How To Measure Your Laptop Computer: 15 Steps (with Pictures)

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow Properly Measure a Laptop to Get the Right Size Sleeve or Case PDF download Download Article

Get your notebook computer's dimensions before buying a case, bag, or sleeve

Co-authored by Luigi Oppido and Kyle Smith

Last Updated: December 26, 2024 Fact Checked

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  • Screen Size
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  • Height
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  • Width
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  • Depth
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This article was co-authored by Luigi Oppido and by wikiHow staff writer, Kyle Smith. Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 335,423 times.

Need to purchase a laptop bag or protective sleeve? Find the dimensions of your PC laptop or MacBook before hitting the buy button! Measuring your laptop ahead of time could save you from having to return a too-large or too-small sleeve or carrying case. This wikiHow guide will show you how to measure your laptop computer. You just need a tape measure (or a ruler).

Things You Should Know

  • When finding the screen size, measure from one corner to the opposite corner (diagonally).
  • Get the height of your laptop (also called the thickness) by measuring from the bottom of the laptop to the top surface while the screen is shut.
  • Measure the width and depth by measuring along the front and side of the laptop.[1]

Steps

Part 1 Part 1 of 4:

Screen Size

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  1. Step 1 Get a standard tape measure. 1 Get a standard tape measure. Screens are typically measured in inches, though different regions may use the metric system (cm) over imperial units (inches). If you need to, you can convert your measurement afterwards![2]
    • You can use a ruler as an alternative to the tape measure.
    • If you’re looking for more screen space, try connecting your laptop to a monitor. Or, you can always hook it up to a projector.
  2. Step 2 Find your starting measuring point. 2 Find your starting measuring point. Screens are typically measured diagonally, so your starting point will be one corner of the screen. Screen size only measures the actual screen, not the enclosure or bezels, so start your measurement where the visible part of the screen starts. Advertisement
  3. Step 3 Extend your tape measure to the opposite corner. 3 Extend your tape measure to the opposite corner. Remember that you are measuring just the visible portion of the screen, not any of the enclosure.
    • Warning: Make sure not to scratch your screen with the tape measure. You can hold the tape measure a couple centimeters away from the screen while measuring.
    • Screens were originally measured diagonally to make the size sound more impressive.
  4. Step 4 Convert your measurements to tenths of an inch. 4 Convert your measurements to tenths of an inch. Most retailers advertise screens in tenths of inches (15.3", 17.1", etc.), but most tape measures are marked in 16ths of an inch. To convert to a decimal form, divide the number of 16th marks by 16.
    • For example, if you measure your screen as 14 and 4/16th inches, divide 4 by 16 to get 0.25 inches. Add that to 14 for a total of 14.25 inches.
  5. Step 5 Convert inches to centimeters (if necessary). 5 Convert inches to centimeters (if necessary). If you need to know the size of the screen in centimeters but only have the inches measurement, multiply the inches by 2.54 to find the measurement in centimeters.
    • For example, a 13.3 inch screen is 33.8 centimeters (13.3 x 2.54 = 33.782).
    6. Advertisement
Part 2 Part 2 of 4:

Height

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  1. Step 1 Close the laptop screen. 1 Close the laptop screen. The laptop's height is measured with a closed screen.
  2. Step 2 Start your tape measure at the bottom of one of the sides. 2 Start your tape measure at the bottom of one of the sides. If your laptop slopes when closed, measure the thickest part.[3]
  3. Step 3 Measure up to the top of the closed screen. 3 Measure up to the top of the closed screen. Laptops aren't usually taller than two inches.
  4. Step 4 Convert inches to centimeters (if necessary). 4 Convert inches to centimeters (if necessary). If you need to know the height in centimeters but only have the inches measurement, multiply the inches by 2.54 to find the measurement in centimeters.
    • For example, a 1.5 inch tall laptop is 3.8 centimeters (1.5 x 2.54 = 3.81).
    5. Advertisement
Part 3 Part 3 of 4:

Width

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  1. Step 1 Start the tape measure at the front left or right corner. 1 Start the tape measure at the front left or right corner. Measuring the front is easiest because there are no protruding ports.[4]
  2. Step 2 Measure straight across the front of the laptop to the other front corner. 2 Measure straight across the front of the laptop to the other front corner. Make sure to measure all the way to the end of any rounded edges.
  3. Step 3 Convert inches to centimeters (if necessary). 3 Convert inches to centimeters (if necessary). If you need to know the width in centimeters but only have the inches measurement, multiply the inches by 2.54 to find the measurement in centimeters.
    • For example, a 14 inch wide laptop is 35.6 centimeters (14 x 2.54 = 35.56).
    4. Advertisement
Part 4 Part 4 of 4:

Depth

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  1. Step 1 Start the tape measure at the back left or right corner. 1 Start the tape measure at the back left or right corner.
  2. Step 2 Measure straight down the side of the laptop to the front corner. 2 Measure straight down the side of the laptop to the front corner. Make sure to measure all the way to the end of any rounded edges.
  3. Step 3 Convert inches to centimeters (if necessary). 3 Convert inches to centimeters (if necessary). If you need to know the depth in centimeters but only have the inches measurement, multiply the inches by 2.54 to find the measurement in centimeters.
    • For example, a 12 inch deep laptop is 30.5 centimeters (12 x 2.54 = 30.48).
  4. Step 4 Buy a case. 4 Buy a case. Now that you have all of the necessary measurements, you’re ready to purchase a case, sleeve, or laptop bag!
    • Check out our guide for shopping online and finding coupons.
    5. Advertisement

Community Q&A

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  • Question Is there a command to get the height or dimensions of my computer? Community Answer Community Answer No, but you can use a regular ruler. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 7 Helpful 5
  • Question Without any measuring tape can we get the size from the computer system software? Community Answer Community Answer You can see it with the monitor properties (is it a 15 inch monitor or 17 inch monitor). Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 8 Helpful 13
  • Question How should I measure the length and width of the laptop? Community Answer Community Answer You should use a ruler or tape measure, and measure it diagonally across the screen. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 2 Helpful 4
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References

  1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXtvfb2KOkg
  2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXtvfb2KOkg
  3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXtvfb2KOkg
  4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXtvfb2KOkg

About This Article

Luigi Oppido Co-authored by: Luigi Oppido Computer & Tech Specialist This article was co-authored by Luigi Oppido and by wikiHow staff writer, Kyle Smith. Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years. This article has been viewed 335,423 times. How helpful is this? Co-authors: 13 Updated: December 26, 2024 Views: 335,423 Categories: Laptops In other languages Spanish Italian Russian Portuguese German French Indonesian Dutch Japanese
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Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 335,423 times.

Is this article up to date?

Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Luigi Oppido Co-authored by: Luigi Oppido Computer & Tech Specialist Click a star to vote Co-authors: 13 Updated: December 26, 2024 Views: 335,423

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