What is IPD and why is it important for your VR and XR experience?

IPD, or Interpupillary Distance, is the distance between your pupils and plays a crucial role in the use of VR, XR and AR headsets. The correct IPD setting ensures a sharp image, greater comfort and a natural sense of depth. In this blog, you will learn exactly what IPD is, why it is so important, and how you can easily measure your own IPD.

Why is IPD important in VR, XR, and AR?

Sharpness and clarity: Correct IPD positions your eyes in the optical sweet spot of the lens
Less fatigue: Eyes need to compensate less, which prevents headaches and tired eyes
Natural depth perception: Correct stereo display provides a more stable, realistic 3D image
Consistency and comfort: Longer sessions become more comfortable and visual artefacts decrease
Headsets typically offer manual IPD adjustment (steps or continuous) or automatic detection.

Automatic IPD settings are often enabled by eye-tracking. This technique reads your eye position and adjusts the lenses accordingly.

Examples of headsets that support automatic IPD adjustment via eye-tracking include the Meta Quest Pro, the Pico Neo 3 Pro Eye, Pimax crystal light, Pimax crystal Super and the Varjo Aero. These glasses ensure that you always experience optimal sharpness and the best depth of view, without having to measure or adjust manually.

How can you measure your IPD yourself?

Method 1: With a ruler and mirror

1. Stand upright in front of a mirror with a millimetre ruler
2. Hold the ruler just above your eyes, under your eyebrows
3. Look straight ahead and fix your gaze on your own pupil in the mirror
4. Measure the distance from the centre of your left pupil to the centre of your right pupil

You can also take the following steps with the help of another person:

1. Look relaxed straight ahead at a point in the distance
2. Let someone else measure the distance between the centres of your pupils with a millimetre ruler
3. Repeat the measurement a second time to ensure accuracy

Method 2: With a smartphone app

There are various smartphone apps that automatically calculate your IPD using the camera and a reference object (such as a debit card). An example of this is GlassesOn. The app delivers results in a few steps. Follow the instructions in the app and preferably perform the measurement twice for a reliable result.

Tip: Note your IPD value in millimetres and use this when setting up your headset. This way, you can be sure that you always have the optimal image.