Better Render Distance
by Warma
Better Render Distance changes the render distance shape from a rounded rectangle to a true sphere, and adds an automatic vertical scale setting for Fabric clients.
What it does
Minecraft's render distance follows a rounded rectangle rather than a true cylinder. This mod reshapes the loaded area so it follows a circular outline, and it culls chunk sections and entities on the diagonals that the default shape still draws.
The mod works in three parts. It adds an Auto Vertical Scale setting with Performance, Balanced and Quality presets, each of which adjusts vertical scale to match the current render distance. When Auto is on, the manual vertical scale slider is disabled. Better Render Distance requires Fabric API, and Sodium is optional.
Only the client needs the mod, so servers run without it and players join without installing anything. It is published for Fabric only, with files for 1.21 – 26.3 (17 release versions). The mod is not open source and is released under All rights reserved. The author is looking at porting it to older Minecraft versions.
Key features
Spherical render distance
Chunks are culled so the loaded area forms a sphere instead of a rounded rectangle, cutting diagonal sections that are out of view.
Diagonal entity culling
Entities in the corners of the render area are culled alongside the chunk sections, reducing the work the client does each frame.
Auto Vertical Scale
A setting with Performance, Balanced and Quality presets adjusts vertical scale automatically as render distance changes.
Manual slider lock
The manual vertical scale slider is disabled while Auto is enabled, so the two settings never conflict.
Gallery
Compatibility
Latest build for each game version and loader.
26.x5 of 5 versions with builds
1.21.x12 of 12 versions with builds
Only full game releases are shown. This mod publishes no snapshot builds.
Requirements
Dependencies declared by the latest file for each loader.
Required 1
Optional 1
How it compares
Far Block Entity Rendering is client-side only and uses a custom license, so it is not open source, with files for 1.21.10 – 26.3. Culler is client-side only and open source under the MIT License, covering 1.21.1 – 1.21.10. Bobby Share is open source under the GNU General Public License v3.0 or later and works on either side, with files for 1.20.1 – 26.2.
| Mod | Loaders | Game versions | Environment | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Better Render Distance | Fabric | 1.21 – 26.3 | Client-side only | 2026-09-17 |
| Far Block Entity Rendering | Fabric | 1.21.10 – 26.3 | Client-side only | 2026-09-19 |
| Culler | Fabric | 1.21.1 – 1.21.10 | Client-side only | 2025-11-23 |
| Bobby Share | Fabric | 1.20.1 – 26.2 | Client or server, optional | 2026-09-04 |
Questions
Does Better Render Distance need Fabric API?
Do servers need Better Render Distance installed?
Does Sodium work with Better Render Distance?
In the catalog
Better Render Distance is one of 3,545 Optimization mods on ModsFinder, and one of 2,575 Optimization mods for Fabric. 8,071 mods support Minecraft 26.3.
More from Warma
Similar mods
What the author says
Minecraft's render distance was changed from a cube to a cylindrical shape back in 1.18. The problem is that this shape isn't actually a cylinder but rather a rounded rectangle. This mod optimizes this. This mod makes three optimizations to improve upon this.
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/better-render-distance
- Owner
- Warma
- Published
- 2026-01-26
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2026-09-17
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15