A display drawing tablet with a pressure-sensitive stylus is an essential purchase for many creative professionals.

The two most popular screen drawing tablet sizes are 13 (13.3) inches and 16 (15.6) inches, such as wacom one 13 or wacom cintiq 16, huion kamvas pro 13 or Pro 16, and xppen artist 13 or 16 (2nd gen).

Once you decide to buy one, a big question you might have is which size you should get: 13-inch or larger 16-inch ?

There is always the assumption that bigger and more expensive must be better but that’s not necessarily true.

In this article, I will share some of my personal experience and knowledge to provide you with a reference for purchasing a drawing monitor.

Should I get a 13 or 16 inch screen drawing tablet?

Generally speaking, Smaller 13-inch display tablets are more portable and affordable, while larger 16-inch ones provide more drawing space but more expensive. The choice depends on your drawing style and needs.

If you travel a lot or like to work at coffee shops and libraries, a small 13-inch tablet provides the most portability. It’s easy to drop into a bag with your laptop.

In contrast, a 16-inch tablet is less portable and takes up more desktop space.

However, Smaller ones restrict larger gestures, and the UI of art program is going to take up quite a lot of the screen leaving you a small drawing area.

Bigger 16-inch tablets are great for more comfort and ease, let you be more precise with the details you draw and sculpt. It’s just like a flow with your hand to draw bigger.

If you prefer to create digital art with gestures that move your entire arm, a larger 16-inch graphics tablet might be right for you.

But this doesn’t mean that smaller tablets are useless. a small 13-inch tablet is often more than sufficient for layou, graphics editing or other simple tasks. For the times when you want to work with more precision, you can simply zoom into the document.

Personal Experience

Get the largest one you can afford, etched glass surface and fully-laminated screen is better. 1440p is better still than 1080p.

You can still get a lot done with a 13in, but it makes more work and you can’t draw with your arm as much.

16-inch display tablets are the best combination of size, cost, and ergonomics for most people interested in pen display tablets and is my standard recommendation.

They are great for anyone who is interested in drawing, sketching, painting, or any creative task that requires drawing with strokes.

If you have the space and funds, I even agree and move up to 22” or more. Any upgrade is nice but if you have the means, go bigger to save money from another upgrade later.