Web site with...

[peterh]

What is the standard (best practice) web site with?

[Dubbya]

What isn't the standard (worst practice) web site with?

I'm guessing you've simply omitted a few important words from your question. Please try asking again, this time in a complete sentence.

[ArthurKay]

Did you mean WIDTH?

[peterh]

I am re building our website and wanted to know what are the recommended dimensions
640x480, 1020x480

[Dubbya]

It really depends on your users.

if you've been keeping track of user stats, you'll know what resolution they're viewing your page at. Most sites today see users running Windows, with Internet Explorer at 1024x768 in 32 bit colour, to that's the standard resolution.

(Try to accomodate users who view the site at 800x600.)

Your browser window is considerably smaller, especially if you consider all the excess "chrome" people are running these days. Google toolbars, Yahoo! toolbars, Alexa, etc.

These factors, not to mention the standard scrollbars and status bar, further reduce your working area.

What most developers do is try to build the site so that it's expandable and collapsible in order to accomodate any resolution and browser.

Here are the dimensions considered "safe" for most browsers and operating systems by WebMonkey:

1024x768
max width: 968 pixels
max height: 578 pixels

800x600
max width: 744 pixels
max height: 410 pixels

Source: Sizing Up the Browsers

You might also be interested in Jakob Nielsen's recommendations:
Screen Resolution and Page Layout (Jakob Nielsen's Alertbox)

If you intend to build your site, you'd be wise to consider doing it in CSS. The benefits are immeasurable.

Check out the ready to use layout templates from Glish.com
glish.com : CSS layout techniques

Good Luck!

[peterh]

Good Info, Thanks!

[Dubbya]

Glad to be of help.

Enjoy!