10 Easy Steps to Measure Your Laptop's Dimensions

Measuring a laptop

Measuring a laptop accurately is essential for determining its size and portability. Whether you’re purchasing a new device or simply curious about the dimensions of your current one, knowing the correct measurement techniques can help you make informed decisions. This comprehensive guide will provide you with step-by-step instructions on how to measure a laptop’s screen, length, width, and thickness, ensuring that you have all the necessary information to make the most of your laptop experience. Transitioning to the next paragraph, we’ll begin by exploring the techniques for measuring the laptop’s screen.

First and foremost, let’s focus on measuring the laptop’s screen. The screen size is typically measured diagonally from corner to corner, excluding the frame or bezel surrounding the display. To determine the screen size accurately, use a measuring tape or ruler and place it along the diagonal of the screen. Ensure that the tape or ruler is straight and aligned with the corners of the display. Once you have the measurement, round it to the nearest inch or centimeter, as screen sizes are usually standardized in these units.

Moving on, let’s delve into measuring the laptop’s length, width, and thickness. The length refers to the distance from the front edge of the laptop to the back edge, while the width refers to the distance from one side of the laptop to the other. To measure these dimensions, place the laptop flat on a stable surface and use a measuring tape or ruler to determine the length and width. Start from one edge and measure to the corresponding edge on the opposite side. Finally, to measure the thickness, close the laptop and place it upright on a flat surface. Then, using a measuring tape or ruler, measure the distance from the bottom edge of the laptop to the top edge. This will give you the thickness measurement.

Determine the Diagonal Screen Size

Measuring the diagonal screen size of a laptop is crucial for determining the physical display area of the device. Here’s how you can accurately measure it:

Materials Required:

Measuring tape or ruler

Steps:

Power Down the Laptop: Turn off the laptop and unplug any peripherals to prevent accidental activation.
Flip the Laptop Upside Down: Place the laptop face down on a flat surface, ensuring that the screen is facing upwards.
Locate the Top and Bottom Corners: Identify the top and bottom corners of the screen. These are typically the edges where the screen bezel meets the chassis.
Align the Measuring Tape: Place the zero end of the measuring tape or ruler exactly on the top left corner of the screen.
Extend the Tape to the Opposite Corner: Extend the measuring tape or ruler diagonally to the bottom right corner of the screen, ensuring that it remains straight.
Read the Measurement: Record the measurement displayed where the tape or ruler intersects the bottom right corner. This value represents the diagonal screen size in inches.

Tips:

Use a metric measuring tape or ruler for precision.
Hold the measuring tape or ruler perpendicular to the screen to avoid distorting the measurement.
Round the measurement to the nearest 0.1 inch for accuracy.

Metric Conversion Table

Imperial Measurement (in)	Metric Measurement (cm)
15	38.1
17	43.2
19	48.3
21	53.3

Measure the Width

To measure the width of your laptop, you’ll need a measuring tape or ruler.

Position the laptop flat on a surface. Make sure the lid is closed and the screen is facing up.
Identify the widest part of the laptop. This is typically at the base of the screen or the hinge area.
Place the measuring tape or ruler at the widest point. Make sure it’s perpendicular to the sides of the laptop.
Measure the distance from one side of the laptop to the other. Read the measurement to the nearest tenth of an inch or millimeter.

Here are some additional tips for measuring the width of your laptop:

If you don’t have a measuring tape or ruler handy, you can use a piece of paper or cardboard. Simply place the paper or cardboard against the widest part of the laptop and mark the edges. Then, use a ruler to measure the distance between the marks.
If you’re measuring a laptop with a curved or angled edge, you may need to use a flexible measuring tape.
Be sure to measure the laptop without any accessories attached, such as a case or sleeve.

Measure the Thickness

The thickness of a laptop is an important factor to consider when choosing a new device. A thin laptop is often more portable and easier to carry around, while a thicker laptop may offer more features and better performance. To measure the thickness of a laptop, you will need a ruler or measuring tape.

