Photo / Lens
Depth of Field Calculator
Work out how much of a photo is in focus, the nearest and farthest sharp distances, the total depth of field, and the hyperfocal distance, for full frame, APS-C, Micro Four Thirds, and phone cameras.
Depth of Field Calculator: Depth of field is the range of distances that look acceptably sharp. It is calculated with the standard thin-lens formulas from the focal length, the aperture, the focus distance, and the circle of confusion: the largest blur that still looks like a point in a normal print, about the sensor's diagonal divided by 1,500, so smaller sensors need a smaller one. The hyperfocal distance is the closest focus that keeps the horizon sharp. Runs 100% locally in your browser with zero server file uploads.
- Category
- Everyday tools
- Runs
- In your browser
- Cost
- Free · no sign-up
- Availability
- Ready to use
Runs entirely in your browser
In focus from 2.7 m to 3.3 m
- Depth of field
- 0.6 m
- In front of the subject
- 0.27 m
- Behind the subject
- 0.33 m
- Hyperfocal distance
- 29.8 m
Focus at the hyperfocal distance, 29.8 m, and everything from half that distance to the horizon looks sharp. Circle of confusion: 0.03 mm for this sensor.
Using depth of field
For portraits, a shallow depth of field, a few centimetres to a few tens of centimetres, separates the subject from the background; focus on the nearest eye. For landscapes and architecture, stop down to f/8 to f/11 and focus near the hyperfocal distance to keep everything sharp.
To check the aperture and focal length of a photo you have taken, read its settings with the EXIF viewer.
Beyond the formula
The calculation assumes a normal print size and viewing distance. If you crop heavily or view at 100% on a large screen, sharpness falls off sooner, so allow some margin. Very small apertures such as f/22 also soften the whole picture through diffraction.
How to use it
- Choose your camera's sensor size.
- Enter the focal length, the aperture, and the distance you focus at, in metres or feet.
- Read where sharpness begins and ends, and the hyperfocal distance for landscapes.
Privacy & limitations
Everything runs in your browser.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I get a blurred background?
Open the aperture (a smaller f-number), use a longer focal length, get closer to the subject, and put more distance between the subject and the background. A larger sensor helps too at the same framing.
What is the hyperfocal distance?
Focus there and everything from half that distance to infinity looks sharp, the most depth a landscape can have. With a 24 mm lens at f/11 on full frame it is about 1.8 m.
Why do phones keep so much in focus?
Their tiny sensors use very short focal lengths for the same view, which gives a deep depth of field. Portrait modes blur the background with software instead.
Is depth of field split evenly around the subject?
No. At normal distances roughly a third lies in front of the subject and two thirds behind, and the share behind grows as you focus farther away.
Free tool · runs in your browser · no account required