Gaming Computersby Sandbox Computers Call 01905 673738
New & comingOut now ValheimOut now How to FishOut now Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary EditionOut now TCG Card Shop Simulator16 Oct Online: 40416 Oct Beyond These Stars20 Oct Nomad Drive21 Oct Escape from Playtime22 Oct Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® 4See all

What size monitor is best for gaming?

By Stephen Parsons, Sandbox Computers, Worcester. Last updated .

Choosing a gaming monitor is not just about size. Size and resolution go together, and the PC has to be strong enough for the screen. Here is how to pick the right one.

Resolution is how many dots (pixels) make up the picture. More dots means a sharper picture, but more work for the graphics card.

The three common sizes

24 inch, 1080p

The most popular gaming screen. It is the easiest for a PC to run, so games stay smooth. It suits fast games such as Fortnite and Valorant, and it fits on a small desk.

27 inch, 1440p

The sweet spot for many gamers now. The picture is bigger and sharper. 1080p can look soft when it is stretched to 27 inch, so 1440p is the better match at this size. It needs a stronger PC than 1080p.

32 inch, 4K

A big, very sharp picture. It needs a top-end PC to run games well, and a deep desk so you can sit far enough back.

SizeResolutionBest for
24 inch1080pMost gamers, fast games, small desks, sensible budgets
27 inch1440pA sharper picture on a stronger PC
32 inch4KTop-end PCs and deep desks

For more on resolution, read 1080p, 1440p or 4K: which screen for gaming?

Refresh rate: how smooth it looks

Refresh rate is how many times each second the screen shows a new picture. It is measured in Hz. For gaming, look for 144Hz or more. Movement looks much smoother. For work, browsing and films, 60Hz is fine.

A fast screen only helps if the PC can keep up. Our guide to frame rate and refresh rate explains how the two work together.

Panel types

The panel is the kind of screen inside the monitor. You will see three main types.

  • IPS: the best colours, and good from any angle. A safe choice for most people.
  • VA: deeper blacks, so dark scenes look richer.
  • OLED: a stunning picture with perfect blacks. It costs more. Ask about how to look after it, as these screens need a little care.

Where to sit

Sit about an arm's length from the screen. If you are too close to a big screen, you have to turn your head to see the corners. Measure your desk before you buy a 32 inch screen.

Match the PC to the screen

This is the most important part. A sharp 1440p or 4K screen needs a stronger graphics card. A strong PC on a basic screen wastes some of what you paid for. A weak PC on a sharp screen will struggle.

The easy way to get it right is to buy the PC and monitor together. See our complete gaming setups, or read PC only, or a complete gaming setup?

Complete setups: PC and monitor together

Picked from our shop's list by graphics card strength, then price. Prices update by themselves.

Sandbox Pro Setup 1

New build1440p gamingComplete setup

Sandbox Pro Setup 1

Ryzen 5 9600X + RX 9070 XT 16GB gaming PC with 27-inch monitor, keyboard, mouse and speakers

Built for 1440p screens: Warzone, Fortnite, GTA V and Valorant at high settings, and new games like Cyberpunk 2077 play well. Comes as a complete setup with a monitor, keyboard and mouse.

Processor
Ryzen 5 9600X
Graphics
Radeon RX 9070 XT 16GB
Memory
16GB DDR5 6400MHz
Storage
1TB NVMe SSD
Windows
Windows 11 Home

£2,889.94

Built to order

See it and buy at Sandbox Computers

Ask us about this PC Compare

Games this PC plays

Comes with an RGB case - you can swap it for a non-RGB case if you prefer.

Sold by Sandbox Computers, Worcester

Sandbox Pro Setup 5

New build1440p gamingComplete setup

Sandbox Pro Setup 5

Core Ultra 7 265KF + RX 9070 XT 16GB gaming PC with 26.5-inch monitor, keyboard, mouse and speakers

Built for 1440p screens: Warzone, Fortnite, GTA V and Valorant at high settings, and new games like Cyberpunk 2077 play well. Comes as a complete setup with a monitor, keyboard and mouse.

Processor
Core Ultra 7 265KF
Graphics
Radeon RX 9070 XT 16GB
Memory
32GB DDR5 5600MHz
Storage
1TB NVMe SSD
Windows
Windows 11 Home

£3,360.24

Built to order

See it and buy at Sandbox Computers

Ask us about this PC Compare

Games this PC plays

Comes with an RGB case - you can swap it for a non-RGB case if you prefer.

Sold by Sandbox Computers, Worcester

Sandbox Pro Setup 7

Pre-order1440p gamingComplete setup

Sandbox Pro Setup 7

Ryzen 7 9800X3D + RX 9070 XT 16GB gaming PC with 27-inch monitor, keyboard, mouse and speakers

Built for 1440p screens: Warzone, Fortnite, GTA V and Valorant at high settings, and new games like Cyberpunk 2077 play well. Comes as a complete setup with a monitor, keyboard and mouse.

Processor
Ryzen 7 9800X3D
Graphics
Radeon RX 9070 XT 16GB
Memory
32GB DDR5 4800MHz
Storage
1TB NVMe SSD
Windows
Windows 11 Home

£3,973.35

Pre-order

Pre-order at Sandbox Computers

Ask us about this PC Compare

Games this PC plays

Comes with an RGB case - you can swap it for a non-RGB case if you prefer.

Sold by Sandbox Computers, Worcester

Questions people ask

What is the best monitor size for gaming?

For most people, a 24 inch 1080p screen or a 27 inch 1440p screen. 24 inch is the most popular and the easiest for a PC to run. 27 inch 1440p is the sweet spot if your PC is strong enough.

Is 1080p OK on a 27 inch monitor?

It works, but the picture can look a little soft at that size. 1440p is a better match for 27 inch. At 24 inch, 1080p looks sharp.

Do I need a 144Hz monitor for gaming?

144Hz or more makes games look much smoother, as long as the PC can keep up. For work, browsing and films, 60Hz is fine.

How far away should I sit from my monitor?

About an arm's length away is a good rule. A bigger screen needs a deeper desk so you can sit back far enough to see all of it.

Still not sure? Call us on 01905 673738 or send us a message. Tell us your games and budget and we will give you a straight answer. You can also try our Which gaming PC? helper.