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Pixel Aspect Ratio Calculator

Calculate display aspect ratio from pixel dimensions and pixel aspect ratio (PAR). PAR affects how pixels are displayed on screen.

Standard: 1.0 (square pixels)

How to Use This Calculator

  1. Enter width and height in pixels.
  2. Enter pixel aspect ratio (PAR), typically 1.0 for square pixels.
  3. The calculator displays display aspect ratio and storage aspect ratio.
  4. Use this to understand how PAR affects displayed aspect ratio.

Pixel Aspect Ratio Formula

Display aspect ratio is calculated from PAR and pixel dimensions:

Storage Aspect Ratio (SAR) = Width / Height
Display Aspect Ratio (DAR) = (Width × PAR) / Height

Where:
PAR = Pixel Aspect Ratio (typically 1.0 for square pixels)

If PAR = 1.0: DAR = SAR
If PAR ≠ 1.0: DAR ≠ SAR

Example: 1920×1080 pixels, PAR = 1.0: SAR = 1920/1080 = 1.777... (16:9), DAR = (1920 × 1.0) / 1080 = 1.777... (16:9). If PAR = 1.2: DAR = (1920 × 1.2) / 1080 = 2.133... (different display ratio). Modern formats use PAR = 1.0 (square pixels).

Full Description

The Pixel Aspect Ratio Calculator calculates display aspect ratio from pixel dimensions and pixel aspect ratio (PAR). PAR is the ratio of pixel width to pixel height. Standard PAR = 1.0 means square pixels, which is used in modern digital formats. Non-square pixels (PAR ≠ 1.0) were common in older analog video formats like NTSC and PAL.

Display Aspect Ratio (DAR) = (Width × PAR) / Height. This is how the image appears on screen. Storage Aspect Ratio (SAR) = Width / Height, which is the ratio of stored pixels. If PAR = 1.0 (square pixels), DAR = SAR. If PAR ≠ 1.0 (non-square pixels), DAR ≠ SAR. For example, 1920×1080 with PAR = 1.0 gives DAR = 16:9. With PAR = 1.2, the same pixels would display as a different aspect ratio. Modern digital formats (HD, 4K) use PAR = 1.0.

This calculator helps you understand pixel aspect ratio. Enter pixel dimensions and PAR, and it calculates display and storage aspect ratios. Use it for video production, understanding PAR, converting between formats, or learning about aspect ratios. Most modern content uses PAR = 1.0 (square pixels)!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is pixel aspect ratio (PAR)?

Pixel Aspect Ratio (PAR) is the ratio of pixel width to pixel height. Standard PAR = 1.0 (square pixels). Non-square pixels (PAR ≠ 1.0) were common in older video formats (e.g., NTSC, PAL). Modern digital formats typically use square pixels (PAR = 1.0). PAR affects how pixels are displayed on screen.

How is display aspect ratio calculated?

Display Aspect Ratio (DAR) = (Width × PAR) / Height. Example: 1920×1080 pixels, PAR = 1.0: DAR = (1920 × 1.0) / 1080 = 1.777... (16:9). If PAR = 1.2: DAR = (1920 × 1.2) / 1080 = 2.133... (different display ratio). PAR affects the displayed aspect ratio.

What is storage aspect ratio?

Storage Aspect Ratio (SAR) = Width / Height (pixel dimensions). This is the ratio of stored pixels, regardless of PAR. Example: 1920×1080: SAR = 1920/1080 = 1.777... (16:9). SAR is the "native" aspect ratio of the pixel grid. DAR accounts for PAR, SAR doesn't.

When is PAR not 1.0?

Non-square pixels (PAR ≠ 1.0) were used in analog video formats: NTSC (PAR ≈ 0.9), PAL (PAR ≈ 1.066). Modern digital formats (HD, 4K) use square pixels (PAR = 1.0). If PAR = 1.0, DAR = SAR. If PAR ≠ 1.0, DAR ≠ SAR. Most modern content uses PAR = 1.0.