How to Measure Laptop Size

Edward Connelly | Updated 1 day ago November 16, 2021 | Comments

Do you need a laptop bag? There’s nothing more frustrating than buying a bag only to realize it doesn’t quite fit your laptop. It will save you a lot of headaches and trips back to the store if you measure your laptop in advance.

1) Measuring the Screen

Measure with a standard tape measure. Typically, screens are measured in inches, although some regions use metric instead of imperial. After the fact, you can convert your measurement.

Start measuring at your starting point. Since screens are measured diagonally, your starting point will be either the bottom-left or bottom-right corner. Start your measurement at the very corner where the visible part of the screen begins, since this only accounts for the actual screen, not the enclosure.

Measure the opposite corner with your tape measure. Make sure you measure only the visible portion of the screen, not the enclosure Originally, screens were measured diagonally to make the size appear larger.

Convert your measurements into tenths of an inch. Although most retailers advertise screens in tenths of an inch (15.3, 17.1, etc. ), tape measures are marked in sixteenths of an inch. To find out the retail number for your screen, refer to this chart of common sizes.

If necessary, convert inches to centimeters. If you only have the inches measurement and need the screen size in centimeters, multiply the inches by 2.54 to get the centimeter measurement.

2) Measuring the Height

The laptop screen should be closed. The laptop’s height is measured with the screen closed.

Start measuring at the bottom of one of the sides. If the laptop slopes when closed, measure the thickest part.

Close the screen and measure up to the top. Laptops usually don’t exceed two inches in height.

Inches should be converted to centimeters (if necessary). In order to find the height in centimeters from the inches measurement, multiply the inches by 2.54.

3) Measuring the Width

Start measuring at the front left or right corner. It is easiest to measure the front, since there are no protruding ports

Straight across the front of the laptop, measure to the other corner. Measure all the way to the end of any rounded edges.

If necessary, convert inches to centimeters. Multiply the inches measurement by 2.54 to find the centimeter measurement if you only have the inches measurement.

4) Measuring the Depth

Start the tape measure at the back left or right corner.

Straight down the side of the laptop, measure to the front corner. Be sure to measure all the way to the end of any rounded edges.

If necessary, convert inches to centimeters. When you only have an inch measurement but need the centimeter measurement, multiply the inches by 2.54 to find the centimeter measurement.

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By Edward Connelly

I’m Edward, and I am a passionate tech writer who loves to try new gadgets. I work as the blog editor at TechHamster where I write about everything from how to use technology in your business, to what apps you should download for your next vacation. I also test out all of the latest and gadgets that come along!