Haversine Distance Calculator

The haversine formula calculates the shortest distance between two points on a sphere given their longitudes and latitudes. It assumes Earth is a perfect sphere (radius 6,371 km), which provides results accurate within 0.5% for most distances.

The tool uses OpenStreetMap’s Nominatim service to convert city names into coordinates. Distances are computed with the standard haversine formula, giving great-circle distances accurate to about 0.5% compared to ellipsoidal models (like WGS‑84). For very long routes or precise navigation, specialised GIS software is recommended.

Yes. Click “Enter coordinates manually” below the city input to switch to latitude/longitude fields. Manual coordinates are used automatically when city fields are empty or you’ve switched mode. You can mix modes (city for one location, coordinates for the other).

City search relies on the free Nominatim API, which has usage limits (1 request per second). If a search fails, try a more specific name (e.g., “London, UK”) or switch to manual coordinate entry. The tool caches recent results only during your session.

The main result is displayed in kilometers. Additional equivalents are shown in miles (statute miles) and nautical miles for convenience. Nautical miles are commonly used in aviation and maritime navigation.