Hyperfocal Distance Calculator

Work out the hyperfocal distance for a focal length and aperture on your sensor — focus there for maximum depth of field from front to infinity. Calculated in your browser.

Hyperfocal distance

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Focus from here to infinity is sharp-

Show the math

The hyperfocal distance is the closest focus point that still keeps the background at infinity acceptably sharp:

H = f² ÷ (N · c) + f

Focus at H and everything from half of H out to infinity falls within the depth of field.

Circle of confusion c is taken from the selected sensor. The calculation runs entirely in your browser.

What this does

A hyperfocal distance calculator finds where to focus for maximum depth of field — the closest distance that still keeps objects at infinity acceptably sharp.

How to use it

  1. Pick your sensor or format.
  2. Enter the focal length.
  3. Enter the aperture.
  4. Read the hyperfocal distance.

How it works

Focus at H and everything from half H out to infinity is sharp. Smaller apertures and shorter focal lengths bring the hyperfocal distance closer, deepening the zone.

H = f² ÷ (N × c) + f

Understanding your result

Focusing at the hyperfocal distance gives the maximum depth of field for your settings: everything from half that distance out to infinity stays sharp. It is the landscape photographers trick for front-to-back sharpness, but the trade is that you are accepting just-acceptable sharpness at the extremes, so for a critical foreground subject focus on it directly and stop down instead.

Example

A 24 mm lens at f/11 on full frame is hyperfocal near 1.8 m — sharp from ~0.9 m to infinity.

Sources & methodology

Last updated .

Frequently asked questions

What is the hyperfocal distance?

It is the closest distance you can focus at while still keeping objects at infinity acceptably sharp — focusing here gives the deepest possible depth of field.

How far does sharpness extend?

When you focus at the hyperfocal distance, everything from half that distance out to infinity falls within the depth of field.

Is anything uploaded?

No. The calculation runs entirely in your browser — nothing you enter leaves your device.