Aspect Ratio Cheatsheet
What is an Aspect Ratio?
An aspect ratio is the proportional relationship between the width and height of an image, video, or screen. It is usually expressed as two numbers separated by a colon (e.g., 16:9), where the first number represents the width and the second the height.
Why Do Aspect Ratios Matter?
- Design: Ensures images and layouts look good on all devices and screens.
- Video: Determines how content fits on screens, affects letterboxing/pillarboxing.
- Photography: Impacts composition, cropping, and print sizes.
How to Calculate Aspect Ratios
To calculate an aspect ratio, divide the width by the height and simplify to the smallest whole numbers. For example, a 1920×1080 image: 1920 ÷ 1080 = 1.777... ≈ 16:9.
Formula: Aspect Ratio = Width : Height
| Aspect Ratio | Common Resolutions | Use Cases |
|---|---|---|
| 16:9 | 1920×1080, 1280×720, 3840×2160 | HDTV, YouTube, Modern Displays, Web Video |
| 4:3 | 1024×768, 1600×1200, 2048×1536 | Old TV, Classic Monitors, Projectors |
| 21:9 | 2560×1080, 3440×1440, 5120×2160 | Ultrawide Monitors, Cinema, Gaming |
| 1:1 | 1000×1000, 800×800, 1080×1080 | Instagram, Thumbnails, Profile Pics |
| 3:2 | 1500×1000, 3000×2000, 6000×4000 | DSLR Photography, Laptops, Prints |
| 5:4 | 1280×1024, 2560×2048 | Large Format Prints, Old Monitors |
| 2.35:1 | 1920×817, 3840×1634 | CinemaScope, Widescreen Film |
| 2:1 | 2048×1024, 4096×2048 | Modern Video, Web Banners |