What is Aspect Ratio Calculator?
Enter any width and height to find the simplified ratio. Lock it, then change one dimension and the other scales to match. Free and private — your numbers never leave your device.
The ratio is reduced using the greatest common divisor, so 1920 x 1080 returns 16:9 instead of an awkward 1920:1080. Lock the ratio and a new width snaps the height to the nearest whole pixel, which is what you actually need when resizing for a UI or a video timeline.
How to use
- Enter width and height values to calculate the simplified aspect ratio (e.g., 1920x1080 gives 16:9).
- Lock the ratio, then change either width or height — the other dimension updates proportionally.
- Use the preset ratios (16:9, 4:3, 1:1, 21:9) for quick calculations or enter custom ratios.
When to use
- Resizing a YouTube thumbnail or banner to 16:9 from arbitrary source dimensions.
- Cropping a 4:5 Instagram portrait while keeping the proportions identical to the original.
- Picking the right canvas size for an ultrawide 21:9 desktop wallpaper.
Result
Enter 1920x1080 to see the ratio is 16:9. Lock the ratio and change width to 1280 — height auto-calculates to 720. Common presets: 4:3 for presentations, 16:9 for video, 1:1 for social media.
FAQ
- What is an aspect ratio in plain terms?
- It is the proportional relationship between the width and the height of a rectangle. 16:9 means the width is 16 units for every 9 units of height, regardless of whether those units are pixels, inches, or centimetres.
- How is the ratio reduced to its simplest form?
- The calculator finds the greatest common divisor (GCD) of width and height, then divides both by it. So 1280 x 720 becomes 16:9 because gcd(1280, 720) = 80, and 1280/80 : 720/80 gives 16:9.
- Why does the height not always come out as a round number when I lock the ratio?
- Because aspect ratios are rational, not magic. When you type a width that is not a multiple of the locked ratio's width term, the calculator rounds the height to the nearest whole pixel to keep the image usable.
- Which aspect ratio should I pick for social media posts?
- Use 1:1 for Instagram feed squares, 9:16 for stories and reels on Instagram or TikTok, 16:9 for YouTube videos, and 4:5 for Instagram portrait feed posts that get more vertical space without being cropped.
- Can the same ratio look different on different screens?
- The proportional shape is identical, but pixel density and screen size change the apparent size. A 1:1 image will fill a square on every device, just at the resolution that device offers.
Related Tools
Regression Calculator
Perform linear and polynomial regression analysis
Matrix Calculator
Perform matrix operations and calculations
Chi-Square Calculator
Perform chi-square statistical tests
Graphing Calculator
Plot mathematical functions on a graph
Area Calculator Map
Draw shapes on a map to calculate area
Z-Score Calculator
Calculate z-scores, percentiles, and probabilities