Pixels Per Degree (PPD) Calculator
One number for screen clarity in sim racing: how many pixels you get per degree of view. Compare resolutions, screen sizes, triples and VR at a glance.
- Runs in your browser
- Free · No sign-up
- Screens + VR
PPD calculator tool
- 60 PPD, comfortable; fine for casual racing
- 80 PPD, crisp; apexes and braking markers are clear
- 100+ PPD, retina-class at normal distances
- VR (reference), 20–35 PPD (fills your full view)
Calculated locally in your browser. Nothing you enter is uploaded.
How PPD is calculated
PPD = horizontal pixels ÷ horizontal FOV, where the FOV is what the screen(s)
subtend from your eye position: hFOV = 2 × atan( total width ÷ (2 × distance) ).
Resolution sets the pixel count, geometry sets the angle. That is the whole model, applied
per your setup above.
The same maths underlies headset specs and monitor reviews; our methodology page shows the worked examples with sources.
Frequently asked questions
What is PPD (pixels per degree)?
PPD is how many pixels represent each degree of your field of view. It is the number that decides how sharp the world looks at a given FOV: more pixels per degree means less aliasing and easier spot-the-apex clarity. It combines resolution, screen size and viewing distance into one figure.
What PPD do I need for sim racing?
Rough guide: 60 PPD is comfortable, 80+ is crisp for distant detail (braking markers, apexes), and 100+ approaches "retina" for most people at normal viewing distances. Triple screens and bigger resolutions raise PPD; sitting closer raises it too (but also raises FOV).
How does VR compare?
VR clarity is also measured in PPD. Early headsets were around 10–20 PPD over their full FOV; modern ones reach 25–35 PPD in the centre. The difference from screens: VR fills your whole FOV, so PPD is lower but immersion much higher. The calculator shows the comparison.
Do triple screens improve PPD?
Not by themselves: total PPD is total pixels ÷ total FOV degrees. Three 1440p screens add pixels AND FOV, so the ratio improves versus one screen only because the extra FOV is smaller than the extra pixels relative to the single-screen case. The calculator handles the full rig comparison.