Curved vs Flat Monitors: Sizes and Curves
Updated
Curved monitors are sized the same way as flat ones, by the diagonal of the screen in inches. The extra number, such as 1800R, is the curve radius in millimeters.
What do 1000R, 1500R and 1800R mean?
The number is the radius of the circle the screen bends along. A 1000R screen follows a circle with a 1000 mm (39.4 in) radius, so a lower number means a tighter curve.
- 1000R: the tightest common curve, about 39 in (1 m).
- 1500R: a middle curve, about 59 in (1.5 m).
- 1800R: a gentle curve, about 71 in (1.8 m).
If you sat at the center of that circle, every part of the screen would be the same distance from your eyes.
How deep is the curve on each monitor size?
This is how far the middle of the screen sits behind its edges. The second column is the width of the screen measured along the curve.
A curve barely matters on a 27 in screen, but on a 49 in one it is several inches deep.
- Flat
- 1000R, middle sits 78 mm (3.1 in) behind the edges
- 1500R, middle sits 53 mm (2.1 in) behind the edges
- 1800R, middle sits 44 mm (1.7 in) behind the edges
Is a curved monitor narrower than a flat one?
Yes, by a little. The curve pulls the edges in, so a curved screen spans less width than the same screen laid flat. The last column is how far around you an 1800R screen wraps.
Should I buy a curved or a flat monitor?
It depends mostly on how wide the screen is. As a rule of thumb:
- Up to 27 in 16:9: flat is fine, since the edges are already close to straight ahead.
- 32 in and 34 in ultrawide: either works, and a gentle curve helps the edges.
- 38 in and up: a curve keeps the far edges easier to see.
How far should I sit from a curved monitor?
A curve fits best when your eyes are near the center of its circle. Then every part of the screen is the same distance from you.
At the distance where each screen fills 40 degrees of view, you sit about:
- 27 in: 821 mm (32.3 in) away, closest to 1000R.
- 32 in: 973 mm (38.3 in) away, closest to 1000R.
- 34 in 21:9: 1094 mm (43.1 in) away, closest to 1000R.
- 38 in 12:5: 1224 mm (48.2 in) away, closest to 1000R.
- 49 in 32:9: 1646 mm (64.8 in) away, closest to 1500R.
Sitting a little closer than the radius is fine. The curve still brings the edges nearer than a flat screen would.
Is a curved monitor better for gaming?
For racing, flight and open-world games on a wide screen, a curve wraps the picture around your side vision. For fast shooters on a 24 or 27 inch screen, flat works just as well.
See which size suits your games in our gaming monitor size guide.
What sizes do curved monitors come in?
Curves are most common on ultrawides, from 34 in (86 cm) up, where the edges are far from straight ahead. Many 24 and 27 inch monitors are flat, though curved versions exist.
Compare widths and heights on our 34 inch and 49 inch ultrawide pages, or read our ultrawide size guide.
Does a curve change the resolution or sharpness?
No. A curved screen has the same pixels as a flat one with the same resolution. Only the shape of the panel changes.
What changes is how far each part is from your eyes. On a wide flat screen, the edges are further away, so text there looks a little smaller than in the middle.
How do I set up a curved monitor?
Center it on your seat, since the curve is aimed at one spot. Then follow these steps:
- Sit square to the middle of the screen, not off to one side.
- Set the top of the screen at or just below eye level.
- Move it until the edges look the same distance away as the middle.
- If you use an arm, check it lists curved screens and the weight.
Is a curved monitor good for photo editing or design?
A flat screen is the safer pick for this kind of work. When you sit off center, a curve bends straight lines a little, which makes it harder to judge edges and layouts.
If you edit photos and also play games, a 27 inch or 32 inch flat 4K screen covers both. For a wider view, a gentle 1800R ultrawide changes lines the least.
Can two people watch a curved monitor?
A curve is aimed at one seat in the middle. Someone sitting beside you sees the far edge turned away from them, so it looks narrower.
For films or games with a friend, a flat screen or a TV works better. Our TV size calculator shows which TV suits a shared sofa.
Can I put a curved monitor on a monitor arm?
Yes, if the back has VESA screw holes, usually 100 × 100 mm. The curve sits in front of the mount, so the arm itself does not change.
Curved ultrawides are heavy and wide, so check the arm’s weight limit against the monitor’s weight without its stand. Our 100 × 100 VESA page explains the pattern.
What should I check before buying a curved monitor?
Run through these points so the curve suits your desk and how you sit:
- Measure how far your eyes are from the screen, and match the curve to that distance using the table above.
- Check the body width and stand depth on our 34 inch ultrawide or 49 inch ultrawide page.
- After it arrives, run our dead pixel test on the full screen.
- Then check for uneven brightness near the edges with our monitor uniformity test.
Does a curved monitor need a deeper desk?
A little. The curve brings the edges forward, so the edges of a 34 inch 1500R screen sit 53 mm (2.1 in) in front of its center.
The stand often takes more depth than the curve. Check the depth with stand on our 34 inch ultrawide page.
Shop curved and flat monitors
Affiliate linksQuestions
Do curved monitors need a special stand or arm?
No. Any arm that fits the VESA pattern and weight will hold a curved monitor.
Can I flatten a curved monitor?
No. The curve is built into the panel, so it cannot be changed or straightened.
Is a curved monitor good for office work?
On a wide screen, yes, because the edges stay at a similar distance from your eyes. On a 24 or 27 inch screen the curve makes little difference.
Which curve suits a 34 inch ultrawide?
At the 40 degree distance of 1094 mm (43.1 in), 1000R is the closest common curve.
Can two people use a curved monitor?
Yes, but the curve is centered on one seat. Someone sitting off to the side sees the near edge closer and the far edge further away.
Does a curved screen change the resolution?
No. A curved 3440 × 1440 screen has the same pixels as a flat one. Only the shape of the panel changes, so text and images keep the same sharpness.
Does a curved monitor take more desk space?
It needs a little more depth, from the depth table above, but slightly less width. On most desks the difference is small.
Is a curved monitor bad for drawing or design work?
Straight lines can look slightly bent on a curved screen. For precise drawing, flat is the safer choice.
Can I wall mount a curved monitor?
Yes, if it has VESA holes. The middle sticks out less than the edges, so check the mount’s clearance.
How we measure
Take w as the screen width along the curve and r as the radius. Depth = r × (1 − cos(w ÷ 2r)) and straight width = 2r × sin(w ÷ 2r). Wrap angle = w ÷ r in radians.