# Sight Pin Gap Calculator

> Estimate bow sight pin spacing for 20 to 60 yards from arrow speed, peep-to-pin distance, and pin height. See gaps in inches and millimeters.

Canonical page: https://archeryprotools.com/calculators/sight-pin-gap-calculator (the interactive calculator runs on that page)

Faster arrows mean tighter pin gaps. Estimate where your 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 yard pins will land, so you can tell whether your pins will fit in the sight housing and where to start before shooting.

## 🎯 Sight Pin Gap Calculator

Enter your values below. Results update as you type.

Measure at full draw. Longer sight extension = larger gaps

Vertical distance from arrow shaft to your top pin

Arrows lose speed to drag. Pick the build closest to yours.

20 to 30 Yard Pin Gap

**How this is calculated:**

Pin offset(d) = Peep-to-pin × (Drop(d) + Pin height) ÷ Distance(d)

Pin gap = Pin offset(d₂) − Pin offset(d₁)

Drop is gravity drop below the launch line, using flight time with speed loss. Arrow drop and sight geometry are approximations; final pin positions always come from shooting.

## 📊 Typical Pin Gaps by Arrow Speed

Estimated with a 32 in peep-to-pin distance, 3.5 in pin height, and a standard hunting arrow.

| Arrow Speed | 20→30 yd | 30→40 yd | 40→50 yd | 50→60 yd |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 240 fps | 0.24 in | 0.27 in | 0.29 in | 0.31 in |
| 270 fps | 0.18 in | 0.21 in | 0.23 in | 0.24 in |
| 300 fps | 0.13 in | 0.16 in | 0.18 in | 0.19 in |
| 330 fps | 0.10 in | 0.13 in | 0.15 in | 0.16 in |

## 🎯 Using These Gaps to Sight In

1. Sight in your 20-yard pin first by shooting groups and moving the whole housing.
2. Set the 30-yard pin at the estimated gap below the 20-yard pin, then shoot and fine-tune.
3. Repeat for 40, 50, and 60 yards. Always confirm each pin with real groups.

### Why pins get farther apart at long range

Arrow drop grows with the square of flight time, and arrows slow down as they fly. Each extra 10 yards adds more drop than the previous 10, so the gap between pins keeps widening. If your 60-yard pin will not fit in the housing, use a longer sight extension only if you are prepared for even larger gaps, or move to a slider sight.

## ❓ Frequently Asked Questions

**How far apart should bow sight pins be?**

For a 280 fps arrow, the 20 to 30 yard gap is around 0.16 in (4 mm), growing to about 0.22 in between 50 and 60 yards. Faster arrows have tighter gaps.

**Why are my pins so close together?**

A fast arrow drops less between distances. That is normal, and fiber pins with smaller diameters help when gaps get tight.

**Does sight extension change pin gaps?**

Yes. Moving the sight farther from your eye makes the gaps proportionally larger. It also makes the pins look smaller relative to the target.

**Can I set pins without shooting?**

You can estimate starting positions, but every bow, arrow, and archer is slightly different. Always confirm each pin with groups at the actual distance.

## 🧮 Related Calculators

Calculator results are planning estimates. Always confirm your setup with chronograph readings and real shooting.