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Hyperfocal Distance Calculator

Computes the hyperfocal distance H = f²/(N·c) + f for a focal length, f-number and sensor circle of confusion, the near limit obtained when focusing at H, and a table of H for the common apertures f/2.8–f/16.

When to use

You want landscape or street settings that keep everything from a near distance to infinity acceptably sharp, or need a focus-distance table for a lens.

Do not use when: You need the sharp zone around an arbitrary focus distance (use depth-of-field), or you want the framing of the lens (use field-of-view).

Formula

H = f² / (N·c) + f (f = focal_length_mm, N = aperture_f, c = coc_mm; result in mm ÷ 1000); near limit = H / 2

Uses the exact definition with the '+ f' term; the common approximation H ≈ f²/(N·c) differs by one focal length. Presets use the diagonal/1500 circle of confusion convention.

Inputs

Parameter	Type	Unit	Required	Description
`focal_length_mm`	number	mm	yes	Actual (not equivalent) focal length of the lens in millimetres. Range: ≥ 1, ≤ 5000
`aperture_f`	number		yes	Lens f-number, e.g. 2.8 for f/2.8. Range: ≥ 0.5, ≤ 128
`sensor`	enum: full_frame \| aps_c \| aps_c_canon \| micro_four_thirds \| one_inch \| medium_format_44x33 \| smartphone_1_over_2_3		default full_frame	Sensor format; selects the circle of confusion used in the formula.
`coc_mm`	number	mm	no	Optional acceptable circle-of-confusion diameter; overrides the preset value (full frame 0.030, APS-C 0.020, Micro Four Thirds 0.015, 1-inch 0.011 mm). Range: > 0, ≤ 1

Outputs

Output	Type	Unit	Description
`hyperfocal_m`	number	m	Focus here for sharpness from H/2 to infinity.
`hyperfocal_ft`	number	ft	Hyperfocal distance in feet (1 ft = 0.3048 m).
`near_limit_when_focused_at_hyperfocal_m`	number	m	H / 2: closest acceptably sharp distance when focusing at the hyperfocal distance.
`coc_used_mm`	number	mm	Circle of confusion diameter applied (preset or override).
`table`	object	m	Hyperfocal distance in metres for f/2.8, f/4, f/5.6, f/8, f/11 and f/16 with the same focal length and sensor.

Example

24 mm, f/8, full frame: {"focal_length_mm":24,"aperture_f":8,"sensor":"full_frame"} → {"hyperfocal_m":2.424,"hyperfocal_ft":7.95,"near_limit_when_focused_at_hyperfocal_m":1.212,"coc_used_mm":0.03}

35 mm, f/11, APS-C: {"focal_length_mm":35,"aperture_f":11,"sensor":"aps_c"} → {"hyperfocal_m":5.603,"near_limit_when_focused_at_hyperfocal_m":2.802,"coc_used_mm":0.02}

GET https://tttkmbb.com/api/v1/calculate/hyperfocal-distance?focal_length_mm=24&aperture_f=8&sensor=full_frame

Machine access

API: GET https://tttkmbb.com/api/v1/calculate/hyperfocal-distance (query parameters) or POST with a JSON body {"inputs": {...}}
Schema: https://tttkmbb.com/api/v1/calculators/hyperfocal-distance · Markdown: https://tttkmbb.com/photography/hyperfocal-distance.md · JSON definition: https://tttkmbb.com/photography/hyperfocal-distance.json
MCP: server https://tttkmbb.com/mcp, tool run_calculator with calculator_id="hyperfocal-distance"
OpenAPI operationId: calculate_hyperfocal_distance
Freshness: static. Authentication: none. Rate limit: fair use (see rate limits).

Sources

Wikipedia – Hyperfocal distance (reference)
Wikipedia – Circle of confusion (reference)
Cambridge in Colour – Hyperfocal distance (reference)

FAQ

Should I focus exactly at the hyperfocal distance?

Focusing slightly beyond H keeps infinity comfortably sharp at the cost of a little near-side depth; focusing short of H makes infinity soft. Lens distance scales are coarse, so err towards the far side.

Does the crop factor change the hyperfocal distance?

Only through the circle of confusion: for the same actual focal length and f-number, an APS-C sensor (c = 0.020 mm) has a hyperfocal distance about 1.5× longer than full frame (c = 0.030 mm).

Related calculators

Depth of Field Calculator — Near and far limits for any focus distance, not only the hyperfocal one.
Crop Factor Calculator — Sensor diagonal and crop factor behind the circle of confusion presets.