What is the best absolute width for a webpage? [cl

Question

Assuming a fluid layout is not an option (since that is a different discussion all together), what is the recommended width for a site layout? What are the pros and cons of different sizes?

Answer 1

If you use a fixed width that is any wider than the smallest screen likely to visit your site, you will annoy and frustrate users who have to scroll sideways to get to the rest of your content.

Answer 2

1. Please keep in mind that monitor resolution often quoted in statistics is not necessarily the same thing as inner width of browser window. Users may have additional sidebars/toolbars, use non-maximized browser window. The bigger the screen, the less likely you want to use it all just for one page.

2. Very long lines of text are harder to read. The optimum is 25-30em (depends on many factors, but you shouldn't simply go for maximum).

3. Mobile browsers have "virtual" screen resolution they use for zoom and it's ~960px in Opera Mini/Mobile and Mobile Safari.

Answer 3

I vote to divide the motion here. Just because screen sizes are X doesn't mean that X or anything that is close to it is the best design for your website.

Your website purpose has a lot to do with the width that you choose.

Many marketing experts think that a more narrow column "converts" more visits into sales. Perhaps this is because it is easier to direct people's attention if the page is narrow.

On the other hand, a site dedicated to images should show at the best available resolution for each visiting browser.

Answer 4

You could try developing multiple layouts and use Javascript to switch between them depending on the visitor's window.innerWidth

That said, I usually use something between 950px and 980px.