SimSightline / Best Monitor Size for Sim Racing
Best Monitor Size for Sim Racing
The right size depends on how far the screen sits from your eyes. Pick your distance below to see how wide your view will be with each screen size, from a 24-inch monitor to triples.
The short answer
- On a desk (50 to 60 cm away): a 27-inch 16:9 screen covers about 53° to 62°. A 34-inch ultrawide covers about 67° to 77°.
- On a rig with the screen behind the wheel (70 to 80 cm): a 32-inch 16:9 screen covers only about 48° to 54°. Go bigger: a 42-inch screen covers about 60° to 67°, a 45-inch ultrawide about 67° to 74° (more with a tight curve) and a 49-inch super ultrawide about 74° to 81°.
- For the widest view: three 27-inch screens at 60 to 70 cm cover about 139° to 159° in total.
These numbers are for flat screens. A curved screen covers a few degrees more at the same size and distance.
Size vs distance chart
Horizontal field of view for each screen size at each eye-to-screen distance, calculated with our published formulas.
| Screen | 50 cm | 60 cm | 70 cm | 80 cm | 90 cm | 100 cm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24" 16:9 1080p | 56° | 48° | 42° | 37° | 33° | 30° |
| 27" 16:9 1440p | 62° | 53° | 46° | 41° | 37° | 33° |
| 32" 16:9 4K | 71° | 61° | 54° | 48° | 43° | 39° |
| 34" 21:9 ultrawide | 77° | 67° | 59° | 53° | 48° | 43° |
| 42" 16:9 4K TV | 86° | 76° | 67° | 60° | 55° | 50° |
| 45" 21:9 ultrawide | 93° | 82° | 74° | 67° | 61° | 55° |
| 49" 32:9 super ultrawide | 100° | 90° | 81° | 74° | 67° | 62° |
| 57" 32:9 super ultrawide | 109° | 99° | 90° | 82° | 76° | 70° |
| 3 × 27" 16:9 triple, total | 180°+ | 159° | 139° | 123° | 110° | 100° |
| 3 × 32" 16:9 triple, total | 180°+ | 180°+ | 161° | 143° | 129° | 117° |
A single 16:9 screen at a normal distance usually lands between about 45° and 60°. Ultrawides and triples go much wider. A bigger view is not automatically better: at the correct FOV, more width means you see more of the track, not that things look smaller. Get the exact number for your screen in the FOV calculator.
What size do you need for the view you want?
Read across to your distance to see the diagonal you need for a given view.
| View you want | 50 cm | 60 cm | 70 cm | 80 cm | 90 cm | 100 cm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60° on a 16:9 screen | 26" | 31" | 37" | 42" | 47" | 52" |
| 90° on a 21:9 ultrawide | 43" | 51" | 60" | 69" | 77" | 86" |
| 90° on a 32:9 super ultrawide | 41" | 49" | 57" | 65" | 74" | 82" |
This is why small screens struggle on rigs: at 80 cm you need about a 42-inch 16:9 screen for a 60° view. If your rig lets you bring the screen closer, a smaller screen does the same job. The planner on the FOV calculator works this out for any distance and target.
Sizing for triple screens: 27 or 32 inch?
- Three 27-inch screens suit seating 55 to 70 cm away. At 60 cm they cover about 159° in total, with each side screen turned in about 53°.
- Three 32-inch screens suit seating 65 to 85 cm away, which is common when the screens sit behind a large wheel base. At 70 cm they cover about 161° in total.
- Bigger triples need a wider stand and more desk or floor space. The triple screen angle calculator gives the corner-to-corner width so you can check it fits.
Sharpness: pixels per inch
A bigger screen at the same resolution spreads the pixels further apart. On a rig you sit further back, so lower density is less noticeable than on a desk.
| Screen | Resolution | Pixels per inch |
|---|---|---|
| 24" 16:9 | 1920 × 1080 | 92 |
| 27" 16:9 | 2560 × 1440 | 109 |
| 32" 16:9 | 3840 × 2160 | 138 |
| 34" 21:9 | 3440 × 1440 | 110 |
| 42" 16:9 | 3840 × 2160 | 105 |
| 45" 21:9 | 3440 × 1440 | 83 |
| 49" 32:9 | 5120 × 1440 | 109 |
| 57" 32:9 | 7680 × 2160 | 140 |
Around 100 to 110 pixels per inch looks sharp at typical sim rig distances. Below about 90, text and small HUD elements look softer up close.
PS5 and Xbox
Consoles output a 16:9 image. On a 21:9 or 32:9 ultrawide you get black bars at the sides, and consoles do not support triple screens. For console racing such as Gran Turismo 7 or ACC on console, a 16:9 monitor or TV is the right choice: 27 to 32 inches on a desk, or a 42 to 55-inch TV on a rig (see our TV picks).
Next step
Once you know the size, see our best monitors for sim racing or the best ultrawides, each with the field of view it gives at 60, 70 and 80 cm.
FAQ
What is the best monitor size for sim racing?
On a desk, 27 to 34 inches. On a rig where the screen sits behind the wheel, 42 inches or more, a 45 to 49-inch ultrawide, or triple 27 to 32-inch screens. The right size depends on your seating distance; check the chart above.
Is 27 or 32 inch better for sim racing?
At the same distance, a 32-inch screen covers about 7° to 9° more than a 27-inch one. On a desk 60 cm away that is about 61° against 53°. Choose 32 inches if you sit further than about 65 cm.
Is 24 or 27 inch better for sim racing?
27 inch. At 70 cm a 24-inch 16:9 screen covers about 42° of your view against about 46° for a 27-inch, and at 60 cm about 48° against 53°. The extra width helps you judge corners. Choose 24 inch only if it sits very close to you or as part of a tight triple setup.
Is a 32-inch monitor too big for sim racing?
No. On most rigs 32 inches is on the small side, because the screen sits behind the wheel. It only feels big on a desk very close to your eyes.
Is it better to use 3 monitors or 1 ultrawide for sim racing?
Three monitors give a wider total view, often 140° to 160°, but have bezels and need more GPU power and setup. One curved ultrawide is simpler and bezel-free, with a narrower view of roughly 60° to 100° at rig distances, depending on its size and curve.
What size TV is good for sim racing?
On a rig 70 to 100 cm away, a 42 to 48-inch TV gives a view of roughly 50° to 74°. Use game mode to keep input lag low.
What is the best monitor size for sim racing on PS5?
A 16:9 screen, as the PS5 outputs 16:9: a 27 to 32-inch monitor on a desk, or a 42 to 55-inch TV on a rig further away. See our TV picks and GT7 settings.
Can I use an ultrawide on PS5?
It works, but the PS5 outputs 16:9, so you get black bars at the sides. Choose a 16:9 screen for console racing.
Last reviewed October 2026.