A correct Field of View (FOV) is one of the most crucial but often forgotten settings within sim racing. Whether you race with a single screen, triple screen or VR, the way you see the virtual world directly affects your performance and racing experience.
In this article, you will discover how a FOV calculator helps to optimise your field of view for your setup. We explain exactly what FOV means, why it is so important, how to calculate your ideal value and how to apply it in well-known sim racing games.
Use the built-in sim racing FOV calculator further down this article to experience the difference today.
FOV Calculator
What is an FOV in Sim Racing?
FOV stands for Field of View, or your field of view. In sim racing, this angle determines how much of the virtual world you can see on your screen. A realistically set FOV ensures that what you see matches how you would experience it in a real cockpit.
A too wide FOV provides more visibility but distorts depth and speed. Too narrow an FOV limits your overview but increases realism. The trick is to find the right balance - something you can determine exactly with an FOV calculator.
Why use an FOV Calculator?
An FOV calculator sim racing takes objective parameters such as screen size, viewing distance and screen ratio and converts them to an exact FOV setting for your racing simulator. So you avoid wet-finger work and save time and frustration.
Benefits of a good FOV setting:
- Accurate estimation of cornering and braking points
- Improved feel for speed and distance
- Less visual distortion or motion sickness
- More realism and control in every race
How does the Sim Racing FOV Calculator work?
The FOV calculator is based on simple geometry and simulates how you would look at a dashboard in real life. The calculator asks for:
1. Screen size and aspect ratio
Specify the diagonal size of your monitor in inches (e.g. 27", 32" or 49") and choose the appropriate aspect ratio (16:9, 21:9, 32:9).
2. Viewing distance
Accurately measure the distance between your eyes and the centre of the screen. The closer you sit to the screen, the narrower the FOV needs to be to maintain a realistic image.
3. Screen type: single, triple or curved
- Single screen: simple calculation
- Triple screen: also fill in the angle and bezel width
- Curved monitor: give the angle of curvature or radius on
The FOV calculator sim racing then generates an exact vertical and horizontal FOV, tailored to your situation.
Source: image
Applying your FOV in different simulators
iRacing
- Used Vertical FOV (vFOV)
- Go to Options > Graphics and enter the exact value
- Result: more realistic image without distortion
Assetto Corsa / ACC
- Used horizontal FOV (hFOV)
- Adjust via Camera settings or config file
- Note: ACC does not provide numeric input, use sliders accurately
Automobilista 2
- Standard with hFOV
- Set per car or universal via View Settings
rFactor 2 / Le Mans Ultimate
- Set FOV via options or
player.json - Differs per camera (cockpit vs chase)
Virtual Reality (VR)
Although VR headsets, such as the Pimax Crystal Light for example, have a fixed FOV, the virtual camera position remains crucial. An incorrect seating position or offset still results in an unrealistic image.
Realistic versus comfortable: which do you choose?
Some sim racers deliberately choose a slightly wider FOV to see more of the interior or mirrors. While this offers comfort, it comes at the expense of realism. If you want to race competitively or train for real car racing, it is advisable to stay true to the calculated values of the FOV calculator sim racing tool.
In conclusion: One setting that changes everything
A properly set FOV is the foundation of any serious sim racing setup. It determines how you perceive, anticipate and react. Where many sim racers invest in better pedals or force feedback, you can already make a world of difference with this simple setting. Use the FOV calculator above, customise your simulator and discover how much better and more realistic sim racing feels with a correct field of view.
