How to Choose LED Pitch: P2.6, P2.9, P3.9

Short answer: three distance bands

The closer the viewer, the finer the pitch you need. We divide the distance to the nearest viewer into three bands and match a model to each:

ICON 3.9 IP

Nearest viewer	Model	Pitch	Typical locations
3–4 m (from 3 m per FOS)	Icon 2.6	2.6 mm	meeting room, showroom, indoor stand; the finest pitch we have
4–5 m	ICON 2.9 Hybrid	2.9 mm	conference, hall
beyond 5 m	ICON 3.9 IP	3.9 mm	stage, concert, outdoor

Outdoors, the choice narrows to the IP65 models: ICON 2.9 Hybrid and ICON 3.9 IP. Open an example in the configurator: viewer at 4 m (ICON 2.9 Hybrid) or at 8 m (ICON 3.9 IP).

What P2.6 means: pitch, pixels per metre and resolution

Pitch is the distance between the centres of adjacent LEDs, in millimetres. All our cabinets have the same 500 × 500 mm size, so a finer pitch means more pixels on the same area. A cabinet consists of four 250 × 250 mm modules (96 × 96, 84 × 84 or 64 × 64 pixels), and the LEDs are SMD 1515 in Icon 2.6 and ICON 3.9 IP and SMD 1415 in ICON 2.9 Hybrid.

Model	Pitch	Pixels per cabinet	Pixels per m²	Pixels per metre of width
Icon 2.6	2.6 mm	192 × 192 = 36,864	147,456	384
ICON 2.9 Hybrid	2.9 mm	168 × 168 = 28,224	112,896	336
ICON 3.9 IP	3.9 mm	128 × 128 = 16,384	65,536	256

So the screen's resolution depends on its size. Full HD (1920 × 1080) requires a 5 × 3 m screen with Icon 2.6, 6 × 3.5 m with ICON 2.9 Hybrid or 7.5 × 4.5 m with ICON 3.9 IP. A 3 × 2 m screen has 1152 × 768 px (Icon 2.6), 1008 × 672 px (ICON 2.9 Hybrid) or 768 × 512 px (ICON 3.9 IP).

Pitch and viewing distance

The manufacturer gives a viewing distance of 3 m for Icon 2.6 and 4 m for ICON 3.9 IP. Rule of thumb: the pitch in millimetres corresponds to the minimum comfortable distance in metres, i.e. 2.6 m, 3 m and 3.9 m. From that distance the pixels merge into a smooth image; closer up, the pixel grid shows. Choose by the nearest viewer, not the room average: it is the front row that decides whether the grid will be visible.

Price matters too: an ICON 3.9 IP cabinet costs approx. 19% less than an Icon 2.6 (net prices from the VEX catalogue, 13 October 2026), and there are 4 cabinets per square metre. When the viewer stands further than 5 m away, a finer pitch is money spent on detail that cannot be seen from that distance. You can work out complete-set prices in the guide how much does an LED screen cost.

The configurator picks the pitch for you. Free, no sign-up, PDF sheet

Enter the viewing distance and price your screen

Second criterion: brightness and operating environment

Icon 2.6: 800 cd/m², indoor use only. Not suitable for sunlit shop windows.
ICON 2.9 Hybrid: up to 4,000 cd/m² outdoors and adjustable to 1,000 cd/m² indoors, IP65, 7,680 Hz. Price and lead time on request.
ICON 3.9 IP: 4,500 cd/m², IP65, for outdoor use.

ICON 2.9 Hybrid IP65

You choose pitch and brightness together. For indoors you take Icon 2.6 (800 cd/m²); for sunlit shop windows and outdoor sites, an IP65 model with brightness from 4,000 cd/m². Colour temperature can be set across the whole series within 3,000–10,000 K.

What about below 2.6 mm?

We do not offer pitches finer than 2.6 mm, such as P1.5, P1.8 or P2. For Icon 2.6 the manufacturer gives a viewing distance of 3 m, so a viewer standing 1–2 m from the screen, at a counter or conference table, will see the pixel grid. In such a place an LCD video wall works better than an LED screen with a coarser pitch. Comparison: LED screen vs LCD video wall or projector. If you are unsure, enter in the configurator the shortest distance from which anyone will look at the screen; if the pixel grid will be visible, the configurator will flag it.

