About the Aspect Ratio Calculator

We built this Aspect Ratio Calculator to be a simple and powerful tool for anyone working with images and videos. An aspect ratio is just the relationship between the width and height of a rectangle. Knowing it is very important for resizing photos for a website, cropping a video for social media, or making sure your design elements are consistent. Our tool not only calculates the ratio but also helps you find new dimensions for resizing your content.

How to Use the Tool

  • To find an aspect ratio: Enter your original width and height in the first section. The tool will automatically calculate the simplified ratio for you.
  • To find new dimensions: Enter a known aspect ratio (like 16:9) and either a new width or a new height. The tool will calculate the other dimension to maintain that ratio.
  • Use the "Common Ratios" buttons for a quick start with standard sizes for widescreen video, Instagram posts, and more.
  • The visual preview on the side will update in real-time to show you what the calculated shape looks like.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an aspect ratio?

An aspect ratio is a simple proportional relationship between the width and height of an image or screen. It's written as two numbers separated by a colon, like 16:9. This means that for every 16 units of width, there are 9 units of height, regardless of whether the units are pixels, inches, or centimeters.

How do you calculate an aspect ratio?

To calculate an aspect ratio from a width and height, you need to find the greatest common divisor (GCD) of the two numbers. For an image that is 1920 pixels wide and 1080 pixels high, the GCD is 120. When you divide both numbers by 120 (1920 / 120 = 16 and 1080 / 120 = 9), you get the simplified ratio of 16:9.

What is the 16:9 aspect ratio used for?

The 16:9 aspect ratio is the standard for widescreen displays. It's used for most modern computer monitors, televisions, and online video platforms like YouTube and Vimeo. Common resolutions like 1920x1080 (Full HD) and 3840x2160 (4K) both have a 16:9 aspect ratio.

Why is aspect ratio important for images and video?

Maintaining the correct aspect ratio is crucial to avoid distorting your images or videos. If you resize something without keeping the ratio, the image will look stretched or squashed. Different platforms also have optimal ratios; for example, Instagram Stories use a vertical 9:16 ratio, while a standard photo might be 3:2.

Is this tool free to use?

Yes, our Aspect Ratio Calculator is completely free to use. All calculations happen directly in your browser for speed and privacy. We made this tool to help designers, developers, and content creators with their everyday tasks.

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