Use Google Maps To Calculate Distance

Enter the latitude and longitude of two points (which you can get from Google Maps) to calculate the distance between them.

Calculation Breakdown

Step	Value	Unit
Initial Lat 1	—	Degrees
Initial Lon 1	—	Degrees
Initial Lat 2	—	Degrees
Initial Lon 2	—	Degrees
Radian Lat 1	—	Radians
Radian Lon 1	—	Radians
Radian Lat 2	—	Radians
Radian Lon 2	—	Radians
Delta Lat	—	Radians
Delta Lon	—	Radians
a	—	Value
c	—	Value
Distance (km)	—	km
Distance (miles)	—	miles

Table showing the inputs and intermediate steps of the Haversine calculation.

What is Calculating Distance Between Coordinates (and its relation to Google Maps)?

Calculating the distance between coordinates involves finding the shortest distance between two points on the Earth’s surface given their latitude and longitude. While you might want to directly use Google Maps to calculate distance between two addresses, this calculator focuses on the underlying principle: calculating distance from geographic coordinates. You can easily obtain these coordinates from Google Maps by right-clicking on a location.

When you ask Google Maps to find the distance between two places, it often calculates driving distance, walking distance, or transit time along established routes. However, it also uses the “as the crow flies” distance, which is the great-circle distance between the coordinates of those places. This calculator computes that great-circle distance using the Haversine formula, assuming the Earth is a perfect sphere. To use Google Maps to calculate distance in this way, you first get the coordinates, then use a tool like this.

Who should use it? Anyone needing the direct, straight-line distance between two points on Earth: geographers, pilots, sailors, developers working with location data, or anyone curious about the distance between two places regardless of roads. If you want to use Google Maps to calculate distance as a straight line, understanding coordinates is key.

Common misconceptions: This calculator provides the great-circle distance (shortest distance on the sphere’s surface), not the driving distance you’d get from Google Maps directions, which follows roads and is usually longer.

Calculating Distance Formula (Haversine) and Mathematical Explanation

The Haversine formula is used to calculate the great-circle distance between two points on a sphere given their longitudes and latitudes. It’s a special case of the law of haversines on the sphere.

The formula is:

a = sin²(Δφ/2) + cos φ₁ ⋅ cos φ₂ ⋅ sin²(Δλ/2)
c = 2 ⋅ atan2( √a, √(1−a) )
d = R ⋅ c

Where:

• φ₁, λ₁ are the latitude and longitude of the first point (in radians)
• φ₂, λ₂ are the latitude and longitude of the second point (in radians)
• Δφ = φ₂ – φ₁
• Δλ = λ₂ – λ₁
• R is the Earth’s mean radius (approximately 6371 km)
• d is the distance between the two points

Step-by-step derivation:

1. Convert latitude and longitude from degrees to radians: radians = degrees × (π/180).
2. Calculate the differences in latitude (Δφ) and longitude (Δλ).
3. Calculate ‘a’ using the formula above.
4. Calculate ‘c’ using the atan2 function.
5. Calculate the final distance ‘d’ by multiplying ‘c’ with the Earth’s radius R.

Variables Table

Variable	Meaning	Unit	Typical Range
φ₁, φ₂	Latitudes of point 1 and 2	Radians	-π/2 to π/2
λ₁, λ₂	Longitudes of point 1 and 2	Radians	-π to π
Δφ, Δλ	Difference in latitude/longitude	Radians	-π to π
R	Earth’s mean radius	km	~6371
d	Great-circle distance	km	0 to ~20000

Practical Examples (Real-World Use Cases)

Example 1: New York to Los Angeles

Let’s say you get coordinates from Google Maps for New York (approx. 40.7128° N, 74.0060° W) and Los Angeles (approx. 34.0522° N, 118.2437° W).

• Input: Lat1=40.7128, Lon1=-74.0060, Lat2=34.0522, Lon2=-118.2437
• Output Distance: Approximately 3936 km (or 2445 miles)

This is the direct “as the crow flies” distance, shorter than any driving route you’d use Google Maps to calculate distance for via roads.

