The size of a monitor is measured diagonally across the screen. Monitor sizes range from 15 to 30 inches, but are typically-17 or 19 inches. Larger monitors are more expensive, but can display more information at once.

Manufacturers indicate the native resolution of an LCD monitor, which indicates the resolution that will provide the best display.

Most CRT monitors allow you to adjust the resolution to suit your needs. The resolution you choose depends on the size of your monitor and the amount of information you want to display on your screen at once. Lower resolutions display larger images so you can see information more clearly, while higher resolutions display smaller images so you can display more information on your screen at once. You will usually not change the resolution of an LCD monitor since this can greatly reduce the image quality.