How 38 Inches Compares to Other Sizes
vs. smaller monitors: About 25% more area than a 34-inch ultrawide. The height increase (from 13.4 to 14.8 inches) is the biggest qualitative difference — it makes the monitor feel less like a letterbox.
vs. larger monitors: The next jump is to 49-inch super ultrawide (32:9), which is a completely different format — effectively two monitors in one panel. It's wider but usually not taller.
Buying Advice
This is a premium market — expect premium prices. Most 38-inch ultrawides are IPS panels with USB-C hubs, targeting professionals. If you're buying for gaming, make sure to check refresh rate and response times, as some models in this size prioritize productivity features over gaming performance.
Compare 38-Inch Monitors
See how a 38-inch monitor looks next to other sizes on a virtual desk.