Your PD (pupillary distance) is the distance between the centers of your pupils, in millimeters. It tells the lab exactly where to place the optical center of each lens. People search "average PD" for two reasons: to check that a number they measured makes sense, or because their prescription doesn't list one. Here's what's normal and what to do.
The average PD
| Group | Typical range | Common average |
|---|---|---|
| Adult women | about 55 to 68 mm | around 62 mm |
| Adult men | about 57 to 72 mm | around 64 mm |
| All adults | 54 to 74 mm | about 62 to 64 mm |
| Kids | about 43 to 58 mm | grows with age |
These are typical ranges, not rules. Plenty of people are perfectly normal outside the averages. If your measured PD is outside 54 to 74 mm, our checkout shows a friendly reminder to measure again, but it never blocks your order.
Don't use the average instead of your own PD
An average is a starting point for checking your measurement, not a substitute for it. A PD that's off by a few millimeters, especially with stronger prescriptions, can cause eye strain or a "pulling" feeling. It only takes two minutes to measure your PD at home.
Single PD vs. dual PD
- Single (binocular) PD: one number, pupil to pupil, like 63.
- Dual (monocular) PD: two numbers, from the center of your nose to each pupil, like 31.5 / 31.5 or 31 / 32. Add them together and you get your single PD.
Most faces aren't perfectly symmetrical, so dual PD is a little more precise, especially for stronger prescriptions. Our checkout accepts either.
Distance PD vs. reading (near) PD
When you look at something close, your eyes turn inward, so your near PD is usually about 3 mm smaller than your distance PD (about 1.5 mm per eye). Use your distance PD for everyday and distance glasses. For single vision reading glasses, our checkout asks whether your PD was already adjusted for reading. If you choose "No," we subtract 3 mm (or 1.5 mm from each side of a dual PD) for you automatically.
What if PD isn't on my prescription?
Many prescriptions don't list PD, because it's often measured during a glasses fitting rather than the eye exam. You have three easy options:
- Call your eye doctor's office and ask if they have it on file.
- Measure it yourself with a mirror and a millimeter ruler. Here's the 2-minute method.
- Ask any optician to measure it. It takes seconds with a pupilometer.
Then at checkout, enter your PD or check "My PD is written on the prescription I'm uploading."
PD for kids
Kids' PD grows as their faces grow, so measure again for every new pair. Kids find it hard to hold still and look into the distance, so a friend-style measurement (an adult reads the ruler) usually works best. See our kids' glasses guide.
Signs your PD might be off
- Eye strain or headaches that don't fade after the first week or two
- A feeling that your eyes are being "pulled" or crossed
- Double vision or blur that gets better when you tilt or slide the glasses
If you notice any of these, measure your PD again and compare it with what you ordered, and check with your eye doctor if symptoms continue.
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