P2.6 vs P2.9 vs P3.9 vs P4.8: How to Choose Rental LED Screen Pixel Pitch

Choosing the pixel pitch is the biggest decision when you buy a rental LED screen. It sets the image sharpness, the price per square metre, and the jobs the screen can take on. This guide compares the five pitches most rental companies stock — P1.953, P2.604, P2.976, P3.91 and P4.81 — using the specifications of the die-cast rental cabinets we build in our Shenzhen factory.

Quick answer

• P2.604 or P2.976 for indoor corporate events, conferences, churches and trade shows where the closest audience is 3–5 m from the screen.
• P3.91 for larger halls, concerts and outdoor stages where most viewers are 5–10 m away. It is the most popular all-round rental pitch.
• P4.81 for big outdoor shows and festivals seen from 10 m or more, where brightness and cost per square metre matter more than fine detail.
• P1.953 for close-up indoor work: TV studios, product launches and VIP areas where people stand 2 m from the wall.

What pixel pitch means

Pixel pitch is the distance in millimetres between the centres of two neighbouring LEDs. A smaller number means more pixels in the same area, a sharper image at short distance, and a higher price. Our rental models are named by their exact pitch: P2.9 is the short name for P2.976, and P3.9 is the short name for P3.91.

A practical rule: the minimum comfortable viewing distance in metres is roughly the pitch in millimetres. At that distance the image looks smooth; two to three times that distance is ideal for video.

Comparison table

All five pitches use the same 250 × 250 mm module and fit our 500 × 500 mm and 500 × 1000 mm die-cast cabinets, so you can mix cabinet sizes in one wall.

Pitch	Pixels per m²	Cabinet 500 × 500 mm	Indoor LED / scan	Outdoor version	Minimum viewing distance
P1.953	262,144	256 × 256 px	SMD1515, 1/32	—	about 2 m
P2.604	147,456	192 × 192 px	SMD1515, 1/32	SMD1415, ≥3500 cd/m²	about 2.6 m
P2.976	112,896	168 × 168 px	SMD1515, 1/28	SMD1415, ≥4000 cd/m²	about 3 m
P3.91	65,536	128 × 128 px	SMD2121, 1/16	SMD1921, ≥5000 cd/m²	about 4 m
P4.81	43,264	104 × 104 px	SMD2121, 1/13	SMD1921 / SMD2525, ≥5000 cd/m²	about 5 m

Indoor rental versions run at 1200 cd/m², which is comfortable for stages and venues. All models refresh at 3840 Hz as standard, with a 7680 Hz option for camera and broadcast work.

How the same wall looks at each pitch

Resolution, not just pitch, decides whether your content looks sharp. Here is a typical 6 m × 3 m stage backdrop built from 500 × 500 mm cabinets (12 × 6 = 72 cabinets):

Pitch	Wall resolution	Compared with Full HD (1920 × 1080)
P1.953	3072 × 1536	above Full HD
P2.604	2304 × 1152	above Full HD
P2.976	2016 × 1008	close to Full HD
P3.91	1536 × 768	below Full HD
P4.81	1248 × 624	well below Full HD

For a wall of this size, P2.976 is the point where 1080p content maps almost pixel-for-pixel. On larger walls, P3.91 reaches the same resolution: a 10 m × 5 m P3.91 wall is 2560 × 1280 pixels.

Indoor or outdoor version?

P2.604, P2.976, P3.91 and P4.81 are available in both indoor and outdoor versions. The outdoor version uses outdoor LEDs, is sealed to IP65 front and rear, and is far brighter (3500 to 5000+ cd/m²) so it stays readable in daylight. The larger the pitch, the larger the LED and the higher the brightness, which is why P3.91 and P4.81 are the usual choices for open-air concerts.

If you rent to both indoor and outdoor jobs, some companies buy outdoor P3.91 as their main stock: it can be dimmed for indoor use, while an indoor screen cannot go outside.

Which pitch for which rental business

• Corporate and conference rental: P2.604 or P2.976 indoor. Audiences sit close, content is slides and text.
• Church and worship: P2.976 or P3.91 indoor, depending on how far the first row is from the stage.
• Concerts, festivals and touring: P3.91 outdoor for the main screen, P4.81 outdoor for large side screens.
• Broadcast and film: P1.953 or P2.604 with the 7680 Hz high-refresh option to avoid scan lines on camera.
• Stage floors: LED floor tiles in P2.6, P3.91 or P4.81 on the same module size — see our LED floor page.

Frequently asked questions

Is P2.9 the same as P2.976?

Yes. P2.9 is the short name for a 2.976 mm pitch, and P3.9 is the short name for 3.91 mm. The decimals matter when you calculate resolution.

Can I mix 500 × 500 and 500 × 1000 mm cabinets?

Yes. Both sizes use the same 250 × 250 mm modules and the same locks, so they join into one flat wall. 500 × 1000 mm cabinets are faster to build; 500 × 500 mm cabinets let you build heights and widths in 0.5 m steps.

What lead time should I plan for?

Our standard lead time for rental screens is 10–15 days, followed by sea or air freight.

Get a configuration for your next job

Send us the wall size, the closest audience distance and whether the screen will be used indoors or outdoors. Our sales team replies within 8 hours with a recommended pitch, a cabinet layout and a quote for the complete system. See the full specifications on our rental LED display page, read a real P3.91 shipment to Italy, or request a quote.