Spatial resolutions depend on the acquisition mode and the level of processing.
| Mode | Incidence Angle | Resolution | Swath Width | Polarization (H = Horizontal V = Vertical) |
| Stripmap | 20 - 45 | 5 x 5 m | 80 km | HH+HV, VH+VV, HH, VV |
| Interferometric Wide swath | 29 - 46 | 5 x 20 m | 250 km | HH+HV, VH+VV, HH, VV |
| Extra Wide swath | 19 - 47 | 20 x 40 m | 400 km | HH+HV, VH+VV, HH, VV |
| Wave | 22 - 35 35 - 38 |
5 x 5 m | 20 x 20 km | HH, VV |
The Sentinel-1 constellation offers an improvement in revisit time over ERS-1/2 and ENVISAT ASAR and a continuity of wide area coverage as with ENVISAT ASAR, but achieving higher resolution and potentially global dual polarisation coverage over landmasses.