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Easting/Northing Distance Calculator

Calculate the planar grid distance between two easting/northing survey points with Pythagoras.

100% FreeRuns in your browserIntermediate
How to use this calculator

Inputs

Grid distance and bearing between projected coordinates — two points, or a consecutive list with per-leg and cumulative distances.

Point 1
Point 2
More options

Only if you have a defined grid-to-ground factor; ground = grid ÷ k is shown separately.

Enter the values and press Calculate.

Or load an example to see a worked result.

Grid-distance triangle
Illustrative
Grid-distance trianglePlan view with grid north up: point 1, point 2, the ΔE and ΔN legs, the grid distance and the bearing arc from north.N12ΔE = 300ΔN = 400d = 50036.8699°
Easting and northing differences are the legs of a right triangle; the grid distance is its hypotenuse and the bearing is measured clockwise from grid north.

Batch from CSV

One row per calculation, with a header row. Values use the units currently selected in the form above. Up to 10,000 rows; nothing is uploaded.

How the method works

A fixed worked example to explain the method — it is not your result.

Easting and northing define a grid-distance triangle
Illustrative method
Easting and northing define a grid-distance trianglePlan view with grid north up: point 1, point 2, the ΔE and ΔN legs, the grid distance and the bearing arc from north.N12ΔE = 300ΔN = 400d = 50036.8699°
Easting and northing differences are the legs of a right triangle; the grid distance is its hypotenuse and the bearing is measured clockwise from grid north.

Before you rely on this: First-pass guide only. Verify safety-critical or regulated work against the relevant standards, your project requirements and a qualified professional.

How to use this calculator

  1. Two points: enter the easting and northing of both points (same projected CRS and units).
  2. Point list: paste "ID, E, N" or "ID, E, N, RL" lines in order for every leg's distance and bearing with a running total — or give two IDs to measure one chosen pair.
  3. Optionally enter heights for a slope distance, and a combined scale factor for a ground distance.
  4. Press Calculate. Read the grid distance, bearings and signed components; the leg table downloads as CSV, and Batch runs a CSV of point pairs.

How it works

Grid distance = √(ΔE² + ΔN²); bearing = atan2(ΔE, ΔN), clockwise from grid north. Reversing the points gives the same distance and a bearing 180° different.

With both heights, slope distance = √(grid² + ΔRL²). With only one, no 3D figure is given.

Ground distance = grid distance ÷ k, shown separately and only when you supply a defined combined scale factor.

Coincident points have zero distance and no bearing, even if their heights differ — in a point list such a leg is shown with no bearing, never 0°.

Worked example

(0, 0) to (300, 400), heights 0 and 12 m. Grid distance 500.000 m at 36.86989765° (reverse 216.86989765°); slope distance 500.143979 m.

Common mistakes

  • Multiplying by the scale factor to get ground distance. Grid = ground × k, so ground = grid ÷ k.
  • Mixing coordinates from two zones or datums.
  • Entering latitude and longitude here — use the geodesic tools for geographic coordinates.

Frequently asked questions

Is this ground distance or grid distance?

Grid distance. Divide by the combined scale factor (enter it above) to get the ground distance for precise survey work.

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Cite this tool

Zerdly. (2026). Easting/Northing Distance Calculator. Retrieved from https://www.zerdly.com/tools/easting-northing-distance-calculator/

Tip: Enter any known values to calculate the remaining results.

Designed to run locally in your browser. Tool inputs are not intentionally stored by Zerdly unless stated otherwise.