Aspect ratio conversions
Convert 4:3 to 16:9: Crop or Add Padding
Compare a 4:3 to 16:9 crop with padding. Calculate retained image area, removed edges and exact canvas sizes without stretching.
Proportional resizing cannot turn a 4:3 source into a 16:9 frame. You must remove content, add canvas space, or distort the source. Compare the first two options below before editing your file.
Compare crop and padding to 16:9
Centered crop removes 0 px from each left/right edge and 135 px from each top/bottom edge.
Centered placement adds 240 px to each left/right edge and 0 px to each top/bottom edge.
The crop retains 75% of the source area. Padding retains all the source.
Results use exact geometry, displayed to two decimal places. Round the final canvas to whole pixels in your editor and recheck the resulting ratio. This planner does not resize or export your file.
Compare other target ratios in the full toolCrop when the edges are expendable
For a 1440 × 1080 source, a 16:9 crop keeps 1440 × 810. A centered crop removes 135 pixels from the top and bottom and retains 75% of the original area. It creates a wider-looking composition without stretching objects. Check whether faces, titles or other important details cross the new edges.
Pad when the full image must remain
Preserving the original height needs a 1920 × 1080 canvas, leaving 240 pixels on each side of the source. You can fill that space with a solid color or a background in an image editor. The calculator reports dimensions only; it does not generate or export that background.
Why stretching changes the picture
Stretching 1440 × 1080 directly to 1920 × 1080 increases width by one-third without increasing height. Circles become ellipses and faces look wider. Use stretching only when that distortion is intentional. Cropping and padding preserve the proportions of everything that remains visible.
Calculation method
Let r be the target width divided by target height (16 ÷ 9). A crop fits inside the source: width = min(source width, source height × r), height = min(source height, source width ÷ r). A padded canvas uses max instead of min so the source fits inside it.
The retained percentage is crop width × crop height ÷ source width ÷ source height × 100. Edge amounts assume a centered crop or placement. Position the crop differently if your subject is off-center.