The invention relates to a device for optical distance measurement, particularly to a handheld device, comprising a transmission unit (12) with a light source (17, 18) for emitting optical measurement radiation (13, 20, 22) onto a target object (15), and comprising a receiving unit (14) arranged at a distance from the optical axis (38) of the transmission unit (12) and equipped with at least one optical detector (54) for receiving optical radiation (16, 49, 50) reflected from the target object (15). According to the invention, the detector (54) of the receiving unit (14) comprises a detection surface (66), the optical surface of which has varying optical sensitivity.