Single vs. Double-Size LED Panels – Which should you get?
One of the most unique features of LED video walls is their modularity. Whether deployed for a special event or permanently installed into a venue, 99% of the LED video displays we see in the market today are composed of modular sections that create a seamless, large-scale display at virtually any size or layout one can imagine.
An LED Video Panel is a modular section of an LED video wall system. An LED video panel houses the internal components that power and drive the array of LEDs that make up an image for that particular unit. Since it is modular, it features the appropriate power and data connections to connect to subsequent units. Unlike LCD video wall solutions, LED Video Panels are also bezel-less so the panel frames will commonly integrate hardware locking mechanisms to create a seamless attachment to surrounding panels.
The Industry Standard Size
LED Video Panels come in a variety of different sizes, ratios, and even some irregular shapes. The industry standard size of LED video panels can vary for some applications. Panels designed for fixed install applications can tend to vary in size because there are instances in which an LED video wall’s size may need to be more precise to work with building architecture. Stadiums and billboards, for example, can use much larger panels to the point where they’re technically referred to as “Cabinets”.
In this article, we’re focusing more on “Rental” panels. Rental panels that are commonly used in Live Events, Productions, Staging type applications tend to have a stronger focus on modularity, scalability, and flexibility to suit client needs on a per-event basis. For the Rental industry, the most common dimensional size today for an LED Video Panel is 19.6″ x 19.6″ / 500x500mm OR 19.6″ x 39.2″ / 500x1000mm, with the latter being known as a double-size panel.
TIP: The sizes of LED video panels are commonly referred to in metric sizes, sometimes even in regions where imperial measurements are primarily used. You’ll see us refer to the panels in metric sizes as part of industry lingo.
The 19.6″ / 500mm size has proven to provide just the right balance that can achieve numerous common screen sizes while maintaining proper aspect ratios that match the input sources being fed to the LED screen with just the right amount of panels. All while being lightweight and typically easy to handle by one person.
The “double-size panel” essentially combines the size of two 500x500mm (19×19″) panels into a single unit with a 1:2 ratio. The double-size panel can offer some unique advantages compared to its single-size counterpart 1:1, but also comes with some limitations both of which may be worth considering when investing in your next LED video wall system. Let’s go over some of the Pros & Cons for each of the panel sizes.
500x500mm Panels
Also Known As: Single-Size Panel, Half-Size Panel, 500×500 Panel
500x500mm LED panels come in at 19.67 x 19.67″ making a 1:1 aspect ratio. The 500×500 offers the highest level of deployment flexibility available for an LED wall. Many common sizes can be achieved in both width and height using the 500x500mm LED panel, which can be beneficial when dealing with height limitations. The perfectly square form factor also allows users to achieve a 16:9 aspect ratio at virtually any deployed size when necessary.
The downside is more panels are required to achieve a specified screen size, which results in a higher cost. Additionally, the setup time can be longer or additional labor may be required. The standard flight case for 500x500mm panels fits 8 units, so more flight cases can be required for storage and travel which may take up some extra trucking space.
PROS:
- Complete flexibility in sizes
- More flexible for creative deployments
- 16:9 aspect ratio can be achieved at virtually all sizes
- Easier cabling flexibility
CONS:
- Higher cost
- Longer setup time / More labor required
- Requires more flight cases
500x1000mm Panels
Also Known As: Double-Size Panel, Full-Size Panel, 500×1000 Panel
As mentioned earlier, 500x1000mm LED panels combine two single-size panels into one form factor at a 1:12 aspect ratio. 
With fewer panels required for the desired screen size, the investment cost is generally lower. It also cuts the setup time in half or can potentially require less labor to set up. These panels can be heavier than 500×500 panels, but still a balanced size that is easy to handle by one person. The standard flight case for 500x1000mm panels fits 6 units, requiring fewer flight cases and saving on storage and trucking space. This can be extremely ideal for large-scale setups or A-List tours/productions.
The 500×1000 panel can achieve a diverse range of sizes. However, the size flexibility can be somewhat more limited compared to an LED screen that uses all 500×500 panels. Height adjustments are limited to increments of 3.2′ – which may be too short or too tall in the instance of height limitations. This can also make it harder for users to maintain the standard 16:9 aspect ratio as certain widths.
PROS:
- Lower cost for same screen size/pixel pitch
- Reduced setup time/labor requirements
- Fewer cases for travel and storage
CONS:
- Limited height flexibility
- Harder to maintain proper aspect ratio at certain sizes
- Heavier to handle
- Less cabling flexibility
Can 500×1000 panels be rotated?
The answer is… Not Really – 500×1000 panels are primarily designed from the ground up with deployment in a vertical orientation in mind. Everything from the optical performance, the locking and alignment mechanisms, curving capabilities, and weatherproofing are all designed with a right-side-up focus. So the support for being able to rotate a 500×1000 panel 90-degrees to landscape orientation can be limited, but this will depend on your application. There are certainly instances where it can be done, but rotating a panel may impede or compromise the aforementioned characteristics. This is quite universal across all manufacturers.
Can 500×500 and 500×1000 panels be used together?
Yes [well… at least for us]! And this can be a balanced medium for some users who need a specific size but would also like to optimize their budget. 
This approach can be ideal if the screen will usually be one particular size. However, there is still some degree of limitation to flexibility and functionality.
PROS:
- Lower cost
- More flexibility in screen sizes
- Better ability to maintain proper aspect ratio
CONS:
- Improper balance of quantities may compromise flexibility
- Different size flight cases
- Different spare parts to maintain inventory
With this approach, 500×500 panels are typically used as an add-on row to a screen that mainly consists 500×1000 panels as shown in the picture. The cross-compatibility between two panel sizes is limited to vertical connections only. Two 500×500 panels cannot be connected to the side of a single 500×1000 panel. This is done to ensure proper seamlessness and ensure the signal data flow between panels stays consistent and stable across each row.
Fun Fact: All DVS LED video wall panels offer different size variants with cross-compatibility for all sizes within each product series.
To best optimize the scalability and flexibility with an inventory of the two panel sizes, it’s best to ensure the quantity of 500×1000 panels can sufficiently fulfill most common screen sizes first before needing to use any 500×500 panels. An imbalance of quantities between the two can result in more money being spent with potentially less flexibility.
The Choice Is Yours
Ensuring your new investment will provide the best level of flexibility to optimize ROI is key. Take some time to evaluate client needs currently and future needs that will serve in the long-term as production batches can limit future expandability. If you’re unsure about how to best optimize your system of LED panels, the expert advisors at DVS possess years of hands-on experience and client feedback to best help you design a system that works for your applications.
