GIS
Distance Calculator (Haversine)
Enter two coordinates to calculate the great-circle distance.
The Distance Calculator estimates the great-circle distance between two latitude and longitude points using the Haversine formula. It provides quick distance results in kilometers, miles, or nautical miles, which is useful for mapping, logistics estimates, and location-based planning without loading a full GIS suite.
Results
Distance values update after calculation.
Distance
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Formula
Haversine (great-circle)
What this tool does
The Distance Calculator estimates the great-circle distance between two latitude and longitude points using the Haversine formula. It provides quick distance results in kilometers, miles, or nautical miles, which is useful for mapping, logistics estimates, and location-based planning without loading a full GIS suite.
When to use this tool
Use it to approximate travel distance, measure the gap between two sites, or sanity-check coordinates from a dataset. It pairs well with Coordinate Converter if your inputs are in DMS or UTM formats. It is also handy for validating a route plan before committing to a mapping workflow.
How it works
The tool treats the Earth as a sphere, converts the coordinate values to radians, and applies the Haversine formula to compute the shortest path along the surface. The result is then converted into the unit you select. This approach provides a fast approximation suitable for most high-level planning tasks.
Example use case
A field team reports coordinates for a proposed site and a nearby hub. You enter both points, select miles, and calculate the distance to estimate a quick drive-time window. If the coordinates come in DMS format, convert them first and then compute the distance with confidence.
Use cases
- Estimate the distance between two store locations.
- Check straight-line distance for drone or route planning.
- Validate coordinate data quality in a dataset.
Notes & limitations
Haversine calculations assume a spherical Earth and do not account for elevation, terrain, or road networks. For precise routing or surveying, use specialized GIS tools. Inputs should be decimal degrees; incorrect hemisphere signs can invert results, so double-check latitude and longitude directions.
The result is a straight-line distance, not a travel route. Actual travel distance can be much longer depending on roads, terrain, or air paths. Use the output as a quick estimate for planning, and follow up with routing software for operational decisions.
When distances are short, rounding can make results appear less precise than expected, so keep extra decimals.
