Panorama Overlap Calculator
A stitched panorama needs frames that overlap enough for the software to match features and blend seams cleanly. The number of frames depends on how wide a sweep you want, how much each frame sees, and how much overlap you allow. This calculator returns the number of frames and the rotation angle between shots from your total panorama angle, single-frame angle of view, and overlap percentage. Use it to set the detents on a panoramic head.
Panorama overlap formula
Step = frame AOV * (1 - overlap / 100)
Frames = ceil( (sweep - frame AOV) / step ) + 1
Coverage = frame AOV + (frames - 1) * step
The first frame covers one full angle of view; each additional frame advances by the step. Rounding the frame count up guarantees the whole sweep is covered with at least the requested overlap.
Worked example
A 180 degree sweep with a 40 degree lens at 30 percent overlap: step = 40 * 0.70 = 28.00 degrees. Frames = ceil((180 - 40) / 28) + 1 = ceil(5) + 1 = 6, so 6 frames. Coverage = 40 + 5 * 28 = 180.00 degrees, exactly covering the sweep.
Panorama overlap: frequently asked questions
How much overlap should panorama frames have?
Stitching software generally works best with about 20 to 40 percent overlap between adjacent frames. Overlap gives the stitcher common features to match and corrects for lens distortion toward the frame edges. This calculator lets you set the overlap and shows how many frames result.
How do I calculate the number of frames for a panorama?
The effective step per frame is the single-frame angle of view times (1 minus the overlap fraction). The number of frames is the total panorama angle divided by that step, rounded up. For a 180 degree sweep with a 40 degree lens at 30 percent overlap, the step is 28 degrees and you need 7 frames.
What rotation angle do I use between shots?
Rotate by the effective step, which is the frame angle of view times (1 minus overlap). This calculator reports that rotation so you can set evenly spaced detents on a panoramic head.
Sources
- NIST: Office of Weights and Measures (angle units).
- The step and frame-count relations follow directly from the geometry of overlapping angular fields; no external figure is required.
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 19 June 2026. See our methodology.