diff --git a/doc/api/python.rst b/doc/api/python.rst
index f4b31ac0..483da1bb 100644
--- a/doc/api/python.rst
+++ b/doc/api/python.rst
@@ -18,6 +18,12 @@ Library interface
 
 .. automodule:: dftd3.interface
 
+.. note::
+
+   For periodic structures, cutoff selection, ATM settings, and unit
+   conversions across the executable, Python API, and ASE calculator are
+   summarized in :doc:`../guide/periodic-cutoffs`.
+
 
 Structure
 ~~~~~~~~~
diff --git a/doc/guide/index.rst b/doc/guide/index.rst
index 54e3066a..e4e0e782 100644
--- a/doc/guide/index.rst
+++ b/doc/guide/index.rst
@@ -6,4 +6,5 @@ This section contains guides on how to use D3 for your applications.
 .. toctree::
 
    minimal-example
+   periodic-cutoffs
    citing
diff --git a/doc/guide/periodic-cutoffs.rst b/doc/guide/periodic-cutoffs.rst
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e571f461
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doc/guide/periodic-cutoffs.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,133 @@
+Real-space cutoffs for periodic calculations
+============================================
+
+For periodic structures D3 sums pair and, optionally, ATM three-body
+contributions over lattice translations in real space. When comparing the
+standalone executable, the Python API, the ASE calculator, or another code
+such as VASP, check these settings first:
+
+* whether the ATM term is enabled,
+* whether the same real-space cutoffs are used,
+* and whether the reported energies are compared in the same unit.
+
+The library defaults are ``disp2 = 60 Bohr``, ``disp3 = 40 Bohr``, and
+``cn = 40 Bohr``.
+
+
+Units and defaults
+------------------
+
++----------------------+----------------------------------------+-----------------------+
+| Interface            | Real-space cutoff input                | Returned energy       |
++======================+========================================+=======================+
+| ``s-dftd3``          | not configurable from the CLI; uses    | Hartree (``Eh``)      |
+|                      | the library defaults above             |                       |
++----------------------+----------------------------------------+-----------------------+
+| ``dftd3.interface``  | Bohr                                   | Hartree               |
++----------------------+----------------------------------------+-----------------------+
+| ``dftd3.ase.DFTD3``  | Angstrom; use ``60 * Bohr`` to pass    | eV, following ASE     |
+|                      | 60 Bohr through ASE                    | conventions           |
++----------------------+----------------------------------------+-----------------------+
+
+The standalone executable treats periodic input formats such as ``POSCAR`` or
+``CONTCAR`` automatically as periodic structures. VASP reports energies in eV,
+so convert the ``s-dftd3`` or Python API energies before comparing them.
+
+
+Standalone executable
+---------------------
+
+The executable uses the default periodic cutoffs. Without ``--atm`` it computes
+the two-body D3 energy; adding ``--atm`` enables the ATM term.
+
+.. code-block:: shell
+
+   s-dftd3 CONTCAR --bj pbe
+   s-dftd3 CONTCAR --bj pbe --atm
+
+If you need to study the cutoff dependence explicitly, use the Python API or
+the ASE calculator below. Those interfaces expose the periodic cutoffs
+directly.
+
+
+Python API
+----------
+
+The low-level Python API expects coordinates, lattice vectors, and cutoffs in
+Bohr and returns the energy in Hartree.
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+   from ase.io import read
+   from ase.units import Bohr, Hartree
+   from dftd3.interface import DispersionModel, RationalDampingParam
+
+   atoms = read("CONTCAR")
+   model = DispersionModel(
+       atoms.numbers,
+       atoms.positions / Bohr,
+       lattice=atoms.cell.array / Bohr,
+       periodic=atoms.pbc,
+   )
+
+   params = {
+       "D3(BJ)": RationalDampingParam(method="PBE", atm=False),
