Enter any eye height and see exactly how far away the horizon is.
How this tool works
The distance to the horizon depends only on how high your eyes are above the surface. The calculator uses the standard geometric formula (about 3.57 km times the square root of your height in meters) and also shows the slightly longer distance you actually see thanks to atmospheric refraction bending light around the curve (factor 3.86). It also gives the dip angle, which is how far below true eye level the horizon sits.
What you can do with it
- Find how far you can see from a beach, a tower, a plane, or the International Space Station using the preset buttons
- Compare the geometric horizon with the refracted horizon
- Work out whether a distant object should be visible over the curve
- Use the dip angle for navigation or photography questions
Why use it
People constantly ask how far away the horizon is and get answers ranging from 3 miles to hundreds. The real answer depends entirely on height, and this tool gives it instantly for any height without you having to remember the formula.
Data sources and methods
Related tools
These tools are provided for educational and informational purposes only. Results are computed from simplified public data and standard formulas, and may differ from surveyed or official values. No warranty is given as to accuracy or completeness, and the tools should not be relied on for navigation, legal, or commercial purposes.