Dot pitch is a specification for a computer display

Computer display

A monitor or display is an electronic visual display for computers. The monitor comprises the display device, circuitry, and an enclosure...

, computer printer

Computer printer

In computing, a printer is a peripheral which produces a text or graphics of documents stored in electronic form, usually on physical print media such as paper or transparencies. Many printers are primarily used as local peripherals, and are attached by a printer cable or, in most new printers, a...

, image scanner

Image scanner

In computing, an image scanner—often abbreviated to just scanner—is a device that optically scans images, printed text, handwriting, or an object, and converts it to a digital image. Common examples found in offices are variations of the desktop scanner where the document is placed on a glass...

, or other pixel

Pixel

In digital imaging, a pixel, or pel, is a single point in a raster image, or the smallest addressable screen element in a display device; it is the smallest unit of picture that can be represented or controlled....

-based device that describes the distance, for example, between dots (sub-pixels) of the same color on the inside of a display screen. In the case of a color display dot pitch is a measure of the size of a triad

Triad (computers)

In CRT or computer terminology, a triad is a group of three phosphor dots coloured red, green, and blue on the inside of the CRT display of a computer monitor or television set. By directing differing intensities of electron beams onto the three phosphor dots, the triad will display a colour by...

 plus the distance between the triads.

Dot pitch may be measured in linear units, usually millimeters, or as a rate, for example dots per inch

Dots per inch

Dots per inch is a measure of spatial printing or video dot density, in particular the number of individual dots that can be placed in a line within the span of 1 inch . The DPI value tends to correlate with image resolution, but is related only indirectly.- DPI measurement in monitor...

, with a larger number meaning higher resolution. Closer spacing generally produces a sharper image (as there are more pixels in a given area). However, other factors may affect image quality, including:

• measurement method not documented, complicated by general ignorance of the existence of multiple methods
• pixel spacing varying across screen area (e.g., increasing in corners compared to center)
• differing pixel geometries
  Pixel geometry
  The components of the pixels in an image sensor or display can be ordered in different patterns, called pixel geometry....
  
  
• differing screen resolutions when attempting to judge picture quality
• tightness of electron beam focus and aim (in CRT
  Cathode ray tube
  The cathode ray tube is a vacuum tube containing an electron gun and a fluorescent screen used to view images. It has a means to accelerate and deflect the electron beam onto the fluorescent screen to create the images. The image may represent electrical waveforms , pictures , radar targets and...
  
  s)
• differing aspect ratios

Traditionally, dot pitch in displays has been measured on the diagonal, as this gives the most accurate representation of image quality. Starting about the mid-1990s, however, some companies introduced a horizontal dot pitch as a marketing ploy . By measuring only the horizontal component of the dot pitch and ignoring the vertical component, even a cheap, low-quality monitor could be awarded a small-seeming dot pitch.

The exact difference between horizontal and diagonal dot pitch varies with the design of the monitor (see pixel geometry

Pixel geometry

The components of the pixels in an image sensor or display can be ordered in different patterns, called pixel geometry....

 and widescreen), but a typical entry-level 0.28 mm (diagonal) monitor has a horizontal pitch of 0.24 or 0.25 mm, a good quality 0.26 mm (diagonal) unit has a horizontal pitch of 0.22 mm.

The above dot pitch measurement does not apply to aperture grille

Aperture grille

An aperture grille is one of two major technologies used to manufacture color cathode ray tube televisions and computer displays; the other is shadow mask....

 displays. Such monitors use continuous vertical phosphors band on the screen, so the vertical distance between scan lines is limited only by video input signal's vertical resolution and the thickness of electron beam, so there is no vertical 'dot pitch' on such devices. Aperture grille only has horizontal 'dot pitch', or otherwise known as 'stripe pitch'.

Common dot pitches in monitors

LCD

Liquid crystal display

A liquid crystal display is a flat panel display, electronic visual display, or video display that uses the light modulating properties of liquid crystals . LCs do not emit light directly....

