Is the iPad Pro Actually 11 Inches?
Updated- November 2025
The 11-inch iPad has become a benchmark for versatility and performance, offering a perfect blend of portability and powerful features. With its screen size measured diagonally, the "11-inch" designation provides users with ample display space for both productivity and entertainment.
However, this premium tablet's sleek and slender design necessitates robust protection. A high-quality iPad folio case is essential to safeguard your investment from the rigors of daily use, ensuring that your tablet remains pristine and functional. Whether you're needing an iPad Pro 11 case or an 11 iPad Air case, protecting your expensive tablet is paramount.
11-inch Screen, Different Size Body
The "11-inch" moniker of the iPad Pro refers to the screen size, measured diagonally from corner to corner, rather than the overall dimensions of the tablet. This naming convention focuses on the display size to give consumers a clear idea of the screen real estate available for use.
As of the current 2025 generation, the dimensions of the 11-inch iPad Pro are 9.83 x 6.99 x .21 inches. In comparison, the 2022 iPad Air, which also features an "11-inch" screen measured diagonally, has similar dimensions. The iPad Air measures 9.74 inches in height, 7.02 inches in width, and 0.24 inches in depth.
Understanding these dimensions helps users appreciate the compact yet powerful nature of these Apple tablets, which pack large, high-resolution screens into highly portable frames.
See How These Cases Protect Your 11-inch iPad Pro
Now That You Know Your iPad Size: Protect It Properly
You've confirmed you have an 11-inch iPad Pro or iPad Air. Here's what most people get wrong next: buying a cheap, low quality iPad case or worse, a generic "11-inch tablet case" that doesn't actually fit their specific iPad generation.
The Problem with Low-Quality or Generic iPad Cases
An iPad Pro 11" M5 (2025) and an iPad Air 11" (2024) have nearly identical screen sizes but different thicknesses, camera placements, and port configurations. A case designed for one won't properly fit the other. Generic cases leave gaps, block cameras, or don't align with ports.
MacCase has been designing iPad cases since the original iPad launched in 2010. We don't make "11-inch tablet cases". We make cases engineered specifically for iPad Pro 11" M5 and iPad Air 11" M4, with precise cutouts and exact-fit protection backed by excellent warranties. Try finding one of those on amazon.
Premium Leather iPad Folios
Our leather folios utilize a precision-cut, impact-absorbing TPU tray for your specific iPad model, whether iPad Pro 11" M5 or iPad Air 11" M4. Full-grain, ethically sourced, vegetable-tanned leather that develops a rich patina over time. Built-in stand functionality, precise camera and port cutouts, and protection that is warrantied for life, not design to last months.
Unlike $30 Amazon folios that fall apart in 6 months (broken hinges, peeling covers, failed magnets), MacCase folios are built to last as long as you own your iPad and probably your next one too.
[Explore 11" iPad Leather Folios →]
Polycarbonate/TPU Protective 11-inch Folios
Need maximum protection? Our polycarbonate/TPU folios combine hard-shell impact protection with shock-absorbing edges. Military-grade drop protection, integrated stand positions, and a secure place for your Apple Pencil.
Ideal for students, field workers, or anyone who needs rugged protection. The difference? Buying a MacCase your buying from the company that created the Apple-specific case market. After 27+ years of protecting Apple portables, you learn a few things. Your iPad cost $800-$1,500. Protect that investment properly.
[Shop 11" iPad Protective Folios →]
How Big is an 11-inch Screen?
When I was in grade school, there was a joke the children used to tell each other, "What color was George Washington's white horse? Fast forward a few decades and "How big is an 11-inch screen?" can pass as a modern replacement.
The "11-inch" designation for iPad screens refers to the diagonal measurement of the display, not the overall size of the tablet itself. This measurement technique is standard for screens and gives a clear indication of the display area available for use.
An 11-inch screen is measured from one corner of the display to the opposite corner, spanning 11 inches diagonally. This does not reflect the actual physical dimensions of the iPad, which are typically larger due to bezels and the casing.
Understanding this distinction helps users appreciate the screen size while recognizing that the tablet’s physical footprint is slightly larger to accommodate the display and necessary components.
Which iPad Has an 11-inch Screen?
The iPad lineup first introduced an 11-inch screen with the iPad Pro in 2018. This model was a significant evolution in the iPad's design and capabilities, featuring a larger display achieved by reducing the bezel size, thus maintaining a compact form factor.
The 11-inch iPad Pro quickly gained popularity for its blend of portability and expansive screen real estate, making it a favorite among professionals and creatives. Since its debut, the 11-inch iPad Pro has seen several updates, each bringing enhancements in performance, display quality, and overall user experience.
In addition to the Pro lineup, Apple introduced the 11-inch iPad Air in 2020. The iPad Air brought many of the premium features of the Pro models to a more affordable price point. It features a Liquid Retina display, the powerful A14 Bionic chip (in the 2020 model), and compatibility with accessories like the Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard.
The 2024 iPad Air continues this trend, offering the A16 Bionic chip, enhanced graphics, and improved battery life, making it a versatile choice for users seeking a balance of performance and cost.
Both the 2024 11-inch iPad Pro and iPad Air offer substantial improvements over their predecessors, catering to different market segments while maintaining the core appeal of a powerful, portable tablet with a sizable screen.
How Big is the iPad 11 in Inches?
The iPad's "11-inch" designation refers to the diagonal measurement of its screen, a standard method for expressing display size. However, the actual physical dimensions of the 11-inch iPad models have varied slightly across different generations since its introduction in 2018.
To provide a general sense of the size, we can average the dimensions of the 11-inch iPad models released since 2018. Historically, these models have measured approximately
9.74 inches in height,
7.02 inches in width,
and around 0.23 inches in depth.
This gives users a compact yet ample screen area for various tasks, balancing portability and usability.
For the 2025 models specifically, the dimensions of the 11-inch iPad Pro and iPad Air have slightly different profiles but generally align with the averages. While the screen size remains a consistent 11 inches diagonally, the physical dimensions of these iPads have minor variations that reflect their evolving designs and technological advancements.
Ready to Protect Your 11" iPad?
Now that you know exactly which iPad you have, choose a case that's precision-engineered for your specific model - not a generic tablet cover.
[Shop 11" iPad Leather Folios →]
[Shop 11" iPad Protective Folios →]
About Michael Santoro
Michael Santoro is a multi-award-winning designer across a broad range of industries including automotive, product and aerospace. In 1998 he founded MacCase and with it, the Apple-specific case market with his design for a case for the original iBook. He also mentors aspiring artists and designers around the world through several tutoring programs he created.
