A calibration scheme is used to control PLL bandwidth and contain its spread. In open loop, the VCO control voltage is swept over a range of values and VCO output frequency is measured at each control voltage level. The gain KVCO is determined for each measured output frequency and a corresponding current magnitude for the variable magnitude charge pump is calculated from a ratio of a constant to the gain KVCO and correlated in a look-up table to the measured output frequency. Once calibration is completed, the PLL loop is closed and a calculated current magnitude is fetched from the look-up table based on a desired output frequency for the PLL circuit. The variable magnitude charge pump circuit is then controlled to generate a charge pump current with a magnitude corresponding to the fetched charge pump current magnitude.