Latitude Longitude Distance Calculator
Calculate the great circle distance between two points on Earth using latitude and longitude coordinates
Calculate Distance Between Coordinates
📍 Point A Coordinates
Range: -90° to 90° (North positive, South negative)
Range: -180° to 180° (East positive, West negative)
📍 Point B Coordinates
Range: -90° to 90° (North positive, South negative)
Range: -180° to 180° (East positive, West negative)
Distance Results
Bearing from A to B
0.0° N
Initial compass bearing
Great Circle Distance
Shortest distance on Earth's surface
Using Haversine formula
Formula: d = 2R × sin⁻¹(√[sin²((θ₂ - θ₁)/2) + cosθ₁ × cosθ₂ × sin²((φ₂ - φ₁)/2)])
Where: R = 6,371 km (Earth's radius), θ = latitude, φ = longitude
Quick Examples
Example Calculation
Paris to Krakow Distance
Paris: 48.8566° N, 2.3522° E
Krakow: 50.0647° N, 19.9450° E
Distance: ~1,275.6 km (792.6 miles)
Step-by-step Calculation
1. Convert degrees to radians
2. Apply Haversine formula
3. Calculate arc length using Earth's radius
Result: Great circle distance between points
Coordinate Systems
Latitude
-90° to 90°
Angle from Equator
Longitude
-180° to 180°
Angle from Prime Meridian
Bearing
0° to 360°
Compass direction
Distance Tips
Uses great circle distance (shortest path on Earth)
Accounts for Earth's curvature
Accurate within 0.5% for most applications
Travel distance will typically be longer
Understanding Distance Calculation
What is the Haversine Formula?
The Haversine formula calculates the shortest distance between two points on the surface of a sphere. It's particularly useful for calculating distances between locations on Earth using their latitude and longitude coordinates.
Why Use This Calculator?
- •Calculate exact distances for navigation
- •Plan travel routes and estimate fuel costs
- •Analyze geographic data and patterns
- •Scientific research and mapping applications
Formula Breakdown
d = 2R × sin⁻¹(√[sin²((θ₂ - θ₁)/2) + cosθ₁ × cosθ₂ × sin²((φ₂ - φ₁)/2)])
- d: Distance between points
- R: Earth's radius (6,371 km)
- θ₁, θ₂: Latitude of points 1 and 2
- φ₁, φ₂: Longitude of points 1 and 2
Note: This formula assumes Earth is a perfect sphere. For higher precision applications, consider the ellipsoidal Earth model.
Applications and Use Cases
🗺️ Navigation
GPS systems, marine navigation, aviation flight planning
📊 Data Analysis
Geographic information systems (GIS), spatial analysis
🚚 Logistics
Route optimization, delivery planning, supply chain management