At first glance, the dimensions of a website could easily be brushed aside as a trivial consideration. However, if you take a closer look at the world of web design you will find that the role that these dimensions play in shaping not only user experience but also the very essence of design aesthetics is crucial.
The White Label has been on the market for a decade now and has created more than 10,000 websites, so the industry trends and standard website dimensions are a daily routine for us. In this article, we will help you understand the impact of website dimensions and check out the common standards for different devices. Beyond the surface, we uncover their potent ability to captivate visitors visually, ensure responsiveness, and foster profound user engagement.
Today every pixel matters, and understanding the nuances of website dimensions becomes an art form that distinguishes exceptional designs from the mundane.
The key factor influencing dimension choices
As website owners think about their online presence, the size of their platform becomes a crucial factor that can shape their digital identity. This main decision is guided by a singular factor: the complex interaction between how users behave and the common ways devices are used.
Today various screen sizes shape the online scenery, and the dimensions you pick can significantly affect how users experience your site, how long they stay, and how likely they are to become customers.
With a wide variety of devices now used to access websites, from big desktop screens to small mobile devices, the need for responsive design is more important than ever.
Our observation shows how designers carefully find the right balance, making sure a website looks great on all kinds of screens.
This careful balance involves how people use websites, who the website’s audience is, and the different devices people use. As we dig deeper, we uncover how these factors come together, showing why responsive design isn’t just a passing trend but a crucial principle in today’s web design world.
Designing for desktop: Unveiling the dimensions
Now, let’s focus on desktop screens, like a big blank canvas ready for a masterpiece. The size we pick for our design is influenced by interesting numbers that show how people use their screens.
So, let’s explore the standard website dimensions for desktops, based on data from July 2022 to July 2023. According to StatCounter’s thorough research, some sizes stand out:
- 1920×1080 (22.7%)
- 1366×768 (14.47%)
- 1536×864 (10.41%)
- 1440×900 (6.61%)
- 1600×900 (3.8%)
These sizes give us a direction for our design journey, helping us create layouts that fit well and look great on various screens. And remember, responsive design is like our secret tool, making sure our designs work on all these different screens.
Tablet dimensions: A dual portrait
Now, let’s talk about tablets – those handy devices that can switch between landscape and portrait views. The size of these screens is quite important, and we’ve got some interesting numbers from July 2022 to July 2023 to show us what’s common:
- 768×1024 (26.96%)
- 810×1080 (9.68%)
- 1280×800 (6.76%)
- 800×1180 (5.04%)
- 962×601 (2.99%)
Designing for tablets has its own challenges. Think about how you tap and swipe on a tablet – that’s part of what we need to consider. The screens are also not super big, so we have to be smart about what goes where.
But guess what? Responsive design comes to the rescue once again. It helps us make sure that no matter what tablet someone is using, the website looks and works well. So, when we’re designing for tablets, it’s not just about pixels, it’s also about how people actually use these devices. It’s like a dance between design and user needs, making sure everyone’s happy.
Navigating mobile dimensions: A pocket-sized world
Let’s talk about small screens – the ones on our phones. These screens are all about swiping and tapping, and their standard website dimensions come in different sizes. Check out these numbers from the same research:
- 360×800 (11.65%)
- 390×844 (7.26%)
- 414×896 (5.66%)
- 393×873 (5.16%)
- 328×926 (3.84%)
Mobile-friendly design is a big deal because so many people use their phones. That’s why we have this idea called “mobile-first” design. It means making the mobile version of a website first, before the desktop one. Why? Because if it works well on a small screen, it’s probably going to work well on a big one too.
Think of it like this: the dimensions you pick for your website are like the colors you use to create a painting. Every time someone taps, swipes, or clicks, they’re feeling the choices you made. It doesn’t matter if they’re on a big desktop, a tablet, or a small phone – your dimensions make them feel at home. So, your website becomes this awesome mix that connects with people, no matter what screen they’re using.
With more than 10 years in WordPress development, WLA has teamed up with over 600 agencies and made over 10,000 websites. That means our experienced designers have a clear understanding of standard website dimensions and are always ready to whip up designs that look great and work like a charm for users.
Is your digital marketing agency in search of an outsourcing partner with a proven track record in managing WordPress website development projects? At White Label Agency, we have delivered over 10,000 websites to over 600 agencies, and we offer a range of related services, including maintenance, dedicated developer rental and design. If you are interested in partnering with us to complete an individual project, or to try our subscription services, don’t hesitate to contact our sales team.