+       "D3(BJ)-ATM": RationalDampingParam(method="PBE", atm=True),
+   }
+
+   for disp2, disp3, cn in [(60.0, 40.0, 40.0), (95.0, 70.0, 70.0)]:
+       model.set_realspace_cutoff(disp2=disp2, disp3=disp3, cn=cn)
+       for label, param in params.items():
+           energy = model.get_dispersion(param=param, grad=False)["energy"]
+           print(
+               label,
+               f"cutoff=({disp2}, {disp3}, {cn}) Bohr",
+               f"{energy:.12f} Eh",
+               f"{energy * Hartree:.8f} eV",
+           )
+
+Using ``atm=False`` reproduces the executable call without ``--atm``. The
+default ``RationalDampingParam(method=\"PBE\")`` uses the ATM-enabled
+parameterization.
+
+
+ASE calculator
+--------------
+
+The ASE calculator expects cutoff values in Angstrom and returns energies in eV.
+To pass the same numerical cutoff as the library defaults, multiply by
+``ase.units.Bohr``.
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+   from ase.io import read
+   from ase.units import Bohr
+   from dftd3.ase import DFTD3
+
+   atoms = read("CONTCAR")
+
+   setups = {
+       "D3(BJ)": {"params_tweaks": {"method": "PBE", "atm": False}},
+       "D3(BJ)-ATM": {"params_tweaks": {"method": "PBE", "atm": True}},
+   }
+
+   cutoffs = [
+       {"disp2": 60 * Bohr, "disp3": 40 * Bohr, "cn": 40 * Bohr},
+       {"disp2": 95 * Bohr, "disp3": 70 * Bohr, "cn": 70 * Bohr},
+   ]
+
+   for label, kwargs in setups.items():
+       for cutoff in cutoffs:
+           atoms.calc = DFTD3(
+               damping="d3bj",
+               realspace_cutoff=cutoff,
+               cache_api=False,
+               **kwargs,
+           )
+           print(label, cutoff, f"{atoms.get_potential_energy():.8f} eV")
+
+``DFTD3(method=\"PBE\", damping=\"d3bj\")`` uses ATM-enabled parameters. To
+match ``s-dftd3 CONTCAR --bj pbe``, request the pairwise-only parameterization
+with ``params_tweaks={\"method\": \"PBE\", \"atm\": False}``.
+If you prefer explicit damping parameters, setting ``s9 = 0.0`` in
+``params_tweaks`` disables the ATM contribution as well.
diff --git a/python/dftd3/ase.py b/python/dftd3/ase.py
index f9b0bd4d..54721470 100644
--- a/python/dftd3/ase.py
+++ b/python/dftd3/ase.py
@@ -78,6 +78,9 @@
 Values provided in the dict are expected to be in Angstrom. When providing values
 in Bohr multiply the inputs by the `ase.units.Bohr` constant.
 
+All returned properties follow ASE conventions: energies are reported in eV,
+forces in eV / Angstrom, and stress in eV / Angstrom^3.
+
 Example
 -------
 >>> from ase.build import molecule
diff --git a/python/dftd3/interface.py b/python/dftd3/interface.py
index 2555f02d..052095c5 100644
--- a/python/dftd3/interface.py
+++ b/python/dftd3/interface.py
@@ -72,6 +72,10 @@ def __init__(
         immutable atomic species and boundary condition, also the total number of
         atoms cannot be changed.
 
+        Cartesian coordinates and lattice vectors are expected in atomic units
+        (Bohr). Periodicity is given as a boolean array for the three lattice
+        directions.
+
         Raises
         ------
         ValueError
@@ -488,12 +492,16 @@ def __init__(
         self._disp = library.new_d3_model(self._mol)
 
     def set_realspace_cutoff(self, disp2: float, disp3: float, cn: float):
-        """Set realspace cutoff for evaluation of interactions"""
+        """Set realspace cutoffs in Bohr for pair, triple, and CN evaluations."""
 
         library.set_model_realspace_cutoff(self._disp, disp2, disp3, cn)
 
     def get_dispersion(self, param: DampingParam, grad: bool) -> dict:
-        """Perform actual evaluation of the dispersion correction"""
+        """Perform actual evaluation of the dispersion correction.
+
+        Returns the dispersion energy in Hartree. If ``grad=True`` the gradient
+        is returned in Hartree / Bohr and the virial in Hartree.
+        """
 
         _energy = np.array(0.0)
         if grad: