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Flight Distance Calculator

Exact great-circle (Haversine) distance between two airports.

Introduction

Flight Distance Calculator — Exact great-circle (Haversine) distance between two airports. Enter Origin latitude, Origin longitude, Destination latitude, Destination longitude to get an instant, accurate result.

Formula

Haversine great-circle formula: a = sin²(Δlat/2) + cos(lat1)·cos(lat2)·sin²(Δlon/2), c = 2·atan2(√a, √(1−a)), distance = R·c, with R = 6371 km (mean Earth radius). This is the shortest path over a spherical Earth, converted to miles via ×0.621371.

Step-by-step

  1. Enter the Origin latitude.
  2. Enter the Origin longitude.
  3. Enter the Destination latitude.
  4. Enter the Destination longitude.
  5. Click Calculate to see your result instantly.

Real-world example

Example: With Origin latitude = 40.7128, Origin longitude = -74.006, Destination latitude = 51.5074, Destination longitude = -0.1278, the Flight Distance Calculator gives Distance Km: 5570.2222, Distance Mi: 3461.1745.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this the same as the distance a plane actually flies?
It's very close for most routes — commercial flights generally follow close to the great-circle path, though actual routing can deviate for air-traffic corridors, weather, and restricted airspace.
Why isn't this just a straight line on a flat map?
Because the Earth is a sphere, the shortest path between two points curves when drawn on a flat (Mercator-style) map — that curved path is what the Haversine formula calculates.
Where do I find latitude and longitude for a city?
Any mapping service (e.g. searching "[city] coordinates") will give you decimal-degree latitude and longitude to enter here.
What inputs does the Flight Distance Calculator need?
You'll need to provide: Origin latitude, Origin longitude, Destination latitude, Destination longitude. All fields use sensible defaults, so you can see a working example immediately and then adjust the values to match your own numbers.
How accurate is the Flight Distance Calculator?
The Flight Distance Calculator applies the formula exactly as calculated — Haversine great-circle formula: a = sin²(Δlat/2) + cos(lat1)·cos(lat2)·sin²(Δlon/2), c = 2·atan2(√a, √(1−a)), distance = R·c, with R = 6371 km (mean Earth radius). This is the shortest path over a spherical Earth, converted to miles via ×0.621371. — so results are precise for the inputs you provide. Accuracy depends on entering correct, realistic input values.
Is the Flight Distance Calculator free to use?
Yes, the Flight Distance Calculator is completely free, requires no signup, and runs instantly in your browser.

About the Flight Distance Calculator

The Flight Distance Calculator uses a real, verifiable formula — Haversine great-circle formula: a = sin²(Δlat/2) + cos(lat1)·cos(lat2)·sin²(Δlon/2), c = 2·atan2(√a, √(1−a)), distance = R·c, with R = 6371 km (mean Earth radius). This is the shortest path over a spherical Earth, converted to miles via ×0.621371. — so results are accurate every time, not an approximation.