Distance Calculator Between Two Points
Distance Calculator
2D Distance Calculator
Use this calculator to find the distance between two points on a 2D coordinate plane.
3D Distance Calculator
Use this calculator to find the distance between two points on a 3D coordinate space.
Distance Based on Latitude and Longitude
Use this calculator to find the shortest distance (great circle/air distance) between two points on the Earth's surface.
The distance calculator converts between length units, calculates travel distance from speed and time, or computes straight-line (as-the-crow-flies) distance between coordinates. Whether you need meters to feet, miles to kilometers, or travel distance estimates, this calculator handles it all.
Distance Unit Conversions
| From | To Miles | To Kilometers | To Meters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 mile | 1 | 1.609 | 1,609 |
| 1 kilometer | 0.621 | 1 | 1,000 |
| 1 meter | 0.000621 | 0.001 | 1 |
| 1 foot | 0.000189 | 0.000305 | 0.305 |
| 1 nautical mile | 1.151 | 1.852 | 1,852 |
Straight-Line vs Driving Distance
Straight-line distance (Haversine formula) gives the shortest path on the Earth's surface between two points. Driving distance accounts for roads, detours, and geography and is almost always longer. For a straight freeway drive across flat terrain, driving distance may be close to straight-line. In mountainous or urban areas, the difference can be significant.
Haversine formula for straight-line distance: d = 2r × arcsin(√(sin²(Δlat/2) + cos(lat1) × cos(lat2) × sin²(Δlon/2))) Where r = Earth's radius (6,371 km)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many miles is 5 kilometers?⌄
5 kilometers = 3.107 miles. The quick approximation: multiply km by 0.62 to get miles. A 5K race is approximately 3.1 miles. A 10K race is approximately 6.2 miles. A marathon (42.195 km) is 26.22 miles.
What is a nautical mile?⌄
A nautical mile is 1.852 kilometers (1.151 statute miles) and is defined as one minute of arc along any meridian of the Earth. It is used in maritime and aviation navigation because one nautical mile corresponds to one minute of latitude, making position-based navigation calculations simpler.
How do I measure the straight-line distance between two cities?⌄
Use latitude and longitude coordinates of both cities with the Haversine formula (built into this calculator). Alternatively, many mapping applications show straight-line (as-the-crow-flies) distance alongside driving distance. The straight-line distance represents the minimum possible travel distance, which actual routes always exceed.
How far can you see to the horizon?⌄
The horizon distance depends on your height above the ground. The formula is d = √(2Rh) where R is Earth's radius (6,371 km) and h is your eye height in km. At 2 meters height, you can see approximately 5 km (3 miles) to the horizon. From a 10-story building at ~30m, about 20 km.