Measure the DualShock 4 first
Connect the DualShock 4 by micro-USB or Bluetooth to any computer or phone and use the measurement above. A healthy DS4 rests within 2%. Right-stick drift between 5 and 10% is the typical complaint after two or three years.
Quick fix: set a deadzone
On the PS4 console there is no system-wide deadzone, so use the game's controller options. On PC, Steam's controller calibration applies a deadzone to every Steam game; DS4Windows also has a per-stick deadzone under the Profiles tab, which applies to any game that sees the virtual Xbox controller.
Permanent fix: recalibrate the DS4 over USB
The calibration page on this site connects to the DS4 over a USB data cable from Chrome or Edge, reads the current center, asks you to release and then rotate the sticks, and writes new center and range values into the controller, using the method from the open-source DualShock Tools project. The new values run as a test until the controller restarts and become permanent when you confirm, replacing the factory calibration. Both CUH-ZCT1 and CUH-ZCT2 revisions are supported. The procedure takes under a minute and fixes drift on the console too. Repeat it when the drift returns; when it returns within weeks, the potentiometer is finished and the module should be replaced.
Frequently asked questions
Can you calibrate a PS4 controller on the console?
No. The PS4 system software has no stick calibration screen. Use a per-game deadzone, or recalibrate the DS4 over USB on this site's calibration page in Chrome or Edge on a computer.
Does DS4 recentering work over Bluetooth?
No, the calibration commands are only accepted over USB. Use a data cable, not a charging-only cable.