Distance Sensor Comparison Guide
Lidar or Ultrasonic? VCSEL or LED? When it comes to distance or proximity sensing, you have a lot of options.
So which one is the best suited for your next project? Use this handy guide to find out!
LED
Benefits
Inexpensive, small footprint, decent update rate, multiple interface options
Drawbacks
Current consumption a bit high, maximum range fairly low
LIDAR
Benefits
Excellent max range, very fast update rate
Drawbacks
High current draw, expensive, large footprint
Ultrasonic
Benefits
Very low current draw, multiple interface options
Drawbacks
Low resolution, slow refresh rate
VCSEL
Benefits
Super small minimum range, wide input voltage range, very fine resolution, inexpensive
Drawbacks
Very low maximum range, I2C interface only
TFMini Plus - Micro LiDAR Module
Technology
LED
Minimum Range (m)
0.1
Maximum Range (m)
12
Resolution (mm)
5
Accuracy
±5cm @ 0.1m-6m, ±1% @ 6m-12m
Typical Update Rate (Hz)
1Hz-1000Hz (Adjustable)
Wavelength (Light) (nm)
850
Frequency (Sound) (kHz)
—
Minimum Field of View (deg)
3.6
Input Voltage
5 V
Max Continuous Current Consumption (mA)
500
Interfaces
UART & I2C
TF03 Long-Distance LiDAR Module
Technology
LED
Minimum Range (m)
50
Maximum Range (m)
180 (Default)
Resolution (mm)
10
Accuracy
±10cm (less than 10m), 1% (more than 10m)
Typical Update Rate (Hz)
1Hz-1000Hz (Adjustable), Default 100Hz
Wavelength (Light) (nm)
905
Frequency (Sound) (kHz)
—
Minimum Field of View (deg)
0.5
Input Voltage
5 V
Max Continuous Current Consumption (mA)
≤ 180
Interfaces
UART
TFMini - Micro LiDAR Module (Qwiic)
Technology
LED
Minimum Range (m)
0.30
Maximum Range (m)
12
Resolution (mm)
5
Accuracy
± 5mm
Typical Update Rate (Hz)
100
Wavelength (Light) (nm)
850 nm
Frequency (Sound) (kHz)
—
Minimum Field of View (deg)
2
Input Voltage
5 V
Max Continuous Current Consumption (mA)
24.0
Interfaces
I2C
LIDAR-Lite v3
Technology
LIDAR
Minimum Range (m)
0.30
Maximum Range (m)
40
Resolution (mm)
10
Accuracy
± 1%
Typical Update Rate (Hz)
270
Wavelength (Light) (nm)
905 nm
Frequency (Sound) (kHz)
—
Minimum Field of View (deg)
—
Input Voltage
4.75 — 5.5 V
Max Continuous Current Consumption (mA)
135.0
Interfaces
I2C, PWM
LIDAR-Lite v3HP
Technology
LIDAR
Minimum Range (m)
0.30
Maximum Range (m)
40
Resolution (mm)
10
Accuracy
± 1%
Typical Update Rate (Hz)
1000
Wavelength (Light) (nm)
905 nm
Frequency (Sound) (kHz)
—
Minimum Field of View (deg)
—
Input Voltage
4.75 — 5.5 V
Max Continuous Current Consumption (mA)
85.0
Interfaces
I2C, PWM
LIDAR-Lite v4
Technology
LED
Minimum Range (m)
0.05
Maximum Range (m)
10
Resolution (mm)
10
Accuracy
± 1 cm to 2 meters
Typical Update Rate (Hz)
200
Wavelength (Light) (nm)
940 nm
Frequency (Sound) (kHz)
—
Minimum Field of View (deg)
—
Input Voltage
4.75 — 5.25 V
Max Continuous Current Consumption (mA)
85.0
Interfaces
I2C, ANT, SPI
Infrared Proximity Sensor - Sharp GP2Y0A21YK
Technology
LED
Minimum Range (m)
0.10
Maximum Range (m)
0.80
Resolution (mm)
—
Accuracy
+/- 1%
Typical Update Rate (Hz)
26
Wavelength (Light) (nm)
850 nm
Frequency (Sound) (kHz)
—
Minimum Field of View (deg)
—
Input Voltage
4.5 - 5.5 V
Max Continuous Current Consumption (mA)
30.0
Interfaces
Analog
