Key Points
- A 14-inch laptop bridges the gap between ultra-portable 13-inch and standard 15.3-inch models, offering a balance between productivity and portability.
- The actual dimensions of 14-inch laptops vary between different brands, but most fall within the range of 12 to 13 inches in length and 8 to 9 inches in width.
- Some 14-inch laptops have non-standard display sizes, with Apple and ASUS often using slightly larger panels to increase screen real estate.
- 14-inch laptops can have different aspect ratios, with the 16:9 ratio being the most common for general use and the 16:10 and 3:2 ratios offering more screen real estate for productivity and content creation.
- A 14-inch laptop is ideal for those who need a lightweight and portable device for on-the-go use, such as students, frequent travelers, and remote workers.
A 14-inch laptop can bridge the gap between the ultra-portable 13-inch dimension and the standard 15.3-inch models. Bringing the best of both worlds, the 14-inch models have large enough screens for productivity while maintaining compact enough dimensions for portability. But what is the exact size of a 14-inch laptop?
Whether you need to know the external size to buy a laptop bag or just wonder how big a 14-inch display truly is, this guide will answer your questions. Let’s dive right in!
Actual 14-Inch Laptop Dimensions
| Laptop | Length x Width x Height | Screen Size |
|---|---|---|
| Apple 2021 MacBook Pro | 12.31 x 8.71 x 0.61 inches | 14.2 inches |
| ASUS Zenbook 14X | 12.67 x 8.88 x 0.67 inches | 14.5 inches |
| HP Pavilion Touchscreen Laptop | 12.68 x 8.27 x 0.74 inches | 14.0 inches |
| Acer Aspire 3 A314-23P-R3QA | 12.93 x 8.55 x 0.74 inches | 14.0 inches |
| Lenovo Flex 5 Laptop | 12.33 x 8.85 x 0.76 inches | 14.0 inches |
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14-Inch Laptop Chassis Dimensions
While all 14-inch laptops are relatively similar in size, they don’t have a standard chassis dimension. The external size can vary from around 12.3 inches to around 13 inches in length. The width and height are also variable, but a 14-inch laptop bag is typically large enough to fit any chassis in this category.
Variations in external dimensions are more common between different brands than products from the same company, even though there are companies that use different frame sizes for laptops in different lineups.
Apple and Lenovo manufacture some of the most compact 14-inch laptops with lengths under 12.4 inches. However, these laptops are usually wide. ASUS, HP, and Acer usually use longer but narrower frames, with widths sometimes as narrow as 8.27 inches.
As far as the thickness goes, Apple and ASUS have some of the slimmest models (under 0.7 inches thick). Most other brands use thicker frames.
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- 14.5" OLED 2.8K touchscreen display
- 550 nits
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- Windows 11
14-Inch Laptop Display Dimensions
Similar to the external size, there is no standard for the dimensions of a 14-inch laptop display. While most brands equip their laptops with screens that measure exactly 14 inches diagonally, others use slightly larger panels to increase the screen real estate.
Two companies that usually use non-standard 14-inch displays are Apple and ASUS. Most 14-inch Apple laptops actually measure 14.2 inches diagonally. ASUS takes things a step further, equipping most of its 14-inch Zenbook models with 14.5-inch screens — the brand mostly uses 14.0-inch displays for models in other lineups.
HP laptops sometimes break the rule entirely. While most of the brand’s 14-inch laptops measure exactly 14 inches diagonally, some of its convertible 14-inch models actually have smaller screens with a diagonal of only 13.5 inches.
To find out how big your 14-inch display really is, measure the screen diagonally from the upper left-hand corner to the bottom right-hand corner (or vice versa), excluding the bezel. You can also find the actual display size in your laptop’s user manual or search for it on Google.
Various 14-Inch Laptop Aspect Ratios
Even though most 14-inch laptops have the same display size — with some exceptions — they don’t have the same aspect ratio. Most modern laptops use 16:9, 16:10, or 3:2 aspect ratios, whereas some older models may use a 4:3 aspect ratio.
The aspect ratio describes the correlation between the width and height of the screen, in this order, and determines how much screen real estate your monitor has.
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- Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- Backlit keyboard
- Fingerprint reader
- Wi-Fi 6E
- USB-C
- 8GB DDR4
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- Windows 10 Pro
16:9 Aspect Ratio vs. 14-Inch Laptop Dimensions
The 16:9 aspect ratio is the most commonly used in laptops and computer monitors. It is also the native aspect ratio of most digital content, including games and videos. For these reasons, a 16:9 14-inch laptop is ideal for general use, such as casual gaming and movie streaming.
While there are no standard frame dimensions, most 14-inch laptops with a 16:9 aspect ratio measure around 12.7 x 8.3 x 0.7 inches on average.
16:10 Aspect Ratio vs. 14-Inch Laptop Dimensions
Displaying taller images than the 16:9 laptops, the 16:10 aspect ratio increases the screen real estate vertically. This factor can make a difference in terms of productivity, allowing you to see more of a document or email. For this reason, the 16:10 aspect ratio is mostly found in business laptops, such as the ASUS Zenbook 14X. Apple also prefers this aspect ratio and uses it for most of its 14-inch lineup, including the MacBook Pro series.
Size-wise, 16:10 laptops are slightly shorter but wider than the 16:9 models. On average, a 16:10 14-inch laptop measures around 12.5 x 8.7 x 0.7 inches.
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3:2 Aspect Ratio vs. 14-Inch Laptop Dimensions
Found in very few models, the 3:2 aspect ratio offers even more screen real estate than the 16:10 option and is ideal for productivity. This is also the most common aspect ratio used in photography and video editing, so these laptops suit content creators.
One of the companies currently manufacturing 3:2 14-inch laptops is HP. Its Spectre x360 14 model features this aspect ratio and offers plenty of screen real estate while maintaining incredibly compact external dimensions.
This laptop measures 11.8 x 8.7 x 0.67 inches and is closer in size to a 13-inch laptop than a 14-inch. In fact, while the model is sold as a 14-inch laptop, its display measures 13.5 inches diagonally.
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Is a 14-inch Laptop Right for You?
A 14-inch laptop is ideal for anyone in need of a light and portable laptop that’s comfortable to use on the go. This size is perfect for students, professionals who travel a lot, or remote workers who aren’t too fond of a home office and would rather work from Starbucks. If you normally use a larger screen, a 14-inch laptop could be an excellent backup for moments when you need portability.
- 14" FHD touchscreen display
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
- 16GB RAM
- 512GB storage
- AMD Radeon graphics
- Windows 11 Home
- Storm Grey
Wrap Up
While most 14-inch laptops have a 14-inch screen, some measure 14.2 or 14.5 inches diagonally.
The exterior dimensions can vary widely, but most laptops this size measure between 12 and 13 inches in length and are eight to nine inches wide. At this size, they fit seamlessly in most handbags and backpacks, even in bags that are not specifically designed for laptops.
If you need a portable computer with a decent screen size and truly lightweight, this could be the right dimension for you.
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