The great-circle route is the shortest path over the Earth’s surface, which is why long-haul flights appear curved on flat maps.
How to use the Latitude Longitude Distance Calculator
- Latitude 1 — Example: Lahore
- Longitude 1
- Latitude 2 — Example: Karachi
- Longitude 2
Results update as you type, and every field accepts the units shown in its menu.
How it works
The haversine formula handles small and large distances accurately on a spherical Earth of radius 6,371 km.
Inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Latitude 1 | In °. Example: Lahore |
| Longitude 1 | In ° |
| Latitude 2 | In °. Example: Karachi |
| Longitude 2 | In ° |
Example values
How the main result changes when Latitude 1 changes and everything else stays at the example values above:
| Latitude 1 (°) | Distance (km) |
|---|---|
| 15.76 | 1,269.2 |
| 23.64 | 758.1 |
| 31.52 | 1,033 |
| 39.4 | 1,757.3 |
| 47.28 | 2,576.3 |
| 63.04 | 4,280.2 |
Formula
a = sin²(Δφ/2) + cos φ₁ cos φ₂ sin²(Δλ/2)d = 2R × atan2(√a, √(1 − a))Worked example
Inputs — Latitude 1: 31.5204 °; Longitude 1: 74.3587 °; Latitude 2: 24.8607 °; Longitude 2: 67.0011 °.
Results — Distance = 1,033 km; Initial bearing = 226 °.
Frequently asked questions
How accurate is this?
Within about 0.5% because Earth is slightly flattened.
Is road distance the same?
No, roads are longer than the straight great-circle line.
What formula does the Latitude Longitude Distance Calculator use?
a = sin²(Δφ/2) + cos φ₁ cos φ₂ sin²(Δλ/2).