The Ideal Viewing Distance for Monitors and Screens

The sweet spot for desktop work is simple: sit roughly an arm’s length away and angle your gaze slightly downward to the center of the screen. Major ergonomics bodies place typical viewing distance for office use in the 50–100 cm (20–40 in) range, with many users happiest around 50–75 cm once text size is tuned. Keep the top of the screen at or just below eye level.

For more precision, standards go further: ISO 9241 character-legibility guidance targets letters that subtend ~20–22 arcminutes at the eye and notes normal desktop viewing distances of 400–750 mm. Practically, that means at 60 cm your body text should be about 3.5–3.8 mm high; if it’s smaller, increase UI/text scaling instead of creeping closer.

A size-based distance guide (work vs. immersive)

For focused work, stay in the ergonomic band (generally 50–75 cm). For immersive gaming or cinematic viewing, many aim for a 30–40° horizontal field of view (FOV)—close enough to feel engaged without excessive eye travel. The distances below assume common aspect ratios and use viewing-angle geometry (distance ≈ screen width ÷ [2·tan(FOV/2)]). SMPTE’s baseline is ~30°; ~40° feels more cinematic.

Notes: Bigger or ultrawide panels often feel better a bit farther back so you can see edges without head turns. If text looks tiny at your preferred distance, increase scaling rather than moving closer—your eyes and neck will thank you. ISO’s 20–22′ character-angle target is the reason this works.

Curved and ultrawide monitors

Curvature labels (e.g., 1800R, 1500R) describe a radius in millimetres. As a rule of thumb, the radius roughly matches the farthest sensible viewing distance for the curve (e.g., 1800R ≈ 1.8 m). In practice, desktop users sit much closer than the radius, but the number still helps compare curves: smaller R = tighter curve = brings edges closer and reduces washout at the periphery.

Task and setup tweaked the right way

For work, prioritize comfort and clarity over immersion: keep arm’s-length distance, center the primary display directly in front, and match screen brightness to the room to reduce strain. If you use dual displays, put the primary directly ahead and angle the secondary slightly so both sit within a comfortable eye sweep. Check out some related tips here.

For gaming/media, choose your seat by FOV (table above), then adjust in small steps until HUD text and minimap details feel effortless. If you’re sensitive to lighting/flicker, steady, non-flickering ambient light helps you tolerate closer, immersive setups.

How to dial it in (fast)

Start at ~60–70 cm. Increase your OS/app scaling until body text lands near the ISO target (≈ 3.5–4.0 mm tall at 60–70 cm). Nudge the monitor forward/backward until you can read comfortably without leaning in, and confirm corners are visible without head rotation. Keep the screen’s center slightly below eye level to reduce ocular surface exposure and neck load.

References

1. OSHA. Workstation Components — Monitors. (20–40 in guidance; placement basics). https://www.osha.gov/etools/computer-workstations/components/monitors
2. Mayo Clinic. Office ergonomics: Your how-to guide. (arm’s length ≈ 20–40 in; top at/below eye level). https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/office-ergonomics/art-20046169
3. American Optometric Association. Computer vision syndrome. (20–28 in; screen 15–20° below eye). https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/eye-and-vision-conditions/computer-vision-syndrome
4. ISO 9241-306:2018. Ergonomics of human–system interaction. (400–750 mm viewing; 20–22 arcmin character height). https://cdn.standards.iteh.ai/samples/65063/8297c87918d949e4878146c5e9252687/ISO-9241-306-2018.pdf
5. RTINGS. TV Size to Distance Calculator (SMPTE/THX angles). (30° baseline; ~40° immersive). https://www.rtings.com/tv/reviews/by-size/size-to-distance-relationship
6. ViewSonic. Monitor Curvature Explained. (R-radius meaning; distance intuition). https://www.viewsonic.com/library/entertainment/monitor-curvature-explained/ {index=13}
7. RTINGS. Curved vs Flat Monitors. (radius≈distance rule of thumb; edge uniformity benefits). https://www.rtings.com/monitor/learn/curved-vs-flat
8. CCOHS. Office Ergonomics — Positioning the Monitor. (gaze 15° down; multi-monitor placement). https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/ergonomics/office/monitor_positioning.html
9. OSHA. Computer Workstations — Evaluation Checklist. (primary monitor centered; multi-monitor guidance). https://www.osha.gov/etools/computer-workstations/checklists/evaluation