Pixel Pitch: Why it Matters
- Jan 13
- 2 min read
Updated: 2 hours ago
What is Pixel Pitch?
Technically speaking, pixel pitch is the distance from the center of one LED cluster (a pixel) to the center of the next one, measured in millimeters. You will often see it written as "P" followed by a number—for example, P4 means the distance between pixels is 4mm.
Why It Matters
Choosing an LED Ticker can feel overwhelming and your decision probably includes two critical factors: Image Quality and Cost. Both are direct functions of pixel pitch.
1. Image Quality / Minimum Viewing Distance (MVD)
The Minimum Viewing Distance is the "sweet spot" where the human eye stops seeing individual dots and starts seeing a smooth, continuous image.
The Mosaic Rule: Think of an LED display like a mosaic.
Small tiles close together: You can stand right in front of it and see a clear picture.
Large, spaced-out tiles: The image looks like a jumble of squares until you step back.
For text-based applications like sports tickers and stock tickers, pros use the 1mm to 1m Rule:
For every 1mm of pitch, add 1 meter of Minimum Viewing Distance.
Example: On a P4 ticker, text will begin to look sharp and crisp at 4 meters (~12 feet) away. If your audience is closer than that, consider a smaller pitch.
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2. The Relationship with Cost
It’s a common misconception that a smaller pixel pitch is just a "premium" upgrade. In reality, the cost also increases because the density of technology explodes.
When you halve the pixel pitch (e.g. moving from P4 to P2) and keep the display area constant, you don't just double the pixels - you quadruple them. This dramatic increase impacts two main areas:
Materials & Power: More pixels require more complex circuitry and higher-quality power supplies to drive the increased load.
Manufacturing Precision: Smaller pitches require advanced robotic assembly and tighter quality control. Even a microscopic misalignment in a P2 display is visible to the eye, whereas a P10 is much more forgiving.
The Takeaway
Choosing the right pitch is about balance. You don't always need the smallest pixel pitch but choosing too large a pixel pitch may yield a presentation that doesn't meet expectations.
