# Great Circle Distance Calculator Calculate the shortest distance between two points on Earth using the great circle formula > Canonical page: https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/great-circle-distance - **Category:** Geography - **Keywords:** distance, great circle, haversine, navigation, coordinates, shortest path, geodesic ## Overview The Great Circle Distance Calculator computes the shortest path between two geographic coordinates on Earth using the haversine formula. Input start and end latitudes and longitudes, select your preferred unit, and set decimal precision to get an accurate distance measurement. ## Inputs - **Start Latitude** (number): Enter starting latitude (-90 to 90) - **Start Longitude** (number): Enter starting longitude (-180 to 180) - **End Latitude** (number): Enter destination latitude (-90 to 90) - **End Longitude** (number): Enter destination longitude (-180 to 180) - **Distance Unit** (select) - **Decimal Precision** (number): Number of decimal places ## When to use - When planning air or sea routes to determine the most efficient travel path. - For geographic analysis in logistics, surveying, or mapping applications. - To estimate straight-line distances for navigation or outdoor recreation planning. ## How it works - Enter the latitude and longitude for the starting point, ranging from -90 to 90 and -180 to 180 respectively. - Enter the latitude and longitude for the destination point within the same ranges. - Choose the distance unit: kilometers, miles, nautical miles, or meters. - Set the decimal precision from 0 to 10 places (default is 2), then calculate to receive the great circle distance. ## Use cases - Aviation route planning for pilots to estimate flight distances and fuel requirements. - Maritime navigation for ship captains to calculate sea routes between ports. - Outdoor activity planning, such as hiking or cycling, to gauge trail distances between points. ## Frequently asked questions ### What is the great circle distance? It is the shortest distance between two points on Earth's surface, calculated using the haversine formula for spherical geometry. ### What units are supported? You can select kilometers, miles, nautical miles, or meters for the output distance. ### How accurate is the calculation? Accuracy depends on the input precision; you can set decimal places from 0 to 10, with a default of 2 for balanced detail. ### Can I use this for coordinates on other planets? No, this tool is designed specifically for Earth's coordinates using the standard great circle formula. ### What is the default precision setting? 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