How Far Should You Hold Your Phone From Your Eyes?
Hold your smartphone 13–20 inches (33–50 cm) from your eyes — about arm's length. That's what the American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends. Closer than 12 inches (30 cm), your eyes work harder to focus, and over time that adds up to eye strain.
The recommended distance is 13–20 inches
Here's a quick check: relax your elbow and hold your phone naturally — that's roughly the right distance. If you're leaning your face toward the screen, you're already too close.
Computer monitors should sit even farther away — about 25 inches (63 cm).
Why does viewing up close tire your eyes?
To see something up close, your eyes thicken the lens to focus (accommodation) and turn inward (convergence). The closer the object, the harder those muscles work. On top of that, you blink less when you concentrate on a screen, so your eyes dry out faster.
That's why so many screen users get tired, dry or blurry eyes — known as digital eye strain. One review of the research estimates up to half of screen users experience it.
Why kids need extra care
Kids have shorter arms and get absorbed in screens easily, so they hold devices much closer than adults — about 24 cm (9.5 in) on average, well inside the recommended range.
Research also links long periods of reading or viewing closer than 20 cm (8 in) with faster myopia progression. More in Can Holding Your Phone Too Close Cause Myopia?
Easy ways to keep your distance
- Instead of pulling the phone closer, increase the font size.
- Sit up and rest your elbow instead of scrolling while lying down.
- The 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet (6 m) away for 20 seconds.
- Turn on a distance alert app on your child's phone — the app reminds them so you don't have to.
FAQ
How far should I hold my phone from my eyes?
The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends 13–20 inches (33–50 cm) — about arm's length.
Is the distance the same for phones and monitors?
No. Computer monitors should be farther away — about 25 inches (63 cm).
I can only read my phone up close. What should I do?
Try a larger font size and display zoom first. If you still need to hold it close to see clearly, get your eyes checked by an eye doctor.
Sources
This article is general health information, not a diagnosis or treatment. If eye discomfort persists, see an eye doctor.
