What is the Qibla?
The Qibla is the direction Muslims face when they pray. It points towards the Kaaba in Masjid al-Haram in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Wherever you are in the world, the Qibla is the direction of the shortest route from your location to Makkah.
How to find the Qibla direction
- Choose your location. Tap “Use my location”, pick your city from the list or enter your coordinates.
- Read the bearing. The number of degrees is measured clockwise from true north: 0° is north, 90° is east, 180° is south and 270° is west.
- Turn to face it. Use a compass, or tap “Enable live compass” on your phone and turn until the message says you are facing the Qibla.
- Mark the direction in your home, office or prayer room so you do not have to check every time.
Why the Qibla points north-east from the USA and Canada
On a flat map, Makkah seems to lie almost due east of North America. In reality the Earth is a sphere, and the shortest route to Makkah curves up over the north Atlantic. This is why the Qibla from New York is about 58° and from Los Angeles about 24°, both between north and east. From the UK and western Europe, Makkah lies between east and south.
Qibla direction for major cities
Bearings are measured clockwise from true north.
| City | Qibla bearing | Compass point | Distance to Makkah |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York, USA | 58.5° | ENE | 10,306 km |
| Chicago, USA | 48.7° | NE | 11,146 km |
| Houston, USA | 45.5° | NE | 12,574 km |
| Los Angeles, USA | 23.9° | NNE | 13,424 km |
| Toronto, Canada | 54.6° | NE | 10,496 km |
| Montreal, Canada | 58.7° | ENE | 9,998 km |
| Vancouver, Canada | 16.7° | NNE | 11,974 km |
| London, UK | 119.0° | ESE | 4,794 km |
| Manchester, UK | 118.5° | ESE | 5,025 km |
| Paris, France | 119.2° | ESE | 4,496 km |
| Berlin, Germany | 136.7° | SE | 4,130 km |
| Madrid, Spain | 104.0° | ESE | 4,598 km |
| Stockholm, Sweden | 148.2° | SSE | 4,554 km |
| Sydney, Australia | 277.5° | W | 13,236 km |
Tips for an accurate reading
- Hold your phone away from metal objects, speakers and magnetic cases, and calibrate it by moving it slowly in a figure-eight.
- Phone compasses point to magnetic north, but the Qibla bearing is measured from true north. The difference (magnetic declination) is only a degree or two in some places and more than 10° in others, for example in Seattle or New York. Our live compass corrects for it automatically once it knows your location.
- Stay outdoors or near a window if you can. Steel beams, appliances and wiring inside buildings can throw a compass off by several degrees.
- If you use a physical compass, remember that the bearing above is from true north, so adjust for your local declination.
If the result differs from the direction you already use
It is common for the direction used at home, or in an older mosque, to differ a little from the exact calculated Qibla. In many places the direction was set by facing “west” or “east” or by eye, and small differences stay unnoticed for years. In Lahore, for example, the exact great-circle Qibla is about 260°, which is roughly 10° south of due west.
If you see a difference, check the direction outdoors with a calibrated compass, compare it with a second source, and ask your local imam or a qualified scholar about your home