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Home » Products » Research & Scientific Instruments » Chin Rest

Tobii Chin Rest — A still head when a fraction of a degree matters

A Tobii accessory for the Tobii Pro Spectrum and Tobii Pro Fusion eye trackers. The participant rests their chin and forehead, so they stay in the same position and at the same distance from the screen throughout the study. Useful wherever even a small head movement blurs the result: in microsaccade, antisaccade and reading studies.

Request a quote Why a chin rest

Spectrum and Fusionthe eye trackers it works with

forehead + chintwo support points, tool-free adjustment

tabletop ≤ 50 mmclamp mounting on the table edge

approx. 3.6 kgaluminum, delivered fully assembled

Study participant with her head resting in the Tobii chin rest — chin in the cup, forehead against the upper rest, hands on the table

The same head position
from calibration to the last trial

Why a chin rest

Less head movement, less noise in the signal

A screen-based eye tracker photographs the eyes in infrared light and uses each image to calculate where on the screen the participant is looking. Tobii Pro Spectrum and Tobii Pro Fusion allow free head movement while doing so — in most studies a chin rest is not needed.

There are, however, studies in which we are interested in eye movements smaller than a fraction of a degree. Then every shift of the head is an additional variable that has to be separated from the eye movement. The chin rest removes it: the chin and forehead are supported, so the eye stays in the same place in front of the camera.

Accuracyhow far — on average — the measured gaze point lies from the spot the participant is actually looking at.

Precisionhow much consecutive samples “jitter” when the participant keeps looking at the same point.

With chin rest Tobii Pro Spectrum

accuracy (median): 0.30°
precision (RMS): 0.06°

Without chin rest Tobii Pro Spectrum

accuracy (median): 0.43°
precision (RMS): 0.08°

Cross — the point the participant is looking at. Dots — consecutive samples; dashed circle — median accuracy. Precision for the raw signal. Illustrative graphic on the scale of Tobii data: with the chin rest, 20 participants were measured under optimal conditions; without it, more than 400 participants with unrestricted head movement.

Applications according to Tobii

A fixed distance from the screen means a fixed visual angle

Researchers design stimuli in degrees of visual angle, not in centimeters. The same text looks larger to the eye when the participant leans in, and smaller when they lean back. The chin rest holds the distance, so you calculate the angular size once — for the whole study and all participants.

Participant with his head in the Tobii chin rest reading text on a monitor with a Tobii Pro Spectrum eye tracker — side view

Microsaccades

Even when we look at a single point, the eye still makes small, involuntary jumps — microsaccades. They are so small that head movement can easily mask them. Tobii designed the chin rest with exactly these studies in mind; it works best with Tobii Pro Spectrum, which samples up to 1200 times per second.

Antisaccades

The participant has to look in the direction opposite to an appearing stimulus. The stimulus is placed at a precisely defined angular distance from the center — and that depends on the distance between the eye and the screen. The chin rest removes this variable and makes it easier to calculate stimulus positions on the monitor.

Reading

In reading studies, what matters is how many letters fit within one degree of visual angle. With the chin rest, this span is the same for all participants and throughout the whole recording — so the results can be compared.

Eye-to-screen distance 65 cm

0.35°a letter 4 mm high

8.7°a stimulus 10 cm from the screen center

Move the slider: this is how much the angular size changes when a participant without a chin rest leans in or back. The 55–75 cm range is the operating distance of Tobii Pro Spectrum. Geometric calculation, not manufacturer data.

Applications: tobii.com (Chin Rest) and the Tobii Pro Chin Rest user manual.

Compatibility

For two Tobii screen-based eye trackers

The chin rest stands on the table in front of the monitor and has no cable connection to the eye tracker — the eye tracker still measures gaze. Tobii lists it as an accessory for two models.

Up to 1200 Hz

Tobii Pro Spectrum

A screen-based eye tracker for studies from fixations to microsaccades. With the chin rest it reaches the “head supported” performance from the manufacturer’s data sheet.

Tobii Pro Spectrum page →

Up to 250 Hz

Tobii Pro Fusion

A portable eye tracker for studies from fixations to saccades, also outside the lab. The chin rest is useful when a study requires a fixed distance from the screen.

Tobii Pro Fusion page →

Without chin rest

Tobii Pro Spark

Spark is designed for studies with natural head movement — without a chin rest or rigid participant positioning. Tobii does not list this accessory for it.

Tobii Pro Spark page →

You prepare the study in Tobii Pro Lab — design the stimuli, record the participants and calculate eye movement metrics there.

Tobii Pro Lab →

Compatibility according to the accessories table on tobii.com, as of 2026-10.