What stays the same at every pitch

Structure: a 500 × 500 × 83 mm, 8 kg cabinet in every model, and the same frame, beam and flight case for 8 cabinets. Cabinets with different resolutions can be combined in one screen.
Power: we design for maximum power, 450 W/m² for Icon 2.6 and 600 W/m² for the other models.
Curve: at all three pitches the cabinets join at −5°, −2.5°, 0°, +2.5° and +5°, so the screen can form a concave or convex curve.
Signal: one NovaStar processor port handles 17 Icon 2.6 cabinets, 23 ICON 2.9 Hybrid or 39 ICON 3.9 IP. Which processor for which screen.

How to buy from us

You enter the distance, size and location in the configurator and get a net price and a PDF sheet. For larger setups we do a site survey for 600 PLN net, credited towards the project. Installation and commissioning with calibration start from 3,800 PLN net. We order per project, in batches of 8 cabinets, and add a service spare to the screen: 5% of the cabinets, minimum 2, topped up to a full case of 8. The full range: FOS ICON LED screens and the B2B catalogue.

6 × 3.5 m screen, ICON 3.9 IP. Free, no sign-up, PDF sheet

Price an outdoor screen with a 3.9 mm pitch

Service and a responsible partner

ICON cabinets are serviced from the front, and a 250 × 250 mm module is replaced individually, without dismantling the whole screen. The manufacturer gives a 2-year warranty, and we handle warranty claims and post-warranty service. Service requests: +48 794 797 959 and biuro@vex-systems.pl; details in the service and support section.

Frequently asked questions

Which pitch should I choose when the viewer stands 4 metres from the screen?

For a viewer in the 4–5 m band, so also at 4 m, we choose ICON 2.9 Hybrid (2.9 mm pitch). Icon 2.6, the finest pitch in our range (from 3 m according to the manufacturer), is chosen for viewers at 3–4 m, and ICON 3.9 IP for viewers beyond 5 m. If the screen is outdoors, the IP65 models remain: ICON 2.9 Hybrid and ICON 3.9 IP. Enter the distance in the configurator and the model is chosen automatically.

What is the minimum viewing distance for P2.6?

The manufacturer gives a viewing distance of 3 m for Icon 2.6. The rule of thumb gives a similar result: the pitch in millimetres is the minimum comfortable distance in metres, i.e. 2.6 m. Closer up, the pixel grid shows, because 2.6 mm is the finest pitch in our range. For ICON 3.9 IP the manufacturer gives 4 m.

What is the difference between P2.6 and P3.9?

Icon 2.6 has 147,456 px/m² and ICON 3.9 IP 65,536 px/m², so at the same size it gives more than twice the detail. Icon 2.6 is for indoor use and delivers 800 cd/m². ICON 3.9 IP is IP65-rated with 4,500 cd/m², works outdoors and costs approx. 19% less per cabinet.

Do you have P1.5, P1.8 or P2 LED screens?

No. The finest pitch in our range is 2.6 mm (Icon 2.6); we do not supply finer ones. When the viewer stands 1–2 m from the screen, an LCD video wall works better; you will find a comparison in the guide “LED screen vs LCD”. From 3 m upwards we choose one of three pitches: 2.6, 2.9 or 3.9 mm.

Does a smaller pitch give a higher screen resolution?

At the same size, yes, but resolution also depends on size. Full HD (1920 × 1080) requires a 5 × 3 m screen with Icon 2.6, 6 × 3.5 m with ICON 2.9 Hybrid or 7.5 × 4.5 m with ICON 3.9 IP. A 3 × 2 m screen has 1152 × 768 px at a 2.6 mm pitch and 768 × 512 px at 3.9 mm.

Is P3.9 suitable for outdoor use?

Yes, ICON 3.9 IP is IP65-rated with 4,500 cd/m² brightness, so it works outdoors. It suits viewers further than 5 m away, for example at an outdoor stage. The ICON series operates from −20 to +40 °C. We select the structure and power in the project.

How to choose LED screen pixel pitch: P2.6, P2.9 or P3.9