1. Close the laptop. Make sure the lid is completely closed so that the screen is not visible.

2. Place the laptop on a flat surface. The surface should be level and free of any obstructions.

3. Place the ruler or measuring tape on the thickest part of the laptop. The thickest part is usually located in the center of the laptop, where the battery and other components are housed.

4. Measure the thickness of the laptop. Read the measurement on the ruler or measuring tape. The measurement should be in millimeters (mm) or inches (in).

Here is a table of the average thickness of laptops by screen size:

Screen Size (in)	Average Thickness (mm)
13	15-20
14	15-22
15	18-25
16	18-28
17	19-30
18	20-32

Use a Measuring Tape or Ruler

To measure a laptop using a measuring tape or ruler, follow these steps:

Align the tape measure or ruler parallel to the base of the laptop: Place the zero mark of the measuring tape or ruler along the bottom edge of the screen, ensuring it is parallel to the base of the laptop.
Extend the tape measure or ruler to the opposite side: Carefully extend the measuring tape or ruler across the full width of the laptop, keeping it perfectly aligned and parallel to the base.
Read the measurement: Note the measurement on the tape measure or ruler where it extends beyond the edge of the laptop. This will give you the width of the laptop.
Measure the height: Flip the laptop over and place the zero mark of the measuring tape or ruler at the bottom edge of the laptop. Extend it vertically to the top of the laptop, keeping it perpendicular to the base. The measurement you obtain will be the height of the laptop.
Determine the thickness: Open the laptop and measure the gap between the top and bottom parts of the screen. Hold the measuring tape or ruler perpendicular to the ground and measure the distance at the thickest point. This will give you the thickness of the laptop.

Example Measurements:

Measurement	Unit
Width	14 inches
Height	9 inches
Thickness	0.7 inches

Check the Manufacturer’s Specifications

The manufacturer’s specifications are one of the most reliable sources of information about the physical dimensions of a laptop. Look for the product specifications page on the manufacturer’s website, brochures, or the user manual for your particular laptop model. These specifications usually include detailed measurements of the following dimensions:

Width

The width of a laptop is measured from the leftmost point to the rightmost point, typically in millimeters (mm). This measurement indicates the horizontal span of the laptop when it is open.

Depth

The depth of a laptop is measured from the front of the device to the back, also in millimeters (mm). This measurement provides an indication of the laptop’s footprint and how much desk space it will require.

Height

The height of a laptop is measured from the bottom of the device, including any feet or rubber stoppers, to the top of the display when it is fully open. This measurement is important for determining if the laptop will fit comfortably in a particular bag or desk setup.

Display Size

The display size of a laptop is measured diagonally, from one corner to the opposite corner of the screen. It is typically expressed in inches (“). This measurement determines the size of the visible screen area.

Weight

The weight of a laptop is measured in kilograms (kg) or pounds (lb). It is an important consideration for portability as a lighter laptop is easier to carry around.

Dimension	Measurement Unit
Width	Millimeters (mm)
Depth	Millimeters (mm)
Height	Millimeters (mm)
Display Size	Inches (“)
Weight	Kilograms (kg) or Pounds (lb)

Measure with a Calibrated Instrument

Using a calibrated instrument like a tape measure or ruler provides the most accurate laptop measurements. Follow these steps for precise results:

1. Gather Materials

Calibrated tape measure or ruler
Small object (e.g., coin or paperclip)

2. Position the Laptop

Place the laptop on a flat surface.
Ensure the laptop is fully open and the screen is facing away from you.

3. Identify Measuring Points

Use the small object to determine the measuring points:

Measurement	Measuring Points
Length	Top-left corner to top-right corner
Width	Bottom-left corner to bottom-right corner
Thickness	Center of the laptop lid to the bottom surface
Screen Diagonal	Bottom-left corner of the screen to top-right corner of the screen

4. Measure Length and Width

Align the tape measure or ruler’s zero mark with the appropriate measuring points.
Measure the distance between the points in inches or centimeters.

5. Measure Thickness

Place the object on the laptop’s lid and measure the distance from the object to the bottom surface.

