Distance between points calculator
Find the 2D Euclidean distance between two points.
What this calculator covers
Use this distance-between-points calculator to find the straight-line distance between two coordinates in a flat 2D plane.
The output keeps dx, dy, and the Pythagorean square-root step visible so the geometry is easy to verify.
Frequently asked questions
- What coordinate system does this calculator use?
- It works on a flat 2D plane using standard Cartesian coordinates. The result is the straight-line Euclidean distance, not a map distance or spherical great-circle distance.
- Can I use negative coordinates?
- Yes. Negative x and y values are fully supported. The distance formula squares the differences, so negative coordinates produce the same result as their positive equivalents would in the same geometric configuration.
- What units is the distance in?
- The result is in the same units as your input coordinates. If you enter values in meters, the distance is in meters; if you enter pixels, the distance is in pixels.
- Can I find the distance between three or more points?
- This tool handles one pair of points at a time. For a path through multiple points, calculate each segment separately and add the distances together.
Tool
Run the calculation
Result
RESULT · DISTANCE
â„–217
Primary result
5 units
Between (1, 2) and (4, 6), the distance is 5 units.
- Delta x
- 3
- Delta y
- 4
- Squared distance
- 25
- Distance
- 5
Step-by-step solution
- 1.Compute the horizontal change: 4 - 1 = 3.
- 2.Compute the vertical change: 6 - 2 = 4.
- 3.Apply the distance formula sqrt(dx^2 + dy^2) = sqrt(25) = 5.
Walkthrough
Visual walkthrough
Distance between two points is a Pythagorean calculation built from the horizontal and vertical changes.
01
Measure the horizontal change
dx = 3
The x-difference is one leg of the right triangle between the points.
02
Measure the vertical change
dy = 4
The y-difference is the other leg of that right triangle.
03
Take the square root of the leg sum
Adding the squared legs and taking the square root gives the straight-line distance.
5 units