Pixel Pitch Guide
The single most important specification for LED displays. Get it right and you save budget while delivering perfect image quality. Get it wrong and you either overspend or get visible pixelation.
SPECIFIER QUICK REFERENCE
Pixel Pitch Quick Reference
- Minimum viewing distance (m) = Pixel Pitch (mm) x 1.5
- Comfortable viewing distance (m) = Pixel Pitch (mm) x 2.5
- Resolution = Screen dimension (mm) / Pixel pitch (mm)
- Halving the pixel pitch quadruples the cost (4x LEDs per sqm)
- For text/data: use minimum distance formula. For video: use comfortable distance.
- Most common error: over-specifying pitch (wasting budget on invisible resolution)
RECOMMENDED FOR: All LED display projects — this is the starting point for every specification
What is Pixel Pitch?
Pixel pitch is the distance (in millimetres) between the centre of one LED pixel and the centre of the adjacent pixel. It determines three critical factors:
Viewing Distance
Smaller pitch = closer viewing
Resolution
Smaller pitch = more pixels
Cost
Smaller pitch = higher cost
The Viewing Distance Formula
MINIMUM VIEWING DISTANCE
Distance (m) = Pixel Pitch (mm) x 1.5
COMFORTABLE VIEWING DISTANCE
Distance (m) = Pixel Pitch (mm) x 2.5
EXAMPLE CALCULATION
Project: 4m wide x 2.25m tall lobby wall at P1.5
Horizontal pixels: 4000mm / 1.5mm = 2,667 pixels
Vertical pixels: 2250mm / 1.5mm = 1,500 pixels
Resolution: 2667 x 1500 (approximately 4K)
Min viewing distance: 1.5mm x 1.5 = 2.25m
Pixel Pitch by Application
RECOMMENDED PIXEL PITCH BY APPLICATION
| Application | Typical Distance | Pitch Range | Technology |
|---|---|---|---|
| Control / Command Room | 1-3m | P0.7 - P1.2 | COB / MiP |
| Executive Boardroom | 2-4m | P0.9 - P1.5 | COB / MiP |
| Retail Close-up Display | 1-3m | P0.9 - P1.5 | MiP / COB |
| Hotel / Corporate Lobby | 3-8m | P1.5 - P2.5 | MiP / SMD |
| Conference / Ballroom | 5-12m | P2.5 - P3.9 | SMD / MiP |
| Mall Atrium Signage | 5-15m | P2.5 - P4 | SMD |
| Outdoor Street Level | 5-20m | P3.9 - P6 | SMD (outdoor) |
| Highway Billboard | 20-80m | P6 - P10 | SMD (outdoor) |
| Stadium Perimeter | 30-100m | P8 - P16 | SMD (outdoor) |
Cost vs Pixel Pitch
2026 MARKET PRICING (APPROXIMATE)
| Pixel Pitch | Cost/sqm (USD) | LEDs per sqm | Typical Tech |
|---|---|---|---|
| P0.7 | $12,000 - $20,000 | 2,040,816 | COB / MiP |
| P0.9 | $8,000 - $14,000 | 1,234,568 | COB / MiP |
| P1.2 | $4,000 - $8,000 | 694,444 | COB / MiP / SMD |
| P1.5 | $2,500 - $5,000 | 444,444 | MiP / SMD |
| P2.5 | $1,200 - $2,500 | 160,000 | SMD |
| P3.9 | $800 - $1,800 | 65,746 | SMD |
| P6 | $600 - $1,200 | 27,778 | SMD (outdoor) |
| P10 | $400 - $900 | 10,000 | SMD (outdoor) |
Frequently Asked Questions
At 3m, the minimum pixel pitch is P2.0 (3m / 1.5 = 2.0mm). For comfortable viewing with mixed content, P1.5 is ideal. For text-heavy content like dashboards, go tighter to P1.2. For pure video content, P2.5 is acceptable.
Divide the screen dimension in millimetres by the pixel pitch. Example: a 4m wide wall at P1.5 = 4000mm / 1.5mm = 2,667 pixels wide. A 2.25m tall wall = 2250mm / 1.5mm = 1,500 pixels tall. Total: 2667 x 1500 (approximately 4K).
No. Over-specifying pixel pitch wastes budget without visible benefit. If your audience views from 10m, a P1.2 wall looks identical to P4 — but costs 4-5x more. Always match pitch to actual viewing distance.
Hotel lobbies typically have viewing distances of 3-8m. P1.5-P2.5 is the sweet spot. For luxury properties where the display is a design centrepiece viewed closely, P1.2-P1.5 with COB or MiP technology for superior contrast.
Highway billboards viewed from 20-80m: P6-P10. Street-level signage viewed from 5-20m: P3.9-P6. The key factor is viewing distance, not the 'outdoor' label. All outdoor displays need IP65+ and 5,500+ nits regardless of pitch.
Cost increases exponentially as pitch decreases. P0.7 costs roughly $12,000-20,000/sqm while P4 costs $600-1,500/sqm. The relationship is approximately: halving the pitch quadruples the cost, because you need 4x the LEDs per square metre.