Visual representation
The aspect ratio describes the proportional relationship between width and height. It's commonly expressed as W:H (e.g., 16:9).
This Aspect Ratio Calculator helps you figure out the right proportional relationship between width and height for your screens, images, and videos. Whether you're resizing images, editing videos, or designing websites, maintaining the correct aspect ratio is essential for professional-looking results.
Aspect ratio is the proportional relationship between the width and height of a rectangular display, image, or video. It's typically expressed as two numbers separated by a colon (e.g., 16:9), representing the width and height respectively. This ratio describes the shape of the content, not its actual size in pixels.
For example, a 16:9 aspect ratio means that for every 16 units of width, there are 9 units of height, regardless of whether those units are pixels, inches, or centimeters.
The visual representation helps you see the shape of your aspect ratio at a glance.
| Aspect Ratio | Decimal | Common Uses | Example Resolutions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16:9 | 1.78:1 | Modern TVs, monitors, smartphones, YouTube videos | 1920×1080, 1280×720, 3840×2160 |
| 4:3 | 1.33:1 | Traditional TVs, older monitors, iPads | 1024×768, 800×600, 640×480 |
| 21:9 | 2.33:1 | Ultrawide monitors, cinematic films | 3440×1440, 2560×1080 |
| 1:1 | 1:1 | Social media profile pictures, Instagram posts | 1080×1080, 1200×1200 |
| 3:2 | 1.5:1 | DSLR cameras, 35mm film, photo prints | 6000×4000, 1500×1000 |
| 9:16 | 0.56:1 | Mobile portrait videos, TikTok, Instagram Stories | 1080×1920, 720×1280 |
Using the correct aspect ratio is crucial for several reasons:
To calculate aspect ratio:
For example, if your image is 1920×1080 pixels:
Our calculator handles this math automatically, giving you the simplified ratio instantly.
When resizing content, maintaining the aspect ratio is crucial. Here's how:
For example, to resize a 1920×1080 image to a width of 1280 pixels:
The "Lock Ratio" feature in our calculator automatically performs these calculations for you.
Different platforms and devices have preferred aspect ratios:
When converting content between different aspect ratios, you have several options:
For professional results, cropping is usually preferable to stretching when aspect ratio changes are necessary.
Try these other helpful calculators:
Work with video and image dimensions easily using the Aspect Ratio Calculator!
The Aspect Ratio Calculator is a tool designed to help you determine, convert, and visualize the proportional relationship between width and height in rectangular displays, images, and videos. Whether you're designing websites, editing photos, creating videos, or working with screens, maintaining the correct aspect ratio is crucial for professional-looking results.
Our calculator allows you to input dimensions and instantly calculates the simplified aspect ratio, providing both the traditional format (e.g., 16:9) and decimal representation. The built-in ratio locking feature ensures your dimensions maintain proportionality when adjusting either width or height, preventing distortion in your content.
The tool includes common preset ratios for quick selection, including standard formats for screens (16:9, 4:3, 21:9), photography (3:2), and social media (1:1, 9:16). A visual representation helps you understand what the ratio looks like in practice, making it easier to conceptualize the shape and dimensions for your specific needs.
Whether you're resizing images, formatting videos for different platforms, designing responsive websites, or planning print layouts, this calculator simplifies the process of working with aspect ratios and helps ensure your visual content displays correctly across all media.