Hyperfocal Distance Calculator

Find the closest focus distance that keeps everything from half that distance out to infinity acceptably sharp, based on your lens' focal length, aperture, and circle of confusion.

Quick Facts

Formula
H = f² / (N × c) + f
Focus at H and everything from H/2 to infinity is acceptably sharp.
Typical circle of confusion
~0.030mm (full-frame)
Smaller sensors use a smaller value since their images are enlarged more.

Your Results

Calculated
Hyperfocal distance
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Focus here for max sharp range
Near limit at hyperfocal focus
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= H / 2 (far reaches infinity)
Near limit at your distance
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Sharp from this distance onward
Far limit at your distance
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Sharp up to this distance

Ready

Enter your lens focal length, aperture, and circle of confusion, then press Calculate.

Understanding Hyperfocal Distance

Hyperfocal distance is the closest focus distance a lens can be set to while still keeping objects at infinity acceptably sharp. Focus at the hyperfocal distance H and the zone of acceptable sharpness stretches from H/2 all the way to infinity — the largest possible depth of field for that focal length and aperture. Landscape and architecture photographers use it to get foreground-to-horizon sharpness without stopping the aperture down to the point where diffraction softens the whole image.

The formula

The standard thin-lens formula for hyperfocal distance is:

H = f² / (N × c) + f

  • f — the lens focal length (mm)
  • N — the f-number / aperture (e.g. 8 for f/8)
  • c — the circle of confusion, the largest blur spot the eye still reads as a sharp point (mm)

Once you know H, the near and far limits of depth of field for any focus distance s follow from:

  • Near limit: Dn = s(H − f) / (H + s − 2f)
  • Far limit: Df = s(H − f) / (H − s), or infinity when s ≥ H

Setting s = H in these formulas gives exactly Dn = H/2 and Df = infinity, which is the classic hyperfocal rule of thumb.

Choosing a circle of confusion

The circle of confusion depends on sensor size, print size, and viewing distance — there is no single correct value, only a working convention. A commonly used figure is about 0.030mm for full-frame (36×24mm) sensors, scaling down for smaller sensors: roughly 0.019–0.020mm for APS-C and about 0.015mm for Micro Four Thirds. Smaller sensors need a smaller circle of confusion because their images must be enlarged more to reach the same final output size.

Reading the results

This calculator reports the hyperfocal distance itself, the near limit you would get by focusing exactly at that distance (with the far limit implicitly at infinity), and — using the focus distance you enter — the actual near and far sharpness limits for that shot. If your entered focus distance is at or beyond the hyperfocal distance, the far limit is infinity; focusing closer than the hyperfocal distance pulls the far limit in from infinity.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is hyperfocal distance?
Hyperfocal distance is the closest focus distance at which everything from half that distance out to infinity appears acceptably sharp. Focusing at the hyperfocal distance maximizes the zone of apparent sharpness for a given focal length and aperture, which is why it is a standard landscape-photography technique.
What is the formula for hyperfocal distance?
H = f² / (N × c) + f, where f is the focal length, N is the f-number, and c is the circle of confusion, all in the same length unit. This calculator handles the mm-to-meter conversion for you.
What happens if I focus exactly at the hyperfocal distance?
The near limit of acceptable sharpness becomes exactly H/2 and the far limit becomes infinity. Focusing closer than H pulls the far limit in from infinity; focusing farther than H gives up some near sharpness without gaining anything past infinity.
What circle of confusion should I use?
A common convention is about 0.030mm for full-frame sensors, roughly 0.019–0.020mm for APS-C, and about 0.015mm for Micro Four Thirds. Use the sensor-format dropdown for a starting value, or enter your own if you have a specific standard (such as print size and viewing distance) in mind.

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