Dead Pixel Policy by Brand

How many dead pixels does each brand allow?

It ranges from none at all to fifteen, and it often depends on the model line. The table shows the most each maker accepts before it treats the screen as faulty.

Rules differ by country, so each row names the maker’s site we copied it from. Checked 12 October 2026.

• Dell replaces a monitor covered by Premium Panel Exchange for a single bright pixel or sub-pixel, at any time in the warranty.
• Other Dell monitors allow up to five bright pixels, and five to fifteen dark sub-pixels depending on the model.
• Acer replaces a screen in its limited warranty once it has more than two bright or five dark sub-pixels, or more than five in total.
• Acer's BM series of professional monitors allows no bright sub-pixels at all.
• ASUS covers any bright or dark dot on monitors bought in Australia or New Zealand after February 2022, for 36 months.
• Older ASUS monitors allow up to three bright and five dark dots, while the ProArt series allows no bright dots.
• AOC follows ISO 9241-307 Class 1, which allows one bright pixel and one dark pixel plus a few single sub-pixels.
• LG's monitor help page says to have any bright dot inspected, and six or more dark dots.

Which brands replace a monitor for one bright pixel?

Dell does, on every monitor in its Premium Panel Exchange, for the whole warranty. ASUS goes further in Australia and New Zealand, where any bright or dark dot is covered for 36 months on monitors bought after February 2022.

Acer allows no bright sub-pixels on its BM series of professional monitors. On Dell’s other monitors and on standard Acer, AOC and older ASUS lines, one bright pixel is within the allowance. There, the seller’s return window is the better route.

What is the difference between a bright and a dark pixel?

A bright pixel stays lit on a black screen, and a dark pixel stays black on a white or colored screen. Makers count them apart because a lit dot on a dark scene is much easier to see.

Most policies also count sub-pixels, the red, green and blue dots inside each pixel. Acer and ASUS leave out tiny dots of half a sub-pixel or less.

What does ISO 9241-307 Class 1 allow?

AOC follows this standard, and its US warranty lists what a Class 1 panel may have. A panel counts as faulty only when it has more than these:

• one whole bright pixel that is stuck on white,
• one whole dark pixel that is stuck off,
• two single or double bright or dark sub-pixels,
• three to five stuck sub-pixels, depending on how many of each kind.

How do I count dead pixels for a claim?

Show one solid color at a time across the whole screen, and count bright and dark dots apart. These five steps take a few minutes.

1. Run the test below full screen, in a dim room, with the brightness turned up.
2. On the black screen, count every dot that stays lit. These are bright pixels.
3. On the white and colored screens, count every dot that stays black. These are dark pixels.
4. Note whether each dot is a whole pixel or a single red, green or blue sub-pixel.
5. Photograph each one close up, then compare your count with the row for your brand.

Our guide to monitor returns covers what to keep and who to contact first.

Do laptops have a dead pixel policy too?

Yes. Dell laptops at 1600 × 900 or sharper allow no bright pixels and up to five dark sub-pixels. At 1366 × 768 or lower, Dell allows up to two bright pixels.

Acer’s rule is written for its LCD displays in general, at resolutions down to 1366 × 768. For other makers, see our guide to a dead pixel on a laptop.

Why are Samsung, MSI and Lenovo not in the table?

We have not yet found a pixel policy for all their monitors on their own sites, so we do not quote one. Ask their support team for the rule on your model, and have your photos ready.

We list Dell, Acer, ASUS, AOC and LG because each publishes its rule on its own support pages.

What should I send when I contact the maker?

A complete first message saves days of back and forth. Include these details:

• The model and serial number from the label on the back.
• The date and place you bought it, with the receipt.
• How many bright and dark dots you found, and on which colors.
• A close photo of each dot, plus one wider photo showing where it is.

What if my screen is within the allowance?

The maker may then decline a warranty swap, but you still have options. First wipe the screen, as dust can look just like a pixel fault.

For a colored dot, run our stuck pixel fixer for 10 to 20 minutes. If the dot still bothers you, a return inside the seller’s window is usually the quickest fix.

Is the seller’s return window separate from the pixel policy?

Yes. The pixel policy is the maker’s warranty rule, while the return window is the seller’s own terms.

Some sellers accept any return inside their window, whatever the pixel count. Read the seller’s terms on the day the screen arrives.

Do TV makers have a dead pixel policy?

Our table covers monitors and laptops, where makers publish clear rules. For a TV, ask the maker’s support team for the rule on your model.

Our guide to a dead pixel on a TV shows how to test a TV and what to photograph.