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Which pixel pitch for a menu board, a lobby or a storefront?
Three places account for most questions: the menu board at a counter, the lobby where guests stop, and the storefront seen from the street. Each has a different closest viewer, so each suggests a different pitch. This article gives a starting point for all three.
- Menu
- Lobby
- Storefront
Menu board at the counter
Guests read at 1.5 to 2 m. P1.538, P1.86 or P2 keeps small menu lines sharp: P1.86 shows 344 × 1032 pixels on a 640 poster and P2 shows 320 × 960. The die-cast LED poster, 640 mm (front service, or the aluminium profile 640 with rear door) fits; where the screen is touched or wiped, see the LED poster with acrylic glass screen. More in restaurants and QSR.
Lobby
Guests stop at about 2 m, so P1.86 or P2 reads small text. A 960 poster gives a wider canvas: P2 shows 480 × 960 pixels and P2.5 shows 384 × 768. See hotels and shopping centers for the types.
Storefront
Passers-by look from 3 to 4 m and further. Indoors behind glass P2.5 or P3.076 is enough; at the entrance the outdoor LED poster, 640 mm has P2 to P5, from 4500 nit. P3.076 shows 208 × 624 pixels on a 640 poster and P4 shows 160 × 480. See outdoor storefronts.
The three together
| Place | Closest viewer | Pitch to start with |
|---|---|---|
| Menu board | 1.5 to 2 m | P1.538 to P2 |
| Lobby | about 2 m | P1.86 to P2.5 |
| Storefront | 3 to 4 m and further | P2.5 to P4 |
Mixed rooms
If one room has several kinds of viewers, choose the pitch for the closest one, and set the main message at headline size so that the farthest viewer can read it. Do not try to mix pitches in one wall: pitches never mix in one chain.
Check the content
The pitch is only half the answer. Short lines, large type and a clear contrast do the rest. Test on a sample, and use the pixel pitch guide for the full table.
Questions and answers
Which pitch suits a menu?
P1.86 or P2 for guests at 2 m; P1.538 if they stand closer.
Can I use P3.076 for a lobby?
If guests look from 3 m or more, yes. For a lobby where they stop at 2 m, choose a finer pitch.
What pitch suits a storefront window?
P2.5 or P3.076 behind glass, depending on how far the sidewalk viewers are.
Does a menu need a finer pitch than a lobby?
The closest reader decides. A menu read from 3 m can use P2.5.
Do outdoor posters have fine pitches?
Outdoor pitches run from P2 to P5.
Can I put a menu on a 960 poster?
Yes, for a wider canvas; P2 on a 960 poster is 480 × 960 pixels.
Which is sharper, P1.86 or P2?
P1.86, by a small step: 344 pixels across against 320 on a 640 poster.
Where do I find the full pitch table?
In the pixel pitch guide.
Request a quote
Request a quote and tell us the type, the pixel pitch, the quantity, the destination country and your control system (NovaStar with Mean Well PSU by default; Huidu or Colorlight as a lower-cost option). Price, MOQ and lead time are quoted per order. Samples are available.