Qibla Direction Calculator

Find the initial great-circle direction toward a published Kaaba reference from your latitude and longitude. The answer is an angle clockwise from true geographic north. This coordinate calculation does not access your location, rotate a device compass or establish a surveyed prayer line.

How to use this tool

1. Enter decimal-degree latitude, with south represented by a negative number.
2. Enter decimal-degree longitude, with west represented by a negative number.
3. Read the bearing clockwise from true north, using a correctly oriented map or independently corrected compass.
4. For locations close to the Kaaba, use a locally established direction instead.

Formula

Bearing = atan2[sin(Δλ) cos(φ₂), cos(φ₁) sin(φ₂) − sin(φ₁) cos(φ₂) cos(Δλ)], normalized to 0–360°.

Here φ₁ is your latitude, φ₂ is the reference latitude and Δλ is reference longitude minus your longitude. The reference is 21°25′15.6″ N, 39°49′29.1″ E, as published in the Selangor/JAKIM teaching example. The Earth is modeled as a sphere.

Example

The official Shah Alam example uses 3°05′ N and 101°35′ E. Its reported direction is about 292°34′38.5″ clockwise from north, displayed here as 292.6°. This points west-northwest; it is not a magnetic compass reading.