Key Points
- Most 17-inch laptops have displays that measure 17.3 inches diagonally.
- Most 17.3-inch laptops have a 16:9 aspect ratio, while laptops measuring exactly 17 inches diagonally have a 16:10 aspect ratio.
- 17-inch laptops are ideal for professionals who need more screen real estate and gamers.
- 17-inch laptops are less portable due to their weight and size, with some models weighing over 10 pounds.
A 17-inch laptop provides enough screen real estate for most purposes and is ideal for folks who want to use it as a main computer. However, the actual screen size and the external dimensions can affect productivity and portability.
Whether you want to know how big a laptop bag to buy or how large the display really is, this 17-inch laptop dimensions guide can help you figure it out.
Let’s dive right in!
| Laptop | Length x Width x Height | Screen Size |
|---|---|---|
| Dell XPS 9720 | 14.74 x 9.76 x 0.77 inches | 17.0 inches |
| LG Gram 17 | 14.91 x 10.19 x 0.70 inches | 17.0 inches |
| ASUS Vivobook 17X | 15.72 x 10.01 x 0.78 inches | 17.3 inches |
| HP 2023 Envy Laptop | 15.68 x 10.20 x 0.77 inches | 17.3 inches |
| ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 | 15.55 x 11.10 x 1.21 inches | 17.3 inches |
| Acer Aspire 5 | 15.90 x 10.40 x 0.78 inches | 17.3 inches |
Actual 17-Inch Laptop Dimensions
- 17" FHD+
- Core i7
- 1TB SSD
- 64GB RAM
- RTX 3050
- 14 cores @ 4.7 GHz
- 12th Gen CPU
- Windows 11 Home
17-Inch Laptop Chassis Dimensions
Like most laptops, the 17-inch models don’t have a standard frame dimension. The actual display size influences the chassis dimension, but there are also variations between laptops from different brands, even if they have the same diagonal screen size.
Most laptops with a display size of exactly 17 inches are around 14.70 to 15 inches long and 9.75 to 10 inches wide. Models with 17.3-inch displays are slightly larger, measuring around 15.5 to 16 inches in length and 10 to 11 inches in width.
Regardless of their length and width, most general-purpose and productivity laptops are around 0.7 to 0.8 inches thick. Most 17-inch gaming laptops are thicker, generally measuring over 1.2 inches in height.
Despite these slight differences, all 17-inch laptops can fit in a laptop bag designed for devices this size — the average dimension of a 17-inch laptop bag is 16.5 x 13.5 x 4 inches. Laptop backpacks also have wide compartments that can accommodate most laptops this size.
- 16GB LPDDR5 RAM plus 1TB NVMe Gen 4 M.2 SSD
- Intel Evo 13th Gen Core i7-1360P processor
- 17-inch anti-glare IPS display
- Windows 11 OS
- Lightweight at only 3.2 pounds
©Chikena/Shutterstock.com
17-Inch Laptop Display Dimensions
The vast majority of 17-inch laptops have displays that measure 17.3 inches diagonally. These displays are 15.08 inches wide and 8.46 inches high, but their actual resolution and screen real estate are determined by the aspect ratio.
A handful of 17-inch laptops fall out of this standard and come with displays that measure exactly 17 inches diagonally. The smaller display maintains the exterior dimensions more compact — the display itself is only 14.8 inches wide and 8.35 inches high — but you usually get more screen real estate thanks to the 16:10 aspect ratio.
You can find the actual display size of a laptop in the product’s manual, or you can search for the model on Google. Alternatively, you can measure it yourself (measure the distance between the top right-hand corner to the bottom left-hand corner of the display, excluding the bezel).
- 17.3" FHD display
- Intel Core i9-13900H CPU
- 16GB RAM
- 1TB SSD
- Windows 11 Home
- Indie Black
Various 17-Inch Laptop Aspect Ratios
The aspect ratio refers to the ratio between the width and height of a display, and it can dramatically affect your visual experience. There are five aspect ratios commonly used in laptop displays and monitors, but the vast majority of 17-inch laptops have either 16:9 or 16:10 aspect ratios.
16:9 Aspect Ratio vs. 17-Inch Laptop Dimensions
All 17.3-inch laptops have a 16:9 aspect ratio. These screens have wider fields of view, but the image is shorter compared to the 16:10 aspect ratio. Nevertheless, 16:9 is the native aspect ratio of most types of video content (including movies) and games, and this factor makes 17.3-inch laptops ideal for general use and gaming.
While the external dimensions of 17.3-inch laptops vary based on the frame size, most general-purpose models measure around 15.70 x 10.50 x 0.75 inches. Some gaming models, such as the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17, are slightly wider and thicker. For instance, the Strix Scar 17 measures 15.55 x 11.10 x 1.21 inches.
©Thannaree Deepul/Shutterstock.com
- 17.3" FHD touchscreen display
- 13th Gen Intel Core i7-13700H processor
- 32GB RAM
- 2TB PCIe SSD
- Webcam
- HDMI
- Backlit KB
- SD card reader
- Wi-Fi 6
- Windows 11 Pro
- Grey
16:10 Aspect Ratio vs. 17-Inch Laptop Dimensions
The 16:9 aspect ratio is standard in 17.3-inch laptops, but the tables turn when it comes to laptops measuring exactly 17 inches diagonally. These models use the 16:10 aspect ratio for their displays and are more suitable for professionals who need more vertical space.
The two main advantages of this aspect ratio are the increased amount of screen real estate compared to the 16:9 displays and the more compact chassis. Most 17-inch laptops measure under 15 inches in length and around 10 inches in width.
For instance, the Dell XPS 9720 — one of the few laptops with a display size of exactly 17 inches — measures 14.74 x 9.76 x 0.77 inches. The LG Gram 17 is another example and measures 14.91 x 10.19 x 0.70 inches.
- 17.3-inch display
- AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX processor
- Windows 11 Pro
- 32GB RAM
- Supports Dolby Vision HDR and Adaptive-Sync
Is a 17-inch Laptop Right for You?
Whether you need a large display for work or gaming, a 17-inch laptop can replace your desktop computer. A display of exactly 17 inches provides enough screen real estate for professionals to run two apps or windows side-by-side. The additional vertical space provided by the 16:10 aspect ratio is also ideal for writers and programmers.
A 17.3-inch screen suits gamers and content creators who need a 16:9 aspect ratio. A laptop this size is also perfect for general use if you want a big-screen laptop but don’t care too much about portability.
In fact, the main disadvantage of 17-inch laptops is their limited portability. Most laptops this size weigh around five pounds, but some models can weigh over 10 pounds and can easily put a strain on your shoulders. Carrying a large laptop bag can also be inconvenient at times.
- 17.3" FHD
- Intel Core i7-1165G7 (up to 4.7GHz)
- 20GB RAM
- 1TB SSD
- Backlit keyboard
- Fingerprint
- Wi-Fi 6
- Webcam
- HDMI
- Windows 11
- CUE accessories
Wrap Up
Most 17-inch laptops actually have 17.3-inch displays and measure around 15.70 x 10.50 x 0.75 inches. They have a 16:9 aspect ratio and are perfect for general use, content creation, and gaming.
Professionals can choose from a selection of laptops with displays measuring exactly 17 inches diagonally. These models have a 16:10 aspect ratio, provide more vertical space, and more screen real estate compared to the 17.3-inch models.
Regardless of the display size, most 17-inch laptops are more suitable to use as desktop PC replacements than portable computers due to their weight and overall size, which could negatively affect portability.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©cendhika/Shutterstock.com.
