CalculatorsVR Pixels per Degree

VR Pixels per Degree

Panel resolution without the field of view does not say whether the picture is sharp. Pixels per degree is the horizontal count divided by the horizontal FOV, and the same idea vertically.

Inputs

Headset presetHorizontal pixelsIgnored when a named preset is selected.Horizontal FOV (°)Vertical pixelsVertical FOV (°)

Results

Horizontal PPD: 18.8
Vertical PPD: 23.0
Fraction of 60 PPD: 0.31

Related gear

Headset with a published PPD, not only a pixel count
A wider FOV spreads the same panel thinner. Read both numbers.
$500–$1800

How the number is made

Horizontal PPD = horizontal pixels ÷ horizontal FOV in degrees. Vertical PPD uses the vertical pair. The retinal fraction is horizontal PPD ÷ 60. A named preset replaces the four numbers with that headset’s panel and FOV. Custom uses whatever you type.

60 PPD is a rough 20/20 benchmark at the centre, not a claim about lens sweet spots. Preset FOVs are the horizontal figures used on the bottleneck pages, plus a vertical estimate.

PPD is not frame rate

A sharp panel still needs a GPU that holds the refresh. The bottleneck check is the other half of the same purchase.

Related calculators

GPU vs VR Headset Bottleneck
Clarity per degree does not say whether the score and the VRAM can hold that panel.
Triple Screen FOV and Angle
A monitor FOV is a seating geometry problem, not a pixels-per-degree problem.

Questions

Why can a 2880 panel score fewer PPD than a smaller one?

If the field of view is much wider, each degree gets fewer pixels. The Crystal’s 140° spreads 2880 pixels thinner than a narrower headset spreads a similar count.

Does the preset ignore what I type?

Yes. Custom is the only mode that reads the four fields. The help line under horizontal pixels says so.

Is 1.00 on the fraction “retina”?

It means 60 pixels per degree, a common 20/20 shorthand. Lenses and eye box still change what you see.

Disclaimer — no professional advice, no liability

These calculators are simplified estimates for planning a sim rig. They are not a structural sign-off, a wheelbase torque limit, or a guarantee that a quick release, profile or headset will fit. Check the hardware before you cut aluminium or bolt a base down.

These calculators, pages and any related content are provided “as is” and “as available”, solely for general educational and informational purposes. They are simplified mathematical estimates, not a structural sign-off for a rig, a wheelbase torque limit, a quick-release compatibility certificate or a professional seating setup.

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