Sim Racing FOV Calculator

What Is FOV in Sim Racing?

FOV stands for field of view. In sim racing, it is the angle of the virtual world shown on your screen. Your monitor acts like a window into the car. If the window is close to your eyes, you can see more through it. If it is further away, you see less.

The goal is not to make the game look fast or dramatic. The goal is to make the track look the correct size from your real seating position. Correct FOV helps your brain judge speed, distance and corner entry more accurately.

A poor FOV setting can make the car feel strange even when your wheel, pedals and cockpit are set up correctly. Too wide and the track looks stretched, braking zones look further away, and corners can arrive faster than expected. Too narrow and the game can feel slow, cramped and disconnected.

How to Measure Your Sim Racing Setup

Before using the calculator, sit in your normal racing position. Your seat, pedals, steering wheel and monitor should already be where you actually race. Small changes in seating distance can change the correct FOV, so it is worth measuring properly.

• Screen size: Use the diagonal size of one monitor, such as 27 inch, 32 inch, 34 inch, 49 inch or 57 inch. Measure the visible screen only, not the bezel.
• Eye distance: Measure from your eyes to the centre of the screen in centimetres while sitting in your normal driving position.
• Aspect ratio: Most standard gaming monitors are 16:9. Ultrawide monitors are commonly 21:9, while super ultrawide displays are often 32:9.
• Monitor setup: Select single screen, ultrawide or triple screens depending on your sim rig.
• Bezel width: For triple screens, measure the bezel gap in millimetres so the calculator can account for the space between panels.

Your eye distance is the most important number. A 32 inch monitor at 55 cm will need a different FOV from the same monitor at 75 cm. Do not guess this measurement if you want the calculator to be accurate.

Best FOV for a Single Monitor Sim Racing Setup

Single monitor sim racing setups are simple, affordable and easy to run, but FOV matters a lot. Because you only have one display, a correct FOV may feel narrower than the game's default camera. That is normal.

On a single 27 inch or 32 inch gaming monitor, many racers are tempted to use a wide FOV so they can see more of the cockpit and mirrors. The downside is that the track becomes visually distorted. The car may feel faster, but distance judgement becomes less reliable.

If you race on a single Samsung gaming monitor, start with the calculated FOV value, then adjust your in-game seat position rather than increasing FOV just to see more of the dashboard. FOV controls scale. Seat position controls where your camera sits inside the car.

Triple Monitor FOV for Sim Racing

Triple screen sim racing setups are one of the best ways to improve immersion and side visibility without using VR. A proper triple monitor setup gives you a wider natural view, better awareness of nearby cars, and a more realistic cockpit feel.

For triple screens, enter the size of one monitor into the calculator, not the combined size of all three screens. For example, if you run triple 32 inch Samsung gaming monitors, enter 32 inch and select triple screens. The calculator will work out the total viewing width and recommend a side monitor angle.

The triple screen angle is the angle of each side monitor compared with the centre screen. Getting this close to correct is important. If the side monitors are too flat or too angled, objects can stretch or jump as they move across screens.

A strong triple setup normally needs the right monitor stand as well. Next Level Racing monitor stands are a good match for cockpit-based setups because they allow the displays to be positioned close to the wheel base and adjusted for angle.

Ultrawide and Super Ultrawide FOV

Ultrawide and super ultrawide displays are popular for sim racing because they give more horizontal screen space than a normal 16:9 monitor. Samsung gaming monitors are especially popular for racing rigs because they work well on desks, wheel stands and full cockpits.

For this calculator, use the physical diagonal size and aspect ratio of the display. Ultrawide and super ultrawide screens are handled through the aspect ratio and resolution options, giving you a practical FOV starting point without needing a separate curve-radius input.

Ultrawide and super ultrawide monitors can be a great middle ground between a single screen and triple screens. They are cleaner to mount, easier to cable manage, and avoid bezel gaps. Triple screens still offer more wraparound vision, but a good ultrawide can be a very strong setup for many racers.

Recommended FOV Settings by Sim Racing Game

Different racing games use different FOV systems. Some games use horizontal FOV, while others use vertical FOV. This is why the calculator shows different numbers for different games even when your physical monitor setup has not changed.

• iRacing: Uses horizontal FOV. Enter the calculator's iRacing value into the graphics or camera settings.
• Assetto Corsa and ACC: Use vertical FOV. Use the vertical value shown by the calculator.
• rFactor 2 and Le Mans Ultimate: Use vertical FOV values.
• Automobilista 2, RaceRoom and Project CARS: Commonly use horizontal FOV values.
• F1 games and EA Sports WRC: These can use different camera scaling, so use the game-specific value from the calculator rather than copying another sim's number.

The correct number to enter can change from game to game. Do not use one FOV value across every sim unless the calculator shows the same output for that title.

Common Sim Racing FOV Mistakes

Using the default game FOV

Many games ship with a wide default FOV because it looks exciting in screenshots. For a real sim racing cockpit, that default setting is often too wide and can make the track look stretched.

Guessing your eye distance

Your distance from the screen has a major effect on the result. Measure from your eyes to the screen while sitting in your normal racing position.

Changing FOV instead of seat position

Use FOV to set the correct visual scale. Use the in-game seat controls to move your camera forward, back, up or down.

Setting up triple screens without checking the angle

Triple screens need more than just three monitors. The side monitor angle, bezel gap, viewing distance and game settings all need to work together.

Expecting correct FOV to feel normal instantly

If you have used a wide FOV for years, correct FOV can feel narrow at first. Give it time. Once your eyes adjust, braking points and corner judgement should feel more consistent.