How To Choose The Right Pixel Pitch

Recommended Viewing Distance & Direct View LED

Direct View LED video walls are popular due to their ability to produce high-quality images, but when it comes to choosing the right one, customers have a critical decision to make about the pixel pitch. Pixel pitch refers to the physical distance between pixels in a given LED video wall, and it is measured in millimeters. The smaller the pitch, the denser the pixels and the closer the acceptable viewing distance. Conversely, a larger pitch requires viewers to stand farther away to have a good experience.

Nowadays, fine pitch LED video walls range from 0.7mm to about 2.9mm, while standard pitches are 3mm and higher. The pixel pitch influences costs, as a smaller pitch and viewing distance will lead to higher pixel density and costs. To get the best value, it's crucial to identify the average viewing distance required by the application and then choose the finest pitch that is suitable for that distance.

Calculating Viewing Distance

Ultimately, the acceptable viewing distance is subjective and dependent on the individual customer's preferences. Nevertheless, there are certain industry-standard methodologies available to calculate an objective viewing distance:

Distance Based on Visual Acuity

The Visual Acuity Distance is a calculation used to estimate the distance from which an individual with 20/20 vision would be unable to distinguish individual pixels on an LED video wall. This distance is sometimes called the "Retina Distance," a term popularized by Apple Inc

10x Rule

The 10x Rule is a quick and convenient way to estimate the Visual Acuity Distance for an LED video wall.

Average Comfortable Viewing Distance

The Average Comfortable Viewing Distance refers to the estimated distance at which most people are likely to find the video wall visually appealing. This estimate is based on real-world installations and can be influenced by various factors such as the viewer's eyesight, the type of content displayed, and the screen resolution. Since it's a subjective measure, the Average Comfortable Viewing Distance can vary from person to person.

Viewing Distance Chart

The chart below provides a comprehensive reference for determining the recommended Visual Acuity Distance and Average Comfortable Viewing Distance based on different pixel pitches ranging from 0.7mm to 10mm. Use this chart to help guide you in selecting the optimal pixel pitch and viewing distance for your specific needs.

Pixel Pitch(millimeters)Visual Acuity Distance(feet / inches | meters)Average Comfortable Viewing Distance(feet / inches | meters)
0.75mm8ft 6in | 2.58m4ft 3in | 1.29m
1.00mm11ft 3in | 3.44m5ft 8in | 1.72m
1.25mm14ft 1in | 4.30m7ft 1in | 2.15m
1.50mm16ft 11in | 5.16m8ft 6in | 2.58m
1.75mm19ft 9in | 6.02m9ft 11in | 3.01m
2.00mm22ft 7in | 6.88m11ft 3in | 3.44m
2.25mm25ft 5in | 7.74m12ft 8in | 3.87m
2.50mm28ft 2in | 8.60m14ft 1in | 4.30m
2.75mm31ft 0in | 9.45m15ft 6in | 4.73m
3.00mm33ft 10in | 10.31m16ft 11in | 5.16m
4.00mm45ft 1in | 13.75m22ft 7in | 6.88m
5.00mm56ft 5in | 17.19m28ft 3in | 8.60m
6.00mm67ft 8in | 20.63m33ft 10in | 10.31m
7.00mm78ft 11in | 24.07m39ft 6in | 12.03m
8.00mm90ft 3in | 27.50m45ft 1in | 13.75m
9.00mm101ft 6in | 30.94m50ft 9in | 15.47m
10.00mm112ft 10in | 34.38m56ft 5in | 17.19m

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