 screens

Display resolution Display resolution The display resolution of a digital television or display device is the number of distinct pixels in each dimension that can be displayed. It can be an ambiguous term especially as the displayed resolution is controlled by all different factors in cathode ray tube , flat panel or projection... (px×px)	Name	Pixel count (Mpx)	Aspect ratio Aspect ratio The aspect ratio of a shape is the ratio of its longer dimension to its shorter dimension. It may be applied to two characteristic dimensions of a three-dimensional shape, such as the ratio of the longest and shortest axis, or for symmetrical objects that are described by just two measurements,...	Screen size (in Inch An inch is the name of a unit of length in a number of different systems, including Imperial units, and United States customary units. There are 36 inches in a yard and 12 inches in a foot... )	Pixel pitch (µm)	Resolution (px/in)
960×640	DVGA	0.61		3.5	77	326.0
1024×600	WSVGA	0.61		10.1	216	117.5
1024×768	XGA	0.78		9.7	192	132.0
1024×768	XGA	0.78		15.0	297	85.5
1024×768	XGA	0.78		17.0	337	75.3
1280×720	720p 720p 720p is the shorthand name for 1280x720, a category of High-definition television video modes having a resolution of 1080 or 720p and a progressive scan...	0.92		13.3	230	110.4
1280×768	WXGA	0.98		15.4	262	96.9
1280×800	WXGA	1.01		12.1	204	124.7
1280×800	WXGA	1.01		13.3	224	113.5
1280×800	WXGA	1.01		14.1	237	107.1
1280×800	WXGA	1.01		15.4	259	98.0
1280×800	WXGA	1.01		17.0	286	88.8
1280×1024	SXGA	1.31		17.0	264	96.2
1280×1024	SXGA	1.31		18.1	280	90.7
1280×1024	SXGA	1.31		19.0	294	86.3
1366×768	WXGA	1.05		11.6	188	135.1
1366×768	WXGA	1.05		14.0	227	111.9
1366×768	WXGA	1.05		15.6	253	100.5
1366×768	WXGA	1.05		18.5	300	84.7
1360×768	WXGA	1.05		19.0	308	82.5
1440×900	WXGA+	1.29		13.3	198	127.7
1440×900	WXGA+	1.29		14.1	211	120.4
1440×900	WXGA+	1.29		15.4	230	110.4
1440×900	WXGA+	1.29		17.0	254	100.0
1440×900	WXGA+	1.29		19.0	285	89.1
1400×1050	SXGA+	1.51		15.0	214	118.6
1400×1050	SXGA+	1.51		20.1	292	87.0
1600×900		1.44		13.1	181	140.1
1600×900		1.44		14.0	194	131.1
1600×900		1.44		15.4	213	119.2
1600×900		1.44		17.3	239	106.1
1600×900		1.44		20.0	277	91.8
1600×1000		1.60		22.0	296	85.8
1680×1050	WSXGA+	1.76		15.4	197	128.9
1680×1050	WSXGA+	1.76		17.0	218	116.5
1680×1050	WSXGA+	1.76		19.0	244	104.0
1680×1050	WSXGA+	1.76		20.1	258	98.4
1680×1050	WSXGA+	1.76		21.0	269	94.4
1680×1050	WSXGA+	1.76		22.0	282	90.0
1600×1200	UXGA	1.92		15.0	191	132.9
1600×1200	UXGA	1.92		20.1	255	99.6
1600×1200	UXGA	1.92		21.3	270	94.0
1920×1080	1080p 1080p 1080p is the shorthand identification for a set of HDTV high-definition video modes that are characterized by 1080 horizontal lines of resolution and progressive scan, meaning the image is not interlaced as is the case with the 1080i display standard....	2.1		13.1	151	168.2
1920×1080	1080p	2.1		15.6	180	141.2
1920×1080	1080p	2.1		16.4	189	134.3
1920×1080	1080p	2.1		21.5	248	102.5
1920×1080	1080p	2.1		23.0	265	95.8
1920×1080	1080p	2.1		23.6	272	93.3
1920×1080	1080p	2.1		24.0	277	91.8
1920×1080	1080p	2.1		24.6	284	89.6
1920×1080	1080p	2.1		27.0	311	81.6
1920×1200	WUXGA	2.30		15.4	173	146.8
1920×1200	WUXGA	2.30		17.0	191	132.9
1920×1200	WUXGA	2.30		22.0	247	102.9
1920×1200	WUXGA	2.30		23.0	258	98.4
1920×1200	WUXGA	2.30		24.0	270	94.0
1920×1200	WUXGA	2.30		25.5	287	88.5
1920×1200	WUXGA	2.30		27.0	303	83.8
2048×1152		2.36	16:9	23.0	249	102.2
2560×1440	WQHD	3.68		27.0	233	108.8
2560×1600	WQXGA	4.09		30.0	250	101.6
3840×2400	WQUXGA	9.21		22.2	125	203.2

Less common dot pitches

The dot pitch of FLC displays

Ferro Liquid Display

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(Ferro Liquid Crystal) can be as low as 0.012 mm.

External links

• Dot Pitch Calculator
• PPI calculator, also shows dot pitch
• Megapixel Calculator, also identifies aspect ratio (e.g. 4:3, 16:9), and displays photo and video storage requirements for different formats at a given megapixel number.