Qibla Direction Finder
Find the exact direction of the Kaaba in Mecca from anywhere in the world. Compass + bearing in degrees.
Utility
Qibla Direction Finder
Generated on April 25, 2026
Or enter coordinates manually
?What is the Qibla Direction Finder?
The Qibla is the direction Muslims face during prayer — toward the Kaaba in Masjid al-Haram, Mecca. This calculator finds that exact direction from your location using the great-circle initial-bearing formula. Enter your country and get the bearing in degrees clockwise from true north (e.g. 254° from London, 267° from New York, 272° from Karachi). The interactive compass dial visualizes the direction relative to north, east, south, and west, and the calculator also displays the great-circle distance to the Kaaba in kilometres and miles. All math runs locally in your browser — no network call needed once your location is known.
The Formula
This is the standard great-circle initial-bearing (or 'forward azimuth') formula. It computes the direction you would face at the start of the shortest path along Earth's surface to reach the Kaaba. Because Earth is roughly spherical, that bearing changes as you travel — but Muslims face the initial bearing at the moment of prayer. The Kaaba's coordinates (21.4225°N, 39.8262°E) are taken from the Saudi Geological Survey. The result is normalized to 0–360° clockwise from true north. To use it with a magnetic compass you may need to apply a small declination correction (typically ±5°) for your region; for prayer purposes most scholars consider this small offset acceptable.
Qibla Direction Reference Table — Major Cities
Approximate Qibla bearing (degrees clockwise from true north) and great-circle distance to the Kaaba from major cities worldwide.
| City | Country | Qibla bearing | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mecca | Saudi Arabia | 0° | 0 km |
| Riyadh | Saudi Arabia | 246° | 870 km |
| Cairo | Egypt | 136° | 1,310 km |
| Istanbul | Turkey | 151° | 2,800 km |
| Tehran | Iran | 207° | 1,790 km |
| Karachi | Pakistan | 268° | 2,950 km |
| Lahore | Pakistan | 256° | 3,560 km |
| Islamabad | Pakistan | 254° | 3,790 km |
| Dhaka | Bangladesh | 276° | 4,930 km |
| Kuala Lumpur | Malaysia | 292° | 7,470 km |
| London | UK | 119° | 4,750 km |
| New York | USA | 58° | 10,300 km |
| Toronto | Canada | 55° | 9,950 km |
| Sydney | Australia | 277° | 12,070 km |
| Tokyo | Japan | 293° | 8,840 km |
| Cape Town | South Africa | 26° | 7,300 km |
Put It in Perspective
From any point in Saudi Arabia, the Qibla and Mecca are within 1,500 km — a distance comparable to the length of Italy.
Muslims in Hawaii face roughly 333° (north-northwest) — almost the opposite direction from what a flat map would suggest.
From the South Pole, every direction is technically 'north' — including the Qibla — making this calculator essential for the rare Antarctic researcher.
Astronauts on the ISS have used real-time Qibla calculators that account for their ~28,000 km/h orbital motion — the bearing changes every few seconds.
Practical Examples
From Karachi (24.86°N, 67.0°W) the Qibla is approximately 268° — almost due west.
From Lahore (31.55°N, 74.34°E) the Qibla is approximately 256° — west-southwest.
From Islamabad (33.69°N, 73.05°E) the Qibla is approximately 254° — west-southwest.
From London (51.51°N, -0.13°E) the Qibla is approximately 119° — east-southeast.
From New York (40.71°N, -74.0°W) the Qibla is approximately 58° — northeast (the great-circle path goes over the Atlantic and southern Europe).
From Tokyo (35.68°N, 139.69°E) the Qibla is approximately 293° — west-northwest.
From Sydney (-33.87°N, 151.21°E) the Qibla is approximately 277° — almost due west.
Frequently Asked Questions
Popular Conversions
Jump to a ready-made conversion — useful for quick reference and sharing: