15.6-Inch Laptop Dimensions in cm and Inches
The 15.6-inch laptop is the standard size for budget, home and gaming laptops. Here are its screen and body measurements in both units, the specs of current models, and how it compares with 15.3, 16 and 17.3-inch laptops.
A 15.6-inch laptop has a 39.6 cm screen diagonal. The 16:9 screen itself is 13.6 × 7.65 in (34.5 × 19.4 cm). The whole laptop measures about 13.9–14.2 × 9.3–9.9 in (35.4–36 × 23.6–25.1 cm), 0.7–1 in (1.9–2.5 cm) thick, and weighs 3.5–4.9 lb (1.6–2.2 kg).
- Screen diagonal
- 39.6 cm
- Screen W × H
- 34.5 × 19.4 cm
- Typical body
- 36 × 23.6 cm
- Weight
- 1.6–2.2 kg
On this page
15.6-inch laptop in cm and inches
The figure on the box is the screen diagonal. Everything else, from the screen's width to the bag you need, follows from the measurements below.
| Measurement | Inches | Centimeters |
|---|---|---|
| Screen diagonal | 15.6 in | 39.6 cm |
| Screen width (16:9) | 13.6 in | 34.5 cm |
| Screen height (16:9) | 7.65 in | 19.4 cm |
| Body width | 13.9–14.2 in | 35.4–36.0 cm |
| Body depth | 9.3–9.9 in | 23.6–25.1 cm |
| Thickness | 0.7–1.0 in | 1.9–2.5 cm |
| Weight | 3.5–4.9 lb | 1.6–2.2 kg |
Nearly all 15.6-inch laptops use a 16:9 screen, the same shape as a TV. Spec sheets in Europe, India and the Middle East list it as 39.6 cm (15.6 in). The screen area is 104 sq in (671 cm²).
Dimensions of current 15.6-inch laptops
Budget and mid-range models are remarkably uniform: within a few millimeters of 36 × 23.6 cm. Gaming models keep the same width but are 1.5 cm deeper and 0.5 cm thicker to make room for their cooling systems.
| Model | W × D × H (in) | W × D × H (cm) | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| HP Laptop 15 (15-fd) | 14.17 × 9.29 × 0.73 | 36.0 × 23.6 × 1.86 | 3.5 lb 1.59 kg |
| Dell 15 (DC15250) | 14.11 × 9.28 × 0.75 | 35.9 × 23.6 × 1.9 | up to 4.2 lb 1.9 kg |
| ASUS TUF Gaming A15 (2024) | 13.94 × 9.88 × 0.98 | 35.4 × 25.1 × 2.5 | 4.85 lb 2.2 kg |
Weights are without the charger. A budget laptop's charger adds about 0.2 to 0.3 kg; a gaming laptop's power brick can add 0.5 kg or more, which brings a 15.6-inch gaming setup close to 3 kg in a bag.
15.6 vs 15 and 15.3 inches
People searching for a 15-inch laptop usually mean 15.6 inches, but three different panels are sold in this class, and they lead to different bodies.
| Screen | Ratio | Screen W × H (cm) | Example body (cm) | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15.6 in | 16:9 | 34.5 × 19.4 | 36.0 × 23.6 HP Laptop 15 | 1.59 kg |
| 15.3 in | ≈ 16:10 | 32.7 × 21.1 | 34.0 × 23.8 MacBook Air 15 | 1.51 kg |
| 15 in | 3:2 | 31.7 × 21.1 | n/a Surface Laptop 15 | 1.66 kg |
The taller screens lose width but gain height, so a 15.3-inch MacBook Air shows nearly the same screen area (about 107 sq in) as a 15.6-inch laptop in a body 2 cm narrower. For a document or web page, the taller screen shows more lines; for video, which is also 16:9, the 15.6-inch screen has no black bars.
How 15.6 compares with 16 and 17.3 inches
A 16-inch laptop is not much bigger than a 15.6-inch one. Its 16:10 screen is the same width but 2 cm taller, and its body is about the same width and 1 to 2 cm deeper. The step to 17.3 inches is a real jump in size.
| 15.6 in (16:9) | 16 in (16:10) | 17.3 in (16:9) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen W × H | 34.5 × 19.4 cm | 34.5 × 21.5 cm | 38.3 × 21.5 cm |
| Screen area | 104 sq in | 115 sq in +11% | 128 sq in +23% |
| Typical body | 35.4–36.0 × 23.6–25.1 cm | 35.4–36.4 × 24.6–26.8 cm | 39.4–40.1 × 25.8–29.3 cm |
| Weight | 1.6–2.2 kg | 1.85–2.45 kg | 2.05–3.1 kg |
See the 16-inch laptop dimensions and the 17.3-inch laptop dimensions for model-by-model figures, or the laptop size chart for every size side by side.
Keyboard and screen: what the extra size buys
- Number pad: a 35–36 cm wide body leaves room for a full keyboard plus a numeric keypad, which many 15.6-inch Windows laptops include. Laptops of 14 inches and smaller almost never have one.
- Resolution: the usual 1920 × 1080 panel gives 141 ppi. That is noticeably less sharp than a 14-inch laptop with the same resolution (157 ppi). If text quality matters to you, a 2560 × 1440 panel (188 ppi) is the upgrade to look for.
- Two windows side by side: each half of a 15.6-inch screen is 17.3 cm wide, wide enough for a document page at a readable size. On a 13.3-inch 16:9 screen each half is 14.7 cm.
Bags, desks and travel with a 15.6-inch laptop
Bags and backpacks labeled 15.6 inches are widely available. Allow about 1 cm (0.4 in) more than the laptop in width and depth: a standard 15.6-inch laptop needs a compartment of at least 37 × 24.6 cm (14.6 × 9.7 in) inside, and a gaming model like the TUF A15 about 36.4 × 26.1 cm (14.3 × 10.3 in). The laptop bag size chart lists compartment sizes for every laptop size, and the backpack size guide covers capacity.
- Desk: allow at least 36 × 25 cm for the laptop, plus 10 cm in front for your wrists and about 25 cm beside it for a mouse.
- Plane seat: the open lid stands about 23 cm (9 in) tall, so when the seat in front reclines you may have to tilt the screen forward or keep the laptop closer to you.
- A 16-inch laptop in a 15.6-inch bag: width is rarely the problem, since both sizes are about 35.5 to 36.5 cm wide. Depth is. A 16-inch MacBook Pro is 24.8 cm deep and 16-inch gaming models up to 26.8 cm, against 23.6 cm for a typical 15.6-inch laptop, so check the compartment depth.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 15.6-inch laptop the same as a 15-inch laptop?
Almost always, yes. Windows laptops sold as "15-inch" (such as the Dell 15 and HP Laptop 15) use a 15.6-inch panel. True 15-inch screens exist, such as Microsoft's 15-inch Surface Laptop, and Apple's 15-inch MacBook Air has a 15.3-inch screen. Both have taller screens; the MacBook Air 15 body is about 2 cm narrower than a typical 15.6-inch laptop.
Is 15.6 inches the width of the laptop?
No. 15.6 in is the screen's diagonal. The screen is 13.6 in wide, and the laptop body is about 14 in (35.5 cm) wide.
Does a 15.6-inch laptop fit in a 15-inch bag?
Often, because most 15-inch Windows laptops are really 15.6 inches and bag makers size for them, but the label alone does not guarantee it. Check that the compartment is at least 37 cm (14.6 in) wide and 24.6 cm (9.7 in) deep inside for a standard model, or about 26 cm (10.3 in) deep for a gaming laptop.
What resolution does a 15.6-inch laptop have?
Most have a 1920 × 1080 (full HD) screen, which works out to 141 pixels per inch. Gaming models also offer 2560 × 1440 (188 ppi), and a few premium models 3840 × 2160 (282 ppi).
Is a 13-inch Surface Laptop as big as a 15.6-inch laptop?
No. The 13-inch Surface Laptop measures 28.6 × 21.4 cm and weighs 1.22 kg, while a typical 15.6-inch laptop is about 36 × 24 cm and 1.6 to 2.2 kg. The 15.6-inch screen has about a third more area than the Surface's 13-inch 3:2 screen.