Calculate Aspect Ratio

Aspect Ratio Explained

Ever wonder why a movie screen is super wide, but an old TV show looks more like a square? The answer is aspect ratio!

This guide will explain what that means in a really simple way.

What is an Aspect Ratio?

A simple diagram showing the width and height of a screen

Don't let the fancy name fool you. An aspect ratio just describes the shape of a rectangle by comparing its width to its height.

For example, a 16:9 ratio means for every 16 inches wide, the screen is 9 inches tall. This stops pictures from looking squished or stretched.

If you need to figure out the right size for a project, use our easy aspect ratio calculator.

Common Aspect Ratios

You see these shapes every day. Here are the most popular ones:

Flatscreen Aspect Ratio

16:9 - Widescreen TV

This is the shape of almost every modern TV, computer monitor, and YouTube video. Use our 16:9 calculator for this.

4:3 - Old TV & Monitor

This is the shape of old TVs. It looks much more like a square. Our 4:3 calculator can help with this classic size.

Old TV Aspect Ratio

1:1 - Square

Think Instagram! A perfect square is great for profile pictures and photo galleries.

21:9 - Movie Screen

This is that super-wide shape you see in a real movie theater. It's used to make movies feel big and epic.

3:2 - Classic Photo

This is the shape of a standard photograph, like the ones you print from a camera.

Aspect Ratios vs. Screen Resolutions

A "resolution" is the exact number of tiny dots (pixels) that make up a screen. Many different resolutions can have the same aspect ratio shape. Here are some popular screen sizes:

Black Bars & Distortion

A TV showing a movie with black bars at the top and bottom

If you've ever seen black bars on your screen, you've seen an aspect ratio mismatch. This happens when the shape of the video (like a wide 21:9 movie) doesn't match the shape of your screen (like a 16:9 TV).

Your TV adds black bars to show you the full image without distorting it. The only other way is to change the aspect ratio by either:

For the best experience, you should always try to watch content in its original aspect ratio.