Science & Research
Web UtilitiesDistance Between Cities Calculator
Calculate the straight-line distance between any two cities or coordinates using the Haversine formula. Instant results in kilometres, miles, and nautical miles.
Enter Coordinates
APoint A
BPoint B
Distance Results
Kilometers
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Miles
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Nautical Miles
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Distance Reference
Kilometer (km)
SI unit of length. 1 km = 1,000 m. Used worldwide for geographic distances.
Mile (mi)
Imperial unit. 1 mile = 1.60934 km. Common in the US and UK.
Nautical Mile (nm)
1 nm = 1.852 km. Based on one arc-minute of latitude. Standard in aviation and maritime navigation.
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About Distance Between Cities Calculator
How It Works
- Enter the latitude and longitude for two locations
- The tool calculates the great-circle distance using the Haversine formula
- Results are shown in kilometres, miles, and nautical miles instantly
- Use the Load Example button to try New York → London
- All calculations run entirely in your browser — no data is sent to any server
Common Use Cases
- Estimating flight distances between airports or cities
- Planning road trips or international travel
- Calculating shipping or delivery distances
- Academic geography and GIS projects
- Comparing distances between multiple candidate locations
Frequently Asked Questions
What formula does this tool use to calculate distance?
This tool uses the Haversine formula, which calculates the great-circle distance between two points on a sphere given their latitudes and longitudes. It accounts for the curvature of the Earth and gives the shortest surface distance — often called the "as the crow flies" distance.
What is great-circle distance?
Great-circle distance is the shortest path between two points on the surface of a sphere, measured along the surface. Airlines use great-circle routes to minimise fuel consumption on long-haul flights.
How accurate is the Haversine calculation?
The Haversine formula assumes the Earth is a perfect sphere with a radius of 6,371 km. Results may differ by up to 0.5% from more precise geodesic formulas. For most travel-planning and educational purposes the Haversine distance is perfectly sufficient.
How do I find the latitude and longitude of a city?
Right-click the city on Google Maps and select "What's here?" — the coordinates appear at the bottom of the screen. You can also search "<city name> coordinates" in any search engine.
What is the difference between kilometres and nautical miles?
1 kilometre = 1,000 metres. 1 nautical mile = 1,852 metres (approximately 1.852 km). Nautical miles are the standard unit used in aviation and maritime navigation.
What is the valid range for latitude and longitude?
Latitude ranges from -90° (South Pole) to 90° (North Pole). Longitude ranges from -180° to 180°. Negative latitude means south of the equator; negative longitude means west of the Prime Meridian.
Why does the distance differ from what Google Maps shows?
Google Maps typically shows driving distance, which follows roads and is longer than the straight-line distance. This tool computes the straight-line (great-circle) distance only.
Can I calculate the distance between any two coordinates on Earth?
Yes. Enter any valid latitude (−90 to 90) and longitude (−180 to 180) for each point. The tool works for cities, airports, ocean waypoints, or any geographic location.
Is my location or coordinate data stored?
No. All calculations run entirely in your browser using JavaScript. No coordinate data is transmitted to any server or stored anywhere. Your input is completely private.
What is the New York to London example distance?
The great-circle distance from New York City to London is approximately 5,570 km (3,461 miles or 3,008 nautical miles). Click "Load Example" to see this calculation pre-filled.
How is the Earth's radius used in the calculation?
The Haversine formula multiplies the angular separation of two points by the Earth's mean radius. This tool uses 6,371 km (3,958.8 miles, 3,440.065 nautical miles) as the mean radius.