Infrared Proximity Sensor Long Range - Sharp GP2Y0A02YK0F
Technology
LED
Minimum Range (m)
0.10
Maximum Range (m)
1.50
Resolution (mm)
—
Accuracy
± ~1%
Typical Update Rate (Hz)
26
Wavelength (Light) (nm)
850 nm
Frequency (Sound) (kHz)
-
Minimum Field of View (deg)
-
Input Voltage
4.5 - 5.5 V
Max Continuous Current Consumption (mA)
33.0
Interfaces
Analog
Infrared Proximity Sensor Short Range - Sharp GP2Y0A41SK0F
Technology
LED
Minimum Range (m)
0.04
Maximum Range (m)
0.30
Resolution (mm)
—
Accuracy
± ~1%
Typical Update Rate (Hz)
60
Wavelength (Light) (nm)
870 nm
Frequency (Sound) (kHz)
—
Minimum Field of View (deg)
—
Input Voltage
4.5 - 5.5 V
Max Continuous Current Consumption (mA)
30.0
Interfaces
Analog
Ultrasonic Range Finder - HRLV-MaxSonar-EZ1
Technology
Ultrasonic
Minimum Range (m)
0.30
Maximum Range (m)
5.00
Resolution (mm)
1
Accuracy
± 1%
Typical Update Rate (Hz)
10
Wavelength (Light) (nm)
—
Frequency (Sound) (kHz)
42 kHz
Minimum Field of View (deg)
40
Input Voltage
2.5 — 5.5 V
Max Continuous Current Consumption (mA)
3.1
Interfaces
Serial, PWM, Analog
Ultrasonic Range Finder - HRLV-MaxSonar-EZ4
Technology
Ultrasonic
Minimum Range (m)
0.30
Maximum Range (m)
5.00
Resolution (mm)
1
Accuracy
± 1%
Typical Update Rate (Hz)
10
Wavelength (Light) (nm)
—
Frequency (Sound) (kHz)
42 kHz
Minimum Field of View (deg)
40
Input Voltage
2.5 — 5.5 V
Max Continuous Current Consumption (mA)
3.1
Interfaces
Serial, PWM, Analog
Ultrasonic Range Finder - HRXL-MaxSonar-WR
Technology
Ultrasonic
Minimum Range (m)
0.30
Maximum Range (m)
5.00
Resolution (mm)
1
Accuracy
± 1%
Typical Update Rate (Hz)
8
Wavelength (Light) (nm)
—
Frequency (Sound) (kHz)
42 kHz
Minimum Field of View (deg)
20
Input Voltage
3 — 5.5 V
Max Continuous Current Consumption (mA)
3.4
Interfaces
Serial, PWM, Analog
Ultrasonic Range Finder - LV-MaxSonar-EZ
Technology
Ultrasonic
Minimum Range (m)
0.15
Maximum Range (m)
6.50
Resolution (mm)
25
Accuracy
± 1%
Typical Update Rate (Hz)
20
Wavelength (Light) (nm)
—
Frequency (Sound) (kHz)
42 kHz
Minimum Field of View (deg)
60
Input Voltage
2.5 — 5.5 V
Max Continuous Current Consumption (mA)
2.0
Interfaces
Serial, PWM, Analog
Ultrasonic Range Finder - LV-MaxSonar-EZ1
Technology
Ultrasonic
Minimum Range (m)
0.15
Maximum Range (m)
6.50
Resolution (mm)
25
Accuracy
± 1%
Typical Update Rate (Hz)
20
Wavelength (Light) (nm)
—
Frequency (Sound) (kHz)
42 kHz
Minimum Field of View (deg)
40
Input Voltage
2.5 — 5.5 V
Max Continuous Current Consumption (mA)
2.0
Interfaces
Serial, PWM, Analog
Ultrasonic Range Finder - LV-MaxSonar-EZ2
Technology
Ultrasonic
Minimum Range (m)
0.15
Maximum Range (m)
6.50
Resolution (mm)
25
Accuracy
± 1%
Typical Update Rate (Hz)
20
Wavelength (Light) (nm)
—
Frequency (Sound) (kHz)
42 kHz
Minimum Field of View (deg)
40
Input Voltage
2.5 — 5.5 V
Max Continuous Current Consumption (mA)
2.0
Interfaces
Serial, PWM, Analog
Ultrasonic Range Finder - LV-MaxSonar-EZ3
Technology
Ultrasonic
Minimum Range (m)
0.15
Maximum Range (m)
6.50
Resolution (mm)
25
Accuracy
± 1%
Typical Update Rate (Hz)
20
Wavelength (Light) (nm)
—
Frequency (Sound) (kHz)
42 kHz
Minimum Field of View (deg)
40
Input Voltage
2.5 — 5.5 V
