The object information acquiring apparatus of the present invention acquires characteristic information in an object by using an acoustic signal output from an acoustic detector including an element for receiving an acoustic wave which has propagated in the object, and includes a receiving area determination unit for obtaining a receiving area of receiving the acoustic wave by using information of a specified acquisition area for the characteristic information specified by a user, configuration information related to accuracy of the characteristic information to be acquired, and receiving condition information on receiving conditions of the acoustic wave, and a scanning control unit for controlling scanning of the acoustic detector by using information of the receiving area obtained by the receiving area determination unit.
