Distance Calculator

What is distance calculator?

The distance calculator measures the shortest path over the surface of the Earth between two points, as a bird or an airplane would fly. It is not the road distance.

Pick two cities from the list, which includes major cities in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia, or choose custom coordinates to use any place.

How to use the distance calculator

1. Choose the start and end city, or choose custom coordinates.
2. If you chose custom, fill in the latitude and longitude boxes.
3. Read the distance in kilometers, miles and nautical miles.

How the distance calculator works

The tool uses the haversine formula on a sphere with a radius of 6,371 km. The flight time assumes an average speed of 850 km per hour without stops.

Worked example

Common uses of the distance calculator

• Estimating flight distances.
• Checking shipping zones.
• Planning trips.
• Geography homework.
• Comparing the distance of two offices.

Tips and common mistakes

Road distance is usually 20 to 40 percent longer than the straight line.

Latitude is north or south and goes from minus 90 to 90. Longitude is east or west and goes from minus 180 to 180.

Background: what to know before you rely on it

The shortest path between two points on a sphere follows a great circle, which is why flights from Europe to North America go far to the north and look curved on a flat map. The haversine formula calculates that distance from latitudes and longitudes and stays accurate even over short distances. A more precise model treats the Earth as a slightly flattened ellipsoid, which changes results by well under one percent. For road trips, use a navigation service, since roads, borders and terrain change the route.

Private, free and fast

This tool runs entirely in your browser. What you type or choose is not uploaded to a server and is not saved after you close the page, which keeps it fast and private. It is free to use as often as you like. See more in all calculators, or browse the full list of tools.

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Results are for information and education. For legal, financial, medical or security decisions, check with a qualified professional. Financial results are estimates and exclude fees and taxes unless the tool says otherwise.