Latitude Longitude Distance Calculator
Calculate the distance between two points on Earth using their latitude and longitude coordinates. Uses the Haversine formula for great-circle distance.
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter the latitude and longitude of the first point.
- Enter the latitude and longitude of the second point.
- The calculator displays the distance in kilometers, miles, and nautical miles.
- Use this to find distances between cities, locations, or coordinates.
Haversine Distance Formula
Distance is calculated using the Haversine formula for great-circle distance:
c = 2 × atan2(√a, √(1-a))
Distance = R × c
Where R = Earth radius (6371 km)
Example: New York (40.7°N, 74°W) to Los Angeles (34.1°N, 118.2°W): Distance ≈ 2,445 miles (3,936 km). The calculation accounts for Earth\'s spherical shape, providing accurate great-circle distance.
Full Description
Calculating distance between two points on Earth requires accounting for the planet\'s spherical shape. The Haversine formula calculates great-circle distance—the shortest distance between two points on the surface of a sphere. This is the actual distance you would travel on Earth\'s surface, not a straight line through the planet.
The Haversine formula uses latitude and longitude coordinates to calculate the angular distance between points, then converts this to linear distance using Earth\'s radius. The formula is accurate to within about 0.5% for most distances and assumes Earth is a perfect sphere. For very high precision applications, ellipsoidal models (like WGS84) provide better accuracy, but Haversine is sufficient for most purposes including navigation, mapping, and general distance calculations.
This calculator helps you find distances between any two points on Earth. Enter latitude and longitude coordinates, and it calculates the great-circle distance. Use it to find distances between cities, plan travel routes, understand geographic relationships, or calculate distances for any coordinates. The Haversine formula is the standard method for calculating distances on Earth\'s surface!
Frequently Asked Questions
How is distance between coordinates calculated?
Distance is calculated using the Haversine formula, which accounts for Earth's spherical shape. The formula calculates great-circle distance (shortest distance on Earth's surface) between two points using their latitude and longitude.
What is the Haversine formula?
The Haversine formula calculates great-circle distance: a = sin²(Δlat/2) + cos(lat1) × cos(lat2) × sin²(Δlon/2), c = 2 × atan2(√a, √(1-a)), Distance = R × c. Where R = Earth radius (6371 km). This accounts for Earth's curvature.
How accurate is the calculation?
The Haversine formula is accurate to within ~0.5% for most distances. It assumes Earth is a perfect sphere. For higher precision, use ellipsoidal models (WGS84), but Haversine is sufficient for most applications including navigation and mapping.
What's the difference between great-circle and straight-line distance?
Great-circle distance is the shortest path on Earth's surface (curved). Straight-line distance is through Earth (impossible to travel). For example, New York to London: Great-circle = ~3,459 miles (surface), Straight-line = ~3,459 miles (through Earth, but you can't travel this way). Great-circle is what matters for travel.