The distance you place your monitor is not necessarily the same for all computers!

Published in Computer Screens on Friday, 30 October 2009
by Catherine Albert  |   Post RSS

Most of the guidelines about the position of computer monitors offer the standard rule of thumb that you should position the screen at about an arm’s distance away. So if you stretch your arm forward from your usual sitting position as in the picture below than you should be just able to touch the screen. However this doesn’t take into account recent technological changes.

Previously most people used a 15” CRT screen so for many years one rule covered most situations, but nowadays there is a large range of different sized FLT or flat screen monitors. Fortunately these screens take up considerably less space than the older screens so there is more scope to alter the position. But with the increasing variability in the size of computer screens than so too is there variability in the position of your monitor. Generally speaking the larger the screen, the further away it should be. If you work with multiple monitors than the distance will depend on the layout and arrangement as well as which screen you input into compared to the screens you just view.

Checkout our guidelines for good screen placement.

1. First find out the size of your computer.

To find out the size of your screen you measure diagonally from one corner to the opposite corner.

2. Measure the distance you are working from the screen.

Measurements for distance are taken from the individual’s eyes to the computer screen.

3 Then check the guideline for the appropriate distance your size of screen should be.

4. Adjust your screen accordingly

Getting a comfortable viewing distance is important in helping reduce visual fatigue so play around to get the screen right for you.