Max Continuous Current Consumption (mA)
2.0
Interfaces
Serial, PWM, Analog
Ultrasonic Range Finder - LV-MaxSonar-EZ4
Technology
Ultrasonic
Minimum Range (m)
0.15
Maximum Range (m)
6.50
Resolution (mm)
25
Accuracy
± 1%
Typical Update Rate (Hz)
20
Wavelength (Light) (nm)
—
Frequency (Sound) (kHz)
42 kHz
Minimum Field of View (deg)
40
Input Voltage
2.5 — 5.5 V
Max Continuous Current Consumption (mA)
2.0
Interfaces
Serial, PWM, Analog
Ultrasonic Range Finder - XL-MaxSonar-EZ0
Technology
Ultrasonic
Minimum Range (m)
0.20
Maximum Range (m)
7.60
Resolution (mm)
10
Accuracy
± 1%
Typical Update Rate (Hz)
10
Wavelength (Light) (nm)
—
Frequency (Sound) (kHz)
42 kHz
Minimum Field of View (deg)
50
Input Voltage
3 — 5.5 V
Max Continuous Current Consumption (mA)
3.4
Interfaces
Serial, PWM, Analog
Ultrasonic Range Finder - XL-MaxSonar-EZ3
Technology
Ultrasonic
Minimum Range (m)
0.20
Maximum Range (m)
7.60
Resolution (mm)
10
Accuracy
± 1%
Typical Update Rate (Hz)
10
Wavelength (Light) (nm)
—
Frequency (Sound) (kHz)
42 kHz
Minimum Field of View (deg)
50
Input Voltage
3 — 5.5 V
Max Continuous Current Consumption (mA)
3.4
Interfaces
Serial, PWM, Analog
SparkFun Qwiic Ultrasonic Distance Sensor - HC-SR04
Technology
Ultrasonic
Minimum Range (m)
0.02
Maximum Range (m)
4.00
Resolution (mm)
3
Accuracy
± 3mm
Typical Update Rate (Hz)
40
Wavelength (Light) (nm)
—
Frequency (Sound) (kHz)
40 kHz
Minimum Field of View (deg)
15
Input Voltage
3.3v
Max Continuous Current Consumption (mA)
15.0
Interfaces
I2C, PWM
Ultrasonic Sensor - HC-SR04
Technology
Ultrasonic
Minimum Range (m)
0.02
Maximum Range (m)
4.00
Resolution (mm)
3
Accuracy
± 3mm
Typical Update Rate (Hz)
40
Wavelength (Light) (nm)
—
Frequency (Sound) (kHz)
40 kHz
Minimum Field of View (deg)
15
Input Voltage
5 V
Max Continuous Current Consumption (mA)
15.0
Interfaces
PWM
Distance Sensor Breakout - 4 meter, VL53L1X
Technology
VCSEL
Minimum Range (m)
0.04
Maximum Range (m)
4.00
Resolution (mm)
1
Accuracy
± 1%
Typical Update Rate (Hz)
50
Wavelength (Light) (nm)
940 nm
Frequency (Sound) (kHz)
—
Minimum Field of View (deg)
15
Input Voltage
2.6 — 3.5 V
Max Continuous Current Consumption (mA)
18.0
Interfaces
I2C
SparkFun Proximity Sensor Breakout - 20cm, VCNL4040 (Qwiic)
Technology
VCSEL
Minimum Range (m)
0
Maximum Range (m)
0.2
Resolution (mm)
-
Accuracy
-
Typical Update Rate (Hz)
-
Wavelength (Light) (nm)
550nm ALS / 940nm PS
Frequency (Sound) (kHz)
—
Minimum Field of View (deg)
90deg
Input Voltage
2.5V - 3.6V
Max Continuous Current Consumption (mA)
300mA
Interfaces
I2C
ToF Range Finder Breakout - VL6180
Technology
VCSEL
Minimum Range (m)
0.01
Maximum Range (m)
0.10
Resolution (mm)
1
Accuracy
± 5mm
Typical Update Rate (Hz)
10
Wavelength (Light) (nm)
850 nm
Frequency (Sound) (kHz)
—
Minimum Field of View (deg)
25
Input Voltage
2.8 — 12 V
Max Continuous Current Consumption (mA)
4.0
Interfaces
I2C
ToF Range Finder Sensor - VL6180
Technology
VCSEL
Minimum Range (m)
0.01
Maximum Range (m)
0.10
Resolution (mm)
1
Accuracy
± 5mm
Typical Update Rate (Hz)
10
Wavelength (Light) (nm)
850 nm
Frequency (Sound) (kHz)
—
Minimum Field of View (deg)
25
Input Voltage
2.8 — 12 V
Max Continuous Current Consumption (mA)
4.0
Interfaces
I2C