FAQs
What size should I build my website?
The optimal size for building a website depends on your audience and the devices they use. Here are some common practices:
Responsive Design: Your website should be responsive, meaning it adjusts seamlessly to different screen sizes, including desktops, tablets, and smartphones. This ensures a consistent and user-friendly experience across all devices.
Standard Width: For desktop, the standard width is usually between 1440 pixels and 1920 pixels. This range accommodates most modern desktop monitors.
Mobile-Friendly Width: For mobile, a width of 360 to 414 pixels is standard for most smartphones.
Content Width: The main content area of your site should generally be between 700 pixels and 960 pixels wide to ensure readability and visual appeal.
Full-Screen Layouts: If you’re considering full-screen layouts, remember that setting the layout to a percentage (e.g., 90-95% of the viewport width) helps adapt the site to different screen sizes more dynamically.
The goal is to ensure your website is scalable and adaptable to provide an excellent user experience, no matter the device or screen size.
What is the best dimensions for a website?
The best dimensions for a website are determined by balancing user experience, design consistency, and accessibility across various devices. Here are some guidelines for optimal website dimensions:
1. Full-Width Layouts
Desktop: A website width of 1920 pixels or higher for full-width designs is common, but the main content area is often kept within 1140 to 1280 pixels to ensure readability on larger screens.
Mobile: Aim for a minimum width of 320 to 414 pixels, as most smartphones fit within this range.
Tablets: A width of 768 pixels is common for portrait mode, while 1024 pixels works well for landscape mode.
2. Fixed-Width Layouts
A typical fixed-width layout for desktops is 960 pixels to 1200 pixels. This size ensures compatibility with most screens while maintaining easy readability.
3. Responsive and Adaptive Design
Using a responsive design approach is essential to adjust the layout to fit different screen sizes automatically. For example, set the container width in percentages or use CSS frameworks like Bootstrap to create flexible grid systems.
Breakpoints for responsive design often include:
Desktop: ≥1200 pixels
Laptop: 992–1199 pixels
Tablet: 768–991 pixels
Mobile: ≤767 pixels
4. Aspect Ratios
Maintain an aspect ratio that supports readability, such as 16:9 or 4:3, to ensure that images and content scale proportionally.
What is the standard size of a website?
The standard size of a website typically refers to the width and overall layout that best fit most users’ screens. While there isn’t a strict “standard” size that fits all cases due to varying device dimensions, there are common sizes used in web design:
1. Width for Desktop Websites
Content Width: The typical width for the main content area on desktops ranges from 960 pixels to 1200 pixels. This ensures a comfortable reading experience while fitting well on most modern monitors.
Full-Width Websites: For full-screen designs, a width of 1920 pixels is common. However, designers often use flexible or responsive layouts to ensure the site looks good on larger screens without appearing stretched.
2. Width for Mobile and Tablet Websites
Mobile: The common screen width ranges from 320 pixels (small smartphones) to 414 pixels (large smartphones). Mobile-first design principles help create a seamless experience on smaller screens.
Tablet: The width typically ranges from 600 pixels (smaller tablets) to 768 pixels (standard tablets in portrait mode).
3. Responsive Design Standards
Websites today are built to be responsive, adapting to various screen sizes from small smartphones to large desktop monitors. Using breakpoints in your CSS, you can adjust the layout based on screen width:Large Desktop: ≥1200 pixels
Standard Desktop/Laptop: 992–1199 pixels
Tablet: 768–991 pixels
Mobile: ≤767 pixels
4. Height Considerations
The height of a website is less constrained and depends on the amount of content. The most important aspect is ensuring that key information is above the fold (the part of the page visible without scrolling). The standard “fold” line is around 600 to 800 pixels in height for desktops.
What size is a 1920×1080 website?
A 1920×1080 website refers to the resolution of the display or viewport size that the website is designed for. Here’s a breakdown of what this size means:
Definition of 1920×1080:
1920 pixels wide: The horizontal dimension of the viewport.
1080 pixels tall: The vertical dimension of the viewport.
This resolution is commonly referred to as Full HD (FHD) or 1080p and is widely used for desktop and laptop screens.
How It Relates to Websites:
Websites are typically responsive, meaning they adjust to fit various screen sizes and resolutions. While 1920×1080 is a common desktop resolution, websites are designed to scale and work on smaller screens like tablets and phones, as well as larger monitors.
A 1920×1080 design would ensure that your website looks ideal on Full HD screens without unnecessary horizontal or vertical scrolling.
