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What is pixel pitch and how do you choose between P2.9, P3.9 and the others?

Writer: Mobile Event
Mobile Event
Sep 14
4 min read

In short: pixel pitch is the distance, in millimeters, between the centers of two neighboring pixels on an LED screen. P2.9 means about 2.9 mm between pixels, P3.9 about 3.9 mm.


The lower the number, the more pixels per m² the screen has and the closer you can get without seeing the dots. Rule of thumb: the minimum viewing distance, in meters, is approximately equal to the pitch, in millimeters.


What do P2.9 and P3.9 mean specifically?

The letter P stands for pitch. The number is the distance between pixels, measured from center to center.

A standard rental cabinet is 0.5×0.5 m. On its 500 mm side, it can accommodate:


P2.9

P3.9

Actual pitch

2.976 mm

3.906 mm

Pixels on the cabinet

168×168

128×128

Pixels per m²

112,896

65,536

Minimum viewing distance

about 3 m

about 4 m

Comfortable distance

about 5 m

about 6.7 m

On the same surface area, P2.9 has 1.72 times more pixels than P3.9. The names are rounded: “P2.9” is actually 2.976 mm, because 500 mm divided by 168 pixels gives 2.976.

Close-up of an LED screen showing the pixel grid and the distance between pixels

From what distance can each pitch be seen clearly?

Screen manufacturers use 3 different distances, and this is where the confusion comes from:

  • Minimum distance: pitch in mm, read in meters. From here on out, the image appears continuous. Up close, you see the grid of dots.

  • Comfortable distance: about 1.72 × pitch (half the visual acuity distance). This is where most people no longer notice pixels at all.

  • Visual acuity distance: about 3.44 × pitch. Planar (Leyard) defines it as the distance at which a person with 20/20 vision can no longer distinguish individual pixels.

Pitch

Minimum

Comfortable

Visual acuity

P1.9

1.9 m

3.3 m

6.5 m

P2.6

2.6 m

4.5 m

8.9 m

P2.9

2.9 m

5 m

10 m

P3.9

3.9 m

6.7 m

13.4 m

P4.8

4.8 m

8.3 m

16.5 m

P5.9

5.9 m

10.1 m

20.3 m

At an event, what matters is whether the front row sits beyond the minimum distance. The rest of the room sits further away anyway.


What resolution does a real LED screen have?

The resolution of an LED screen is calculated from the number of cabinets. At P3.9, each 0.5 m cabinet adds 128 pixels, at P2.9 it adds 168.

Screen

P3.9

P2.9

5×3 m

1,280×768

1,680×1,008

6×3.5 m

1,536×896

2,016×1,176

8×4.5 m

2,048×1,152

2,688×1,512

A 6×3.5 m screen in P3.9 has a lower resolution than Full HD (1,920×1,080). At P3.9, the width of Full HD requires 15 cabinets, i.e. 7.5 m. At P2.9, 12 cabinets, i.e. 6 m.

For an audience sitting 6–20 m away, the resolution on a P3.9 screen looks sharp. It just matters that the graphic designer exports the videos at the exact resolution of the screen. More on this in the sizing guide.


Two LED screens side by side in a conference room, one P2.9 and one P3.9, with a magnified detail of the pixel grid

When do you choose P2.9?

  • The first row sits less than 4 m from the screen.

  • You film the screen or broadcast the event live, with cameras close to the stage.

  • Presentations have a lot of text, tables, or software interfaces.

  • The screen is small (under 10 m²) and you need resolution on a small surface.

  • You build shapes with flexible panels, where the audience walks past the screen.


When do you choose P3.9?

  • The first row sits 4 m or further away.

  • The room is large, and the content is video, images, and slides with large text.

  • You need a large area, and the viewing distance is over 6–7 m for almost the entire room.

  • The event is outdoors, where the audience sits further away anyway.


Does pitch matter for cameras and streaming?

Yes, along with 2 other specifications. When a camera shoots an LED screen up close, the screen's pixel grid overlaps the sensor's grid, resulting in the moiré effect: colored waves that don't exist in reality. A finer pitch reduces the risk.

The second specification is the refresh rate. Below a certain threshold, the camera will catch black bars that cross the image. For professional filming, a minimum of 3,840 Hz is required, and new rental panels reach 7,680 Hz. The FLEXX Xtra panels in the Mobile Event inventory have 3,840 Hz or more.

The third is genlock, which locks the screen refresh rate to the cameras. If the event is being broadcast live, test the screen with the real cameras during rehearsal.


What other specifications matter besides pixel pitch?

Two P2.9 screens may look different. Also check:

  • Brightness, in nits: 800–1,500 indoors, 4,000–6,000 outdoors, in the sun.

  • Calibration between cabinets, so you don't see squares with different shades.

  • Color depth, typically 15–16 bits for rental panels.

  • Viewing angle, important when the audience is sitting sideways.

Mobile Event has 300 m² of its own LED in P2.9 and P3.9. Inventory details are on the LED screens page.


Frequently asked questions

Is P2.9 better than P3.9?

P2.9 has more pixels per m², so it looks smoother up close. For an audience sitting more than 5–6 m away, the difference is hard to see, and P3.9 covers the same area with fewer pixels to process.


What pitch is used at outdoor events?

At festivals and large stages, P3.9–P5.9 are usually used, because the audience is far away. At smaller outdoor events, with close audiences, P2.9 is also suitable, if the panels have IP65 protection.


Can I combine different pitches on the same stage?

Yes. The center screen can be P2.9 and the side screens P3.9. Just avoid sticking 2 different pitches in the same continuous surface, because the difference in density is visible.


Why is P2.9 actually 2.976 mm?

Because the name is rounded. A 500 mm cabinet has 168 pixels on a side, and 500 divided by 168 gives 2.976 mm.


What do P1.9 and P2.6 mean?

There are finer pitches, 1.9 and 2.6 mm. They are used in TV studios, exhibition stands and small halls, where the audience sits 2–3 m from the screen.


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