Design and setup

Fitted to the participant in a minute, without tools

Forehead restTilted at 10° so the forehead rests comfortably. It slides vertically along the full length of the posts.
Chin cupOn the chin rest; with the knob underneath you move it ±5 mm forward and back — for different chin and head shapes.
KnobsYou set the height of both rests by hand, without tools. Tighten the side knobs on both sides at the same time.
Aluminum postsTwo vertical posts made of black anodized aluminum. Carry the chin rest only by the posts or the base.
Base with clampThe clamp fixes the chin rest to a tabletop up to 50 mm thick. Rubber feet protect the table; removing them reduces tilting when the participant leans forward.

Setting up the station

Mount it on the table edgeIn front of the monitor and the eye tracker. The chin rest arrives fully assembled.
Seat the participantA height-adjustable chair and table make it easier to bring the eyes level with the eye tracker.
Adjust the restsChin in the cup, forehead against the rest — comfortably, because the participant stays in this position for the whole study.

According to the Tobii Pro Chin Rest user manual (v1.0). Between sessions, wipe the parts with ethanol or isopropyl alcohol — cleaning wipes are included.

Why Interlab

The chin rest is part of a station. We will help you put it together

The chin rest alone changes little if the table flexes, the monitor stands too far away and the procedure does not provide for a fixed distance. We select the whole station for your study and train your team to position participants.

Book a demo Request a quote

Methodological adviceWhether your study needs a chin rest — and when it is better to allow natural head movement.
Complete stationTobii eye tracker, chin rest, monitor and Tobii Pro Lab matched to each other, in one offer.
Demo in our labTry the chin rest with Spectrum or Fusion in our Tobii + BIOPAC laboratory.
Installation and trainingStation setup, participant positioning and calibration — on site, at your facility.
Authorized Tobii partnerThe official sales and support channel for Tobii hardware and accessories.
Grants and tendersTechnical descriptions and justifications for grant applications and tender specifications.

Specifications

Chin rest specifications

According to the Tobii Pro Chin Rest user manual and the manufacturer’s website.

Tobii chin rest from the front: two posts, forehead rest, chin rest with cup, base with clamp

Tobii chin rest specifications
Parameter	Value
Product
Manufacturer	Tobii (Tobii Pro AB) — original Tobii accessory, called “Chin Rest” in the manufacturer’s materials
Compatibility	Tobii Pro Spectrum, Tobii Pro Fusion
Applications according to the manufacturer	microsaccade and antisaccade studies, reading studies, other experiments that require a fixed head position
Participants	adultschildren only under adult supervision; for indoor research use only, not a medical device
Design
Components	forehead rest and chin rest with cup between two vertical posts; base with clamp
Materials	rests — easy-to-disinfect plastic; posts and base — black anodized aluminum; clamp and adjustment screws — steel
Weight	approx. 3.6 kg
Adjustment and mounting
Rest height	forehead and chin rests slide vertically along the full length of the posts
Chin cup	±5 mm forward–back, with a knob under the cup
Forehead rest	10° tilt
Mounting	clamp for tabletops up to 50 mm thick; removable rubber feet
Tools	not needed for mounting or adjustment
Package and maintenance
Included	chin rest (assembled), cleaning wipes, Safety and Get Started Guide
Cleaning	ethanol, isopropyl alcohol or a mild detergent on a soft, damp cloth
Storage	in a dry place, relative humidity 10–60%, temperature 0–40 °C

Source: tobii.com (Chin Rest, accessories table) and Tobii Pro Chin Rest User Manual v1.0, as of 2026-10.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a chin rest for Tobii Pro Spectrum?

Not always. Spectrum tracks the eyes with free head movement — at a distance of 65 cm within an area of 34 × 26 cm. A chin rest makes sense when you study very small eye movements (microsaccades) or need a fixed visual angle of the stimuli, as in antisaccade and reading studies. We will help you assess this for your protocol.

Does the chin rest work with Tobii Pro Spark?

Tobii does not list it as an accessory for Spark. Spark is designed for studies with natural head movement, without a chin rest or rigid participant positioning. If you need a chin rest, consider Tobii Pro Fusion or Tobii Pro Spectrum.

Can I study children?

The manufacturer designs the chin rest for adult participants. Young children may use it only under adult supervision. In studies with children, an eye tracker that tolerates head movement usually works better, e.g. Tobii Pro Fusion without a chin rest.

How do I attach the chin rest to the table?

With the clamp in the base, on the table edge in front of the monitor — the tabletop can be up to 50 mm thick. No tools are needed. For maximum stability, use a rigid tabletop and remove the rubber feet from the base.

How do I keep it hygienic between participants?

All parts can be wiped between sessions with ethanol, isopropyl alcohol or a mild detergent on a soft, damp cloth. Cleaning wipes are included.

Can I buy the chin rest for an eye tracker I already own?

Yes — it is a separate accessory. If you have Tobii Pro Spectrum or Tobii Pro Fusion, write to us and we will prepare an offer and advise you on how to set up the station.