How to find your laptop screen size
The diagonal in inches is what manufacturers advertise and what every accessory (sleeve, screen protector, replacement panel) is sized against. Three ways to find yours, in order of speed.
Method 1 — Look at the model name (5 seconds)
The number in your laptop's name is almost always the screen diagonal in inches. The naming is consistent across all major brands:
| Model name contains… | Actual screen size |
|---|---|
| 11 / 11.6 | 11.6 inches |
| 13 / 13.3 / 13.4 / 13.5 | 13.3-13.5 inches |
| 14 / 14.1 | 14 inches |
| 15 / 15.6 | 15.6 inches |
| 16 | 16 inches |
| 17 / 17.3 | 17.3 inches |
Find your model name with our "what laptop do I have" guide if you do not know it offhand.
Method 2 — Tape measure (30 seconds, exact)
Take any tape measure (cm or inches both work). Measure diagonally from the bottom-left corner of the visible glass to the top-right corner. The plastic bezel does not count — only the part that lights up.
Common results to expect:
- ~30 cm (11.8") = 12-inch laptop
- ~33-34 cm (13.0-13.4") = 13.3" laptop
- ~35.5 cm (14") = 14" laptop
- ~39.6 cm (15.6") = 15.6" laptop
- ~40.6 cm (16.0") = 16" laptop
- ~43.9 cm (17.3") = 17.3" laptop
If you only have a ruler and want the maths: square the visible width, square the visible height, add them, take the square root. √(width² + height²) = diagonal.
Method 3 — Browser detection (one click)
Our screen size detector reads your screen resolution and pixel ratio, then matches against the standard panel sizes manufacturers ship. Accuracy is within about half an inch — close enough for buying a sleeve, not close enough for ordering a replacement panel.
Why the answer matters
Buying a replacement panel
You cannot just buy "any 15.6-inch panel" and expect it to fit. Even within a single screen size, panels differ by:
- Connector type — eDP 30-pin, eDP 40-pin, LVDS variants. Wrong connector = no picture.
- Mounting brackets — top/bottom vs left/right. Wrong brackets = will not screw in.
- Resolution — a 1920x1080 panel will not work in a laptop wired for 1366x768 panels.
- Refresh rate — 60Hz vs 144Hz panels need different display drivers.
Always look up the original panel's part number — printed on a sticker on the back of the panel itself, behind the bezel — and order an exact match.
Buying a sleeve, bag or docking arm
Sleeves and bags are sized by inches and are forgiving of small variation. A "15.6-inch sleeve" fits any 15-16" laptop. Docking arms (vertical stands, monitor-arm clamps for laptops) often have weight and size limits — check both.
Replacement screen protector
Match by exact inches (e.g. "13.3-inch matte protector"). The bezel design varies by model so the cut-to-fit area can leave small visible borders even at the right size — that is normal.
Common laptop screen sizes by year
- 2010-2015 — 11.6", 13.3", 14", 15.6", 17.3" dominated. Aspect ratio almost always 16:9.
- 2016-2020 — 13.3" and 15.6" still mainstream. Apple introduced 16" in 2019.
- 2021-2026 — 14" overtook 15.6" as the most popular size. Apple's 14"/16" pattern spread to most premium brands. Aspect ratios shifted toward 16:10 and 3:2 on premium models.
If you bought a laptop in 2020 or earlier, 15.6" is the safest single-number guess.