A method for range determination for a LIDAR sensor. The method includes: receiving measured values of a LIDAR sensor organized in a point cloud, and each including pieces of directional information and radial distance information relative to the LIDAR sensor and representing a laser beam reflected from the particular direction and at the particular radial distance; assigning the measured values based on the pieces of directional and radial distance information to areas of interest of a field of view; ascertaining a maximum distance range as an area of interest including a maximum radial distance to the LIDAR sensor and a point distribution of measured values of the area of interest, which includes a variance which reaches or exceeds a predetermined limiting value; and providing a value of the radial distance of the maximum distance range to the LIDAR sensor as the maximum range of the LIDAR sensor.