Any IR photo transistor should do.
Lots to choose from:-
To get any decent range you will have to amplify the output and screen the detector from ambient light by using a tube.
You can get ones with built in amplifiers designed for remotes but those have an AGC (Automatic gain control) that masks any distance reading.
The other thing if you want ready built is to us an IR distance sensor and not to wire up the transmitter LED.