Distance Between Coordinates Calculator (Latitude and Longitude)
Enter two sets of coordinates to get the straight-line distance over the Earth’s surface and the direction to travel.
Your numbers
Your results
Distance Between Coordinates Calculator (Latitude and Longitude) by TheCalcTools
How the Distance Between Coordinates Calculator (Latitude and Longitude) works
The shortest path between two points on a sphere is part of a great circle. The haversine formula gives its length from the two latitudes and the difference in longitude, and stays accurate even for very short distances.
The initial bearing is the compass direction you would set off in from point A. On a great circle the bearing changes along the way (except along the equator or a meridian), so the arrival bearing is usually different.
The Earth is slightly flattened, so the sphere model can differ from precise ellipsoid (WGS-84) distances by up to about 0.5%. That is fine for travel planning but not for surveying.
The formula
Worked example
Using the default values shown in the calculator:
| Point A latitude (north positive) | 51.5072 |
|---|---|
| Point A longitude (east positive) | -0.1276 |
| Point B latitude (north positive) | 48.8566 |
| Point B longitude (east positive) | 2.3522 |
- London (51.5072, −0.1276) to Paris (48.8566, 2.3522): 343.5 km or 213.5 miles.
- Set off on a bearing of 148.1° (South-southeast); the midpoint is at 50.1885, 1.1467.
Result:
| Distance (km) | 343.5 |
|---|---|
| Distance (miles) | 213.5 |
| Distance (nautical miles) | 185.5 |
| Initial bearing from A (degrees from true north) | 148.1 |
| Initial direction | South-southeast |
| Midpoint (latitude, longitude) | 50.1885, 1.1467 |
Frequently asked questions
Is this the driving distance?
No. It is the straight-line (as the crow flies) distance over the Earth’s surface. Roads are usually 20% to 40% longer, and flights add a little for routing.
What format do the coordinates need?
Decimal degrees: north and east are positive, south and west are negative. 40° 26′ 46″ N is 40 + 26/60 + 46/3600 = 40.4461.
Why is the flight from Europe to North America curved on a map?
Flat maps distort the globe. The great-circle route, which is the shortest, looks curved toward the pole on most map projections.
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Haversine formula
- Wikipedia: Great-circle distance
- Movable Type Scripts: Calculate distance, bearing and more between latitude/longitude points
Related calculators
More in Travel · All calculators
This calculator gives estimates for information only. Check important results independently before you rely on them. See our disclaimer.