Gaming
Field of View (FOV) Converter
Convert between Horizontal and Vertical Field of View across display aspect ratios.
Horizontal vs Vertical FOV
Games disagree on which angle the FOV slider measures: many console titles measure vertically (so widescreen players see more), while most PC shooters measure horizontally. Quake-family engines use horizontal 4:3 scaling, which is why a converted sensitivity can feel right while the zoom sensation does not — the FOV needed converting on different terms.
For monitor-distance matching, the number to preserve is how much screen the target occupies at the center, which depends on both the FOV value and your aspect ratio. The calculator handles the projection math; your job is choosing which convention the target game uses.
Horizontal vs Vertical Field of View
Games quote FOV differently: some use the horizontal angle, others the vertical one. For the same view, the horizontal angle is much larger on a wide screen, so entering a vertical value where a horizontal one is expected makes the picture look extremely zoomed in.
Converting needs the aspect ratio: tan(hFOV / 2) = tan(vFOV / 2) x (width / height). A 16:9 monitor at a 90 degree horizontal FOV is about 59 degrees vertical. Higher FOV shows more of the scene but stretches the edges, so most players choose a value that feels natural for their screen size and distance.
How the Calculation Works
- Applies trigonometric tangent formulas to calculate angular relationships.
Worked Example
Common Questions
Why use Vertical FOV?
Vertical FOV keeps framing constant while ultrawide screens expand horizontally.
Is a higher FOV always better?
A higher FOV reveals more peripheral information, which helps awareness but shrinks on-screen targets. Most FPS players choose 90-110 degrees horizontal; ultrawide users often raise it further to fill the extra aspect.
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