Standard Screen Resolutions: Complete Guide
This comprehensive guide provides detailed information about standard screen resolutions, aspect ratios, and recommended image sizes for social media. Essential information for web developers, designers, and content creators.
Standard Resolutions Table
Monitor & Display Resolutions
| Standard Name | Resolution | Total Pixels | Common Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| HD (720p) | 1280 × 720 | 921,600 | Entry-level monitors, older TVs |
| Full HD (1080p) | 1920 × 1080 | 2,073,600 | Standard monitors, mainstream TVs |
| WUXGA | 1920 × 1200 | 2,304,000 | 16:10 widescreen displays, professional laptops |
| QHD (1440p) | 2560 × 1440 | 3,686,400 | High-end gaming monitors, professional displays |
| WQHD | 3440 × 1440 | 4,953,600 | Ultrawide monitors, 21:9 ratio |
| UHD 4K | 3840 × 2160 | 8,294,400 | Premium TVs, professional monitors, content creation |
| DCI 4K | 4096 × 2160 | 8,847,360 | Cinema projection standard, professional film production |
| 5K | 5120 × 2880 | 14,745,600 | High-end professional displays, iMac etc. |
| 8K UHD | 7680 × 4320 | 33,177,600 | Cutting-edge TVs, professional film production |
Common Aspect Ratios
| Aspect Ratio | Common Resolutions | Typical Devices |
|---|---|---|
| 16:9 | 1280×720, 1920×1080, 2560×1440, 3840×2160 | Modern TVs, most monitors, laptops |
| 16:10 | 1280×800, 1920×1200, 2560×1600 | Apple MacBooks, some professional laptops |
| 21:9 | 2560×1080, 3440×1440, 5120×2160 | Ultrawide monitors, cinema screens |
| 4:3 | 800×600, 1024×768, 1600×1200 | Traditional monitors, older TVs |
| 3:2 | 1500×1000, 2256×1504, 3000×2000 | Surface devices, some Chromebooks |
| 1:1 | 1080×1080, 1440×1440 | Instagram square photos, some professional displays |
| 32:9 | 3840×1080, 5120×1440 | Super ultrawide curved monitors, dual monitor replacements |
Video Resolution Standards
| Video Standard | Resolution | Common Platforms |
|---|---|---|
| 360p | 640 × 360 | Low bandwidth YouTube, older mobile videos |
| 480p (SD) | 640 × 480 | Standard definition DVD, older video content |
| 720p (HD) | 1280 × 720 | HD videos, YouTube, streaming |
| 1080p (Full HD) | 1920 × 1080 | Full HD videos, mainstream video platforms |
| 1440p (2K/QHD) | 2560 × 1440 | Premium YouTube videos, game streaming |
| 4K (UHD) | 3840 × 2160 | Netflix 4K, YouTube 4K, UHD Blu-ray |
| 8K (UHD) | 7680 × 4320 | Experimental videos, high-end YouTube content |
Social Media Image Sizes
Facebook Image Sizes
| Image Type | Recommended Size (pixels) | Aspect Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Profile Picture | 170 × 170 | 1:1 |
| Cover Photo | 820 × 312 | 2.63:1 |
| Shared Image | 1200 × 630 | 1.91:1 |
| Event Cover | 1920 × 1080 | 16:9 |
| Group Cover | 1640 × 856 | 1.91:1 |
Instagram Image Sizes
| Image Type | Recommended Size (pixels) | Aspect Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Profile Picture | 110 × 110 | 1:1 |
| Square Post | 1080 × 1080 | 1:1 |
| Portrait Post | 1080 × 1350 | 4:5 |
| Landscape Post | 1080 × 608 | 1.91:1 |
| Stories | 1080 × 1920 | 9:16 |
Twitter Image Sizes
| Image Type | Recommended Size (pixels) | Aspect Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Profile Picture | 400 × 400 | 1:1 |
| Header Photo | 1500 × 500 | 3:1 |
| In-stream Photo | 1200 × 675 | 16:9 |
YouTube Image Sizes
| Image Type | Recommended Size (pixels) | Aspect Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Channel Profile | 800 × 800 | 1:1 |
| Channel Cover | 2560 × 1440 | 16:9 |
| Video Thumbnail | 1280 × 720 | 16:9 |
Understanding Resolutions & Sizes
Resolution Basics
What is Resolution?
Resolution refers to the number of horizontal and vertical pixels on a display. Higher resolution means more detail but requires more processing power and bandwidth.
What is Aspect Ratio?
Aspect ratio is the proportional relationship between width and height, expressed as x:y (e.g., 16:9). It determines the shape of the display area, affecting viewing experience and content layout.
Resolution vs. Physical Size
Resolution is the pixel count, while physical size is the actual dimensions of the screen (usually measured in inches or centimeters). Screens with the same resolution can have different physical sizes, affecting pixel density (PPI/DPI).
Design Considerations
- Design for multiple resolutions and devices, not just one fixed size
- Utilize responsive design to ensure content displays properly across different screen sizes
- Prepare 2x or 3x image assets for high-resolution displays like Retina screens
- Test your designs across various common resolutions
- Always use the latest recommended sizes when creating images for social media platforms
Technical Implementation
- Use CSS media queries to adjust layouts for different screen sizes
- Implement proper viewport meta tags to ensure correct scaling on mobile devices
- Use relative units (em, rem, %) rather than fixed pixel sizes
- Use CSS srcset and picture elements to load images appropriate for different device pixel ratios
- Leverage CSS Grid and Flexbox to create adaptive layouts