VESA DisplayHDR: Certification Levels and Specs

What Is VESA DisplayHDR?

VESA DisplayHDR is a voluntary certification program for high dynamic range monitors. Instead of simply checking whether a monitor can accept an HDR signal, DisplayHDR evaluates how well the display reproduces the bright and dark parts of an HDR image. The certification covers both LCD-style monitors and panel technologies that can produce very deep blacks; the latter are covered by the DisplayHDR True Black tier set.

DisplayHDR is not the same as an HDR format such as HDR10 or Dolby Vision. Those describe how HDR content is encoded and sent to the display. DisplayHDR describes the display's certified performance. A monitor can claim HDR compatibility without being DisplayHDR certified. For more on the basics, start with our HDR monitors explainer.

VESA updates its certification test specification over time. The current criteria referenced on the DisplayHDR site are from CTS 1.2, released on May 7, 2024. The tier names remain the same: DisplayHDR 400, 500, 600, 1000, and 1400, plus DisplayHDR True Black 400, 500, 600, 1000, and 1400.

DisplayHDR Tiers at a Glance

The table summarizes the key luminance and black-level requirements from the VESA performance criteria. The 8% center patch number represents what a small bright highlight can reach; the full-screen long-duration number represents how bright the display can stay with the entire screen lit.

What VESA Actually Tests

DisplayHDR certification is based on a set of performance tests, not just a marketing claim. The tests cover peak luminance, black level, active dimming, color, bit depth, rise time, and color accuracy.

• Peak white level: VESA measures an 8% center patch, a full-screen flash, and a full-screen long-duration pattern. The flash test represents brief highlights such as an explosion; the long-duration test shows stable full-screen output.
• Black level: VESA measures the darkest area while white rectangles are shown in two corners. Displays with better local dimming pass with lower black levels.
• Active dimming: VESA compares a white test image with black/grey checkerboard patterns at 50 cd/m2 and 5 cd/m2, reporting the dimming range in stops.
• Color gamut and color volume: VESA checks DCI-P3 coverage and additive RGB luminance at 10% and full-screen patches, so a display must produce color and brightness together.
• Bit depth: every tier must accept a 10-bit video signal per channel, and the internal processing must use at least 8-bit digital-to-analog conversion plus dithering where required.
• Rise time: the display must move from black to maximum luminance within a maximum number of frames. The limit is 8 frames for standard tiers and 2 frames for True Black tiers.
• Accuracy: VESA checks luminance and white point against the EOTF-2084 curve with Delta-ITP error limits, and checks average color error with a set of color patches.

DisplayHDR True Black: Built for Deep Blacks

DisplayHDR True Black is a separate set of tiers for displays that can get exceptionally dark. VESA sets the maximum black level at 0.0005 cd/m2 for the True Black tiers, which is far lower than the 0.4 to 0.02 cd/m2 range used by the standard tiers. That requirement makes True Black a natural fit for OLED-class monitors and other self-emissive panels.

True Black also has a stricter rise-time requirement. While standard tiers must go from black to maximum luminance in no more than 8 frames, True Black tiers must do it in 2 frames. This matters for HDR content with fast transitions, such as explosions, scene cuts, and game effects. In return, the full-screen long-duration luminance is lower for the same tier number, ranging from 250 cd/m2 for True Black 400 up to 700 cd/m2 for True Black 1400.

Microsoft's Advanced Color documentation notes that high-quality self-emissive displays can reproduce greater than 6 orders of magnitude of luminance, while standard displays manage only a little more than 3. That large dynamic range is exactly what the True Black tests try to preserve. For more on the underlying panel technology, see OLED panels.

OLED monitors are the most common place you will see True Black certification, so it is worth checking the OLED monitor buying guide if deep black levels are your priority.

How DisplayHDR Relates to HDR10 and Other Formats

DisplayHDR and HDR formats answer different questions. HDR10 is a signal format that carries HDR content to the display. Dolby Vision is another HDR format that can use dynamic metadata. DisplayHDR is a display performance certification, not a content format. A display needs to accept an HDR signal before it can show HDR content, but accepting the signal does not tell you how bright or color-accurate the panel is.

The HDMI 2.2 specification includes dynamic HDR support, which can adjust video to its ideal values on a scene-by-scene or frame-by-frame basis. That is separate from VESA's DisplayHDR certification: one describes the signal path, the other describes the certified performance of the monitor. For more, compare HDR10, Dolby Vision, and HDR10 Plus.

Using DisplayHDR Monitors in Windows

On Windows 11 and Windows 10, you enable HDR from Settings > System > Display. After you select the HDR-capable display, turn on HDR. Microsoft also recommends looking for displays that are certified for HDR if you are buying a new display, because certified displays are designed and tested for a wide range of PC HDR uses, including games and apps.

If you use a laptop, Windows may turn off HDR when you switch to battery power to save battery life. You can change that behavior in the HDR settings if you prefer to keep HDR on. On Dolby Vision certified monitors, Windows may automatically use Dolby Vision mode; you can disable it if you want a non-certified HDR10 mode with potentially higher brightness.

Which DisplayHDR Tier Should You Choose?

Think about how bright your room is, what content you watch, and whether you play games with demanding HDR highlights. DisplayHDR 400 and 500 are entry-level tiers. They can make HDR content look noticeably richer than SDR, but their black levels and full-screen sustained brightness are limited. If you mainly watch streaming video and sit in a normally lit room, a DisplayHDR 400 or 500 monitor can still be a reasonable everyday choice.

DisplayHDR 600 and above are stronger for gaming and bright-room use. The 1000 and 1400 tiers are for people who want high peak luminance on specular highlights, such as sunlight, explosions, and reflective surfaces. If you prefer a very dark screen without relying on local dimming, True Black is the tier family to look for.

Pair the certification tier with the monitor's refresh rate, resolution, and panel type. For gaming, look for high refresh rates and low response times; see our gaming monitor guide. For general use, see our 4K UHD monitor guide.

What to pick for your use

Questions

What does the number in DisplayHDR 400 mean?

The number roughly corresponds to the minimum 8% center patch luminance in cd/m2. DisplayHDR 400 must reach 400 cd/m2 for that test, DisplayHDR 1000 must reach 1000 cd/m2, and so on. Full-screen sustained luminance is lower.

Is DisplayHDR 400 worth it?

It is the entry tier. It requires 400 cd/m2 for a small highlight, 320 cd/m2 for full-screen long duration, a black level no higher than 0.4 cd/m2, 99% BT.709 coverage, and a 10-bit video signal. It can improve HDR content over SDR, but higher tiers offer brighter highlights and deeper blacks.

What is DisplayHDR True Black?

DisplayHDR True Black is a certification line for displays with very deep blacks. It uses the same tier numbers, but requires a maximum black level of 0.0005 cd/m2 and a 2-frame rise time from black to maximum luminance.

What is the difference between DisplayHDR and HDR10?

HDR10 is an HDR signal format that describes how content is sent to the display. DisplayHDR is a VESA performance certification that verifies luminance, black level, color, and response. A display can accept HDR10 without being DisplayHDR certified.

Which DisplayHDR tier should I buy for gaming?

For HDR gaming, DisplayHDR 600 is a reasonable starting point. DisplayHDR 1000 or 1400 gives you brighter specular highlights, while True Black gives you deeper blacks. Pair the tier with a high refresh rate and low response time.

How do I turn on HDR in Windows?

Open Settings > System > Display, select the HDR-capable display, and turn on HDR. On laptops, Windows may turn HDR off on battery; you can adjust that in HDR settings. Microsoft recommends certified HDR displays for the best PC HDR experience.