16:9 Aspect Ratio Calculator
Calculate dimensions for 16:9 widescreen format, the standard for HD video, YouTube, and modern displays.
Calculate dimensions for 16:9 widescreen format, the standard for HD video, YouTube, and modern displays.
The 16:9 aspect ratio is the international standard for HDTV, widescreen television, and most computer monitors. It replaced the older 4:3 format and provides a wider field of view that better matches human peripheral vision. This ratio means for every 16 units of width, there are 9 units of height.
| Resolution | Name | Category | Megapixels |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1280x720 | 720p HD | Video | 0.9 MP |
| 1920x1080 | 1080p Full HD | Video | 2.1 MP |
| 2560x1440 | 1440p QHD | Screen | 3.7 MP |
| 3840x2160 | 4K UHD | Video | 8.3 MP |
| 7680x4320 | 8K UHD | Video | 33.2 MP |
| 1280x720 | YouTube Thumbnail | Social | 0.9 MP |
| 1920x1080 | Twitch Stream | Social | 2.1 MP |
| 2560x1440 | 27" Monitor | Screen | 3.7 MP |
Standard format for YouTube videos, Twitch streams, and most online video platforms
Modern HDTV standard, used by Netflix, broadcast TV, and digital cinema
Standard resolution for PC gaming monitors, consoles, and esports
Default widescreen format for PowerPoint and Google Slides
Yes, 1920x1080 (also known as 1080p or Full HD) is exactly 16:9. When you divide 1920 by 16 and 1080 by 9, you get the same value (120), confirming this is a perfect 16:9 ratio.
You have three options: 1) Crop the top and bottom (loses content), 2) Add black bars on the sides (letterboxing/pillarboxing), or 3) Stretch the image (causes distortion). Cropping is usually preferred when the important content is centered.
16:10 is slightly taller than 16:9. While 16:9 is standard for video content, 16:10 was popular for computer monitors because the extra vertical space is useful for productivity applications like coding and document editing.
16:9 was chosen as a mathematical compromise that could display both 4:3 (classic TV) and various widescreen cinema formats with minimal letterboxing or cropping. It was officially adopted as the HDTV standard in the 1990s.
YouTube recommends 1920x1080 (1080p) as the minimum for HD quality. For best results, upload at 2560x1440 (1440p) or 3840x2160 (4K) to ensure viewers with high-resolution displays get the best experience.