How to measure a screen correctly
for a custom screen protector

Ordering a custom or cut-to-size screen protector starts with one thing: an accurate measurement of the display. It sounds trivial. It isn't. A measurement that's two or three millimetres out produces a protector that overhangs an edge, leaves a visible gap, or fouls a bezel — and by then the units are already cut. This guide explains how to measure a screen correctly, the mistakes that catch people out, and when to stop measuring and send us a sample instead.

First, decide what you're measuring

There are two different measurements, and confusing them is the most common error:

• The visible display area — the part of the screen that actually shows an image, inside the bezel. A protector cut to this size sits within the bezel.
• The full front glass area — the entire glass surface of the device, edge to edge, including the non-display border. A protector cut to this size covers the whole front face.

Decide which one your application needs before you pick up a ruler. For most industrial and POS displays, the visible display area (or display area plus a small margin) is what's wanted. For edge-to-edge coverage on a consumer-style device, it's the full glass area. If you're not sure, measure both and tell us — we'd rather have more information than less.

What you need

A steel rule or calliper is far better than a tape measure — tapes flex and the hook end introduces error. For displays under about 200mm, a digital calliper gives the most reliable result. Work in millimetres; screen protector manufacturing is metric everywhere, and converting from inches introduces rounding error.

How to measure, step by step

1. Power the device on if you're measuring the visible display area — the lit area defines the boundary clearly. On an unpowered screen the display edge can be hard to see.
2. Measure the width at the top of the screen and again at the bottom. They should match; if they don't, the screen isn't square and you should note that.
3. Measure the height on the left and again on the right. Again, the two readings should agree.
4. Record the larger reading if there's a small discrepancy, and tell us about it — it affects the tolerance and the cut.
5. Identify the corner type. Square corners are straightforward. Rounded corners need a corner radius — the radius of the curve at each corner. You can estimate this by comparing the corner against drawn circles of known radius, or simply tell us "rounded, approximately 3mm" and we'll confirm.
6. Note any cutouts — cameras, sensors, buttons, speaker grilles — and their position relative to one corner (measure from the same reference corner each time).

The mistakes that catch people out

• Measuring the bezel instead of the glass, or the glass instead of the display. Be explicit about which boundary you're measuring to.
• Including or excluding the corner radius inconsistently. Width and height should be measured at the widest points.
• Using a flexible tape. The flex and the hook both introduce a millimetre or two of error — exactly the margin that matters.
• Assuming two devices of the "same" model are identical. Different production batches and regional variants can differ. If you're ordering for a fleet, measure several units.
• Converting from inches. A "10.1-inch screen" is a marketing figure, not a manufacturing dimension. Always measure the actual area in millimetres.
• Forgetting curvature. If the glass is curved (2.5D or more), a flat measurement isn't the whole story — tell us the glass is curved so we can advise.

When to stop measuring and send a sample

Measuring works well for flat, square or simply-rounded displays. But some situations are better solved by sending us a physical sample to measure ourselves:

• The device has a complex or irregular outline.
• The display is curved or contoured.
• There are multiple cutouts whose positions are critical.
• The order is large enough that a cutting error would be expensive.
• You simply can't get consistent readings.

For any critical order, the safest path is to order a single sample protector first, fit it, and confirm before committing to the full quantity. A sample costs little and removes all the risk from a production run.

Sending us your measurements

When you contact us, include: the width and height in millimetres, whether that's the display area or the full glass, the corner type and radius, the position of any cutouts, whether the glass is flat or curved, and the device make and model if it has one. A photograph — ideally with a ruler alongside the screen — is always helpful. The more context you give, the more accurate the first article will be.