The question we hear most in quote consultations is "What's the difference between P1.5 and P2.5?" The answer is simple: how many pixels fit on a screen of the same size, and therefore how close people can stand to it, and how much it costs. All three are set by a single number: the pitch.
We compared indoor P1.25–P2 and outdoor P2.5–P3 (P4–P10 per project) based on our lineup.
1. Pitch is the spacing between pixels
P2.5 means LEDs spaced 2.5mm apart. The smaller the number, the denser the screen.
Pixel pitch (P) is the distance in mm between the centers of adjacent LED pixels. One standard 320×160mm module holds 256×128 = 32,768 pixels at P1.25, 128×64 = 8,192 pixels at P2.5, and 80×40 = 3,200 pixels at P4. Halve the pitch and you get four times the pixels, which means more LEDs and drivers, and a higher cost.
2. The same 4m × 2m screen, very different results
Resolution and comfortable viewing distance in one table.
The rule of thumb is minimum viewing distance (m) ≈ pitch (mm), and a comfortable distance is twice that. A 4m×2m screen at P1.5 delivers near-4K resolution, but if viewers stand more than 10m away, the eye can't tell it apart from a P8 screen. Only the cost differs, by several times.
| Pitch | Resolution (4m×2m) | Min. viewing distance | Comfortable distance | Main use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P1.25 | 3,200 × 1,600 | About 1.5m | 3m~ | Control rooms · executive meeting rooms |
| P1.5 | 2,667 × 1,333 | About 1.5–2m | 3~4m | Meeting rooms · lobby media walls |
| P1.86 / P2 | 2,150 × 1,075 / 2,000 × 1,000 | About 2m | 4m~ | Auditoriums · retail interiors |
| P2.5 | 1,600 × 800 | About 2.5–3m | 5m~ | Shop windows · close-range façades |
| P3 / P4 | 1,333 × 667 / 1,000 × 500 | About 3–4m | 6~8m~ | Storefront façades · gates |
| P6 / P8 / P10 | 667×333 / 500×250 / 400×200 | 6~10m | 12~20m~ | Roadsides · bridge piers · rooftops |
3. Indoor and outdoor use different pitch ranges
Indoor: P1.25–P2. Outdoor: P2.5 and up.
Indoor modules are viewed up close, so fine pitches are the mainstay. Outdoor modules need waterproof masks and high-brightness LEDs, which makes it hard to go below P2.5 (and costs rise sharply even when possible). Our own projects follow the same logic: P4 for the Hyangchon Cultural Center gate, P8 for the Keungogae pier, P4 for the Cheongdo arch and P2.5 for the Seoul Station media pole. We chose each pitch to match the viewing distance. For more on indoor vs. outdoor, see Indoor and outdoor modules.
4. What else determines picture quality
Even at the same pitch, these three make a different screen.
Refresh rate: how often the screen updates (Hz). Around 3,840Hz is needed for camera or broadcast exposure; 1,920Hz is enough for general promotion- Grayscale: color gradation. 12–16-bit renders dark scenes and gradients more smoothly than 8-bit (256 levels)
- Brightness · viewing angle: 5,000 nit or more outdoors, viewing angle 140°/120° or wider. Check the viewing angle first where people see the screen from the side (pillars, corners)
① Which pitch for which space
A summary by the spaces we're asked about most.
| Space · distance | Recommended pitch |
|---|---|
| Executive meeting rooms · control rooms (1.5–3m) | P1.25 ~ P1.5 |
| Lobby media walls · showrooms (2–4m) | P1.5 ~ P1.86 |
| Auditoriums · event venues (4m+) | P2 ~ P2.5 |
| Shop windows · low-rise façades (3–5m) | P2.5 ~ P3 |
| Building façades · gates (5–10m) | P4 ~ P6 |
| Roadsides · bridge piers · rooftops (10m+) | P8 ~ P10 |
② Selection checklist
Narrow it down in this order.
- Measure the closest distance (m) where viewers will stand
- Choose the widest pitch where that distance ≥ pitch (mm)
- Calculate the resolution (horizontal and vertical pixels) from the screen size and match it to your content
- Outdoors, P2.5 or above; with camera exposure, a 3,840Hz refresh rate
- Check viewing angle, brightness and grayscale on the spec sheet
Pitch and viewing distance: Daktronics · Barco · DOIT Vision, How to Choose LED Pixel Pitch / Refresh rate, grayscale and viewing angle: Ledman, Guide to LED Display Specs · EagerLED, Grayscale Guide · Unilumin, Viewing Angles. Resolutions are calculated from pitch and screen size; project pitches are from LO-GIN IT installation records. Materials from domestic competitors were not cited, and figures vary by manufacturer, model and site.
Recommended specs for this guide
- Min. viewing distance (m) ≈ pitch (mm)
- Indoor P1.25–P2 · outdoor P2.5–P10
- 3,840Hz refresh for camera exposure
- Check viewing angle 140°/120°+