6. Measure Screen Diagonal

Start with the zero mark of the ruler or tape measure on the bottom-left corner of the screen.
Align the tape or ruler’s zero mark with the top-right corner of the screen.
Note the measurement in inches or centimeters.

7. Convert Measurements

If necessary, convert the measurements to the desired unit of measure (e.g., inches to centimeters).
**Formula:** Centimeters = Inches * 2.54

Consider Bezel Size and Aspect Ratio

In addition to screen size, you should also consider the bezel size and aspect ratio of your laptop. The bezel size is the width of the border around the screen. A wider bezel will make the laptop look smaller, while a narrower bezel will make it look larger. The aspect ratio is the ratio of the width to the height of the screen. A wider aspect ratio, such as 16:9, is better for watching movies, while a narrower aspect ratio, such as 3:2, is better for reading text.

Here are some tips for choosing the right bezel size and aspect ratio for your laptop:

If you want a laptop that looks small and portable, choose a model with a wider bezel.
If you want a laptop with a large screen, choose a model with a narrower bezel.
If you plan to watch a lot of movies on your laptop, choose a model with a wider aspect ratio.
If you plan to do a lot of reading on your laptop, choose a model with a narrower aspect ratio.

Bezel Size	Aspect Ratio
Narrower	3:2
Wider	16:9

Remember, the best way to decide what size laptop is right for you is to go to a store and try out a few different models. This will help you get a feel for the different sizes and features available and make an informed decision about which one is right for you.

Measure the Diagonal Length

To measure the diagonal length of your laptop, you’ll need a ruler or measuring tape. Position the ruler along the diagonal of the screen, from one corner to the opposite corner. Make sure the ruler is straight and parallel to the screen.

Convert to Inches or Millimeters

Once you have the diagonal length in centimeters, you can convert it to inches or millimeters using the following formulas:

To Convert to Inches:	To Convert to Millimeters:
Diagonal Length (cm) x 0.3937 = Diagonal Length (in)	Diagonal Length (cm) x 10 = Diagonal Length (mm)

Detailed Example:

Let’s say your laptop screen measures 35.56 centimeters diagonally. To convert this to inches:

35.56 cm x 0.3937 = 14.00 inches

To convert this to millimeters:

35.56 cm x 10 = 355.6 millimeters

Verify Accuracy with a Secondary Measurement

Once you have your initial measurements, it’s essential to verify their accuracy. This can be done by taking a secondary measurement using a different measuring tool. For example, if you measured the laptop’s width with a ruler, you could now use a measuring tape to confirm the result.

To verify the accuracy of your secondary measurement, repeat steps 1-9 from the previous section. Once you have obtained your second measurement, compare it to the first. If the two measurements are within a reasonable margin of error, you can be confident that your measurements are accurate.

Here are some tips for taking accurate secondary measurements:

Tip	Description
Use a different measuring tool.	This will help to eliminate any measurement error that may be present in your first tool.
Measure the same distance twice.	This will give you two measurements to compare and increase the accuracy of your results.
Record your measurements in millimeters.	This will provide the most precise measurement possible.

By following these tips, you can verify the accuracy of your laptop measurements and ensure that you have the correct information before making any decisions.

How To Measure A Laptop

Measuring a laptop is important for a variety of reasons. You may need to know the dimensions of your laptop to determine if it will fit in a particular case or bag. You may also need to know the dimensions of your laptop to compare it to other laptops.

To measure a laptop, you will need a measuring tape or ruler. Start by measuring the width of the laptop. The width is the distance from one side of the laptop to the other side. Next, measure the height of the laptop. The height is the distance from the bottom of the laptop to the top of the laptop. Finally, measure the depth of the laptop. The depth is the distance from the front of the laptop to the back of the laptop.

Once you have measured the width, height, and depth of your laptop, you will have a good idea of its overall size. You can then use these measurements to compare your laptop to other laptops or to determine if it will fit in a particular case or bag.

10 Easy Steps to Measure Your Laptop’s Dimensions