12.5-Inch Laptop Dimensions: Screen, Body and Models
The 12.5-inch laptop was the standard size for compact business laptops until about 2019 and is now mostly bought refurbished. Here are the dimensions of the common models, the screen size, and how it compares with the 12 and 13-inch laptops that replaced it.
A 12.5-inch laptop measures about 12–12.2 × 8.2–8.6 in (30.5–31 × 20.8–21.9 cm), 0.65–0.75 in (1.65–1.9 cm) thick, and weighs 2.5–2.8 lb (1.13–1.3 kg). The screen is 31.8 cm diagonal; in the usual 16:9 shape it measures 10.9 × 6.1 in (27.7 × 15.6 cm).
- Typical body
- 30.5 × 21 cm
- Screen diagonal
- 31.8 cm
- Screen W × H
- 27.7 × 15.6 cm
- Weight
- 1.13–1.3 kg
On this page
12.5-inch laptop dimensions by model
The size was used almost entirely by business ultraportables. These are the models you are most likely to find, new old stock or refurbished.
| Model (year) | W × D × H (cm) | W × D × H (in) | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dell Latitude 7280 (2017) | 30.5 × 20.8 × 1.7 | 12.0 × 8.19 × 0.67 | 1.18 kg 2.6 lb |
| Dell Latitude 7290 (2018) | 30.5 × 20.8 × 1.65 | 12.0 × 8.19 × 0.65 | 1.19 kg 2.6 lb |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X280 (2018) | about 30.8 × 20.9 × 1.8 | about 12.1 × 8.2 × 0.7 | from 1.13 kg 2.5 lb |
| HP EliteBook 820 G4 (2017) | 31.0 × 21.9 × 1.9 | 12.2 × 8.62 × 0.75 | 1.26 kg 2.8 lb |
Weights are starting weights; touch screens and the larger battery options add weight. Thickness is at the rear; the Latitude 7280 tapers to 1.15 cm at the front.
12.5-inch screen dimensions
Every mainstream 12.5-inch laptop used a 16:9 panel, measured diagonally across the visible area.
| Measurement | Inches | Centimeters |
|---|---|---|
| Diagonal | 12.5 | 31.8 |
| Width | 10.9 | 27.7 |
| Height | 6.1 | 15.6 |
| Area | 66.8 sq in | 431 cm² |
| Resolutions | 1366 × 768 (125 ppi) or 1920 × 1080 (176 ppi) | |
The 15.6 cm height is the size's main limitation. It is 2.3 cm (13%) less than a 13.3-inch 16:10 screen, which costs a few lines of every document and web page you scroll through.
Why 12.5 inches gave way to 13.3 inches
A 12.5-inch screen in a 2017-2018 business laptop sat inside bezels of about 1.4 cm at each side (the body is 2.8 cm wider than the screen). When panel makers and laptop designers moved to thin bezels, a 13.3-inch screen fit into the same footprint. Lenovo's ThinkPad X390 (2019) made the switch explicitly: it replaced the 12.5-inch X280 with a 13.3-inch screen in a body only about 4 mm wider.
| Dell Latitude 7290 12.5 in | Lenovo ThinkPad X13 Gen 6 13.3 in | Apple MacBook Air 13 13.6 in | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Body (cm) | 30.5 × 20.8 | 29.9 × 20.7 | 30.4 × 21.5 |
| Thickness | 1.65 cm | 1.3–1.8 cm | 1.13 cm |
| Weight | 1.19 kg | from 0.93 kg | 1.23 kg |
| Screen area | 67 sq in | 80 sq in | 85 sq in |
Same footprint, roughly a fifth to a quarter more screen. If you are choosing between a refurbished 12.5-inch laptop and a newer 13-inch one for size reasons alone, the 13-inch model costs no extra bag space. The 13-inch laptop dimensions page has more current models.
12-inch and 12.4-inch laptops
Searches for a 12-inch laptop usually lead to one of these. All are smaller than a 12.5-inch business laptop because they were designed with thin bezels from the start.
| Model | Screen | Body (cm) | Body (in) | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple MacBook 12-inch (2015-2017 models) | 12 in, 16:10, 2304 × 1440 | 28.1 × 19.7 × 1.3 | 11.04 × 7.74 × 0.52 | 0.92 kg |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 (2023) | 12.4 in, 3:2, 1536 × 1024 | 27.8 × 20.6 × 1.6 | 10.95 × 8.12 × 0.62 | 1.13 kg |
| Typical 12.5-inch business laptop | 12.5 in, 16:9 | 30.5–31.0 × 20.8–21.9 | 12.0–12.2 × 8.2–8.6 | 1.13–1.3 kg |
The 12.4-inch 3:2 Surface screen measures 26.2 × 17.5 cm, so it is 1.5 cm narrower but 1.9 cm taller than a 12.5-inch 16:9 screen, and its area is about 6% larger. For something smaller still, see the 11.6-inch laptop page; for a tablet of similar size, the 12.9-inch tablet dimensions.
Buying a refurbished 12.5-inch laptop: size checks
- Confirm the screen resolution. A 1366 × 768 panel shows about 30% fewer pixels in each direction than 1920 × 1080. Listings that do not state the resolution usually have the lower one.
- Check the configuration weight. Starting weights assume the smallest battery and a non-touch screen. A listing with a touch screen or a larger battery will be heavier and, on some models, slightly thicker.
- Measure for a sleeve. Add about 1 cm to width and depth. For the 30.5 × 20.8 cm Latitude, look for an interior of about 31.5 × 22 cm (12.4 × 8.7 in). See the laptop bag size guide for how to read sleeve labels.
- Docks and chargers: these are tied to the model, not the screen size. A 12.5-inch Dell and a 12.5-inch Lenovo do not share docks.
For the full range of sizes and how they compare, see the laptop size chart or the next size up, the 14-inch laptop.
Frequently asked questions
What is 12.5 inches in cm?
12.5 in × 2.54 = 31.75 cm, which spec sheets round to 31.8 cm. That is the screen diagonal. The laptop body is about 30.5 to 31 cm wide.
Are 12.5-inch laptops still made?
Rarely. Lenovo, Dell and HP moved their compact business lines to 13.3-inch screens around 2019 (Lenovo's ThinkPad X390 replaced the 12.5-inch X280 in a body only about 4 mm wider). Most 12.5-inch laptops sold today are refurbished business models.
What is the size of a 12-inch laptop?
It depends on the model, since few were made. Apple's 12-inch MacBook (2015 to 2017 models) was 28.1 × 19.7 cm (11.04 × 7.74 in) and 0.92 kg; Microsoft's 12.4-inch Surface Laptop Go 3 is 27.8 × 20.6 cm and 1.13 kg. Both are smaller than a 12.5-inch business laptop because of thinner bezels.
Will a 12.5-inch laptop fit in a 13-inch sleeve?
Usually. Allow 1 cm more than the laptop each way: a Dell Latitude 7290 (30.5 × 20.8 cm) needs about 31.5 × 21.8 cm inside, which most 13-inch sleeves provide. The wider HP EliteBook 820 G4 (31 × 21.9 cm) needs about 32 × 23 cm, which a tight 13-inch sleeve may not have.
What resolution does a 12.5-inch laptop have?
Either 1366 × 768 (125 ppi) or 1920 × 1080 (176 ppi). When buying refurbished, check which one the listing has: the HD panel shows much less on screen and was often a lower-quality TN type.