Distance Between Coordinates Calculator
Calculate the great-circle distance between two points on Earth from their coordinates.
Distance across the globe
The distance between two points on Earth, given by latitude and longitude, is not a straight line but a curve over the planet's surface. This calculates that great-circle distance using the haversine formula, the standard method for distances on a sphere.
Enter two sets of coordinates to find the distance.
Why you can't just use flat geometry
On a flat map you could use the ordinary distance formula, but Earth is a sphere, so the shortest path between two points curves along its surface — the great-circle route, which is why long flights follow arcs that look odd on a flat map but are actually the shortest way. The haversine formula accounts for this curvature to give an accurate surface distance from the coordinates. It assumes a perfect sphere, which introduces a tiny error since Earth is slightly flattened, but for almost all purposes it is accurate. This is the calculation behind the distances in mapping and navigation apps, turning two coordinates into a real-world distance across the curve of the planet.
Common questions
Why not use the flat distance formula for coordinates?
Because Earth is a sphere, so the shortest path curves over its surface — the great-circle route, which the haversine formula calculates correctly.
Why do long flights follow curved paths on a map?
They are following the great-circle route, the actual shortest path over a sphere, which only looks curved because a flat map distorts it.
Is anything uploaded?
No. The calculation happens in your browser.