Example 2: London to Paris

Coordinates from Google Maps: London (51.5074° N, 0.1278° W), Paris (48.8566° N, 2.3522° E).

• Input: Lat1=51.5074, Lon1=-0.1278, Lat2=48.8566, Lon2=2.3522
• Output Distance: Approximately 344 km (or 214 miles)

Again, this is the great-circle distance, useful for flight planning or just knowing the direct separation. Trying to use Google Maps to calculate distance by car would yield a longer path.

How to Use This Coordinate Distance Calculator

1. Get Coordinates from Google Maps: Go to Google Maps (maps.google.com). Search for your first location. Right-click on the exact spot on the map, and the latitude and longitude will appear at the top of the context menu (or in a pop-up at the bottom). Click on the coordinates to copy them.
2. Enter Coordinates: Paste or type the latitude and longitude for your first point into the “Latitude of Point 1” and “Longitude of Point 1” fields. Repeat for the second point. Pay attention to the signs (North/East are positive, South/West are negative).
3. View Results: The distance in kilometers and miles, along with intermediate values, will update automatically.
4. Interpret Results: The “Primary Result” shows the great-circle distance. The table and intermediate values give more detail about the calculation. The chart visually compares the distances.
5. Reset/Copy: Use the “Reset” button to clear inputs to default values, or “Copy Results” to copy the main distance and intermediate values to your clipboard.

When you use Google Maps to calculate distance via its direction feature, it uses road networks. This calculator complements that by giving the direct line distance after you find the coordinates using Google Maps.

Key Factors That Affect Distance Calculation Results

• Earth’s Shape: The Haversine formula assumes a perfectly spherical Earth. In reality, the Earth is an oblate spheroid (slightly flattened at the poles), so for very high precision, more complex formulas like Vincenty’s are needed. However, for most purposes, Haversine is very accurate.
• Coordinate Accuracy: The precision of the input latitude and longitude values directly impacts the accuracy of the calculated distance. More decimal places in your coordinates mean higher precision. When you get coordinates from Google Maps, they are usually quite precise.
• Earth’s Radius: The value used for Earth’s mean radius (6371 km) affects the final distance. Different average radii can be used (e.g., equatorial radius, polar radius), slightly changing the result.
• Calculation Method: Using Haversine provides great-circle distance. Other methods might calculate distance over a different surface or along specific paths (like roads, as Google Maps directions do).
• Units: Ensure you are consistent with units (degrees for input, radians within the formula, and km/miles for output).
• Altitude Differences: This calculator does not account for differences in altitude between the two points, only the surface distance on the sphere.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How do I get latitude and longitude from Google Maps?

On a computer, go to Google Maps, search for a place or right-click on the map. The coordinates will appear. On mobile, tap and hold a location to drop a pin, then tap the pin information to see the coordinates.

Is this the same as the driving distance from Google Maps?

No. This calculator gives the “as the crow flies” or great-circle distance, the shortest path on the Earth’s surface. Google Maps driving directions calculate distance along roads, which is almost always longer.

How accurate is the Haversine formula?

It’s very accurate for most purposes, assuming a spherical Earth. The error is typically less than 0.5% compared to more complex methods accounting for the Earth’s ellipsoidal shape.

Why are the results different from other online calculators?

Slight differences can occur due to the value of Earth’s radius used or if the other calculator uses a more complex formula (like Vincenty’s) for an ellipsoidal Earth.

Can I calculate distance between multiple points?

This calculator is for two points at a time. To find the total distance along a path of multiple points, you’d calculate the distance between each consecutive pair of points and sum them up.

Does this account for terrain or elevation?

No, it calculates the distance along the surface of a perfect sphere at sea level and does not consider elevation changes or terrain.

What are radians?

Radians are a unit of angle measure, like degrees. In mathematics and physics, formulas involving angles (like Haversine) often require angles to be in radians. 2π radians = 360 degrees.

Can I use this to use Google Maps to calculate distance for very short distances?

Yes, but for very short distances (a few hundred meters), the spherical model might be less accurate than plane geometry if high precision is needed, though Haversine is generally robust. However, getting highly precise coordinates from Google Maps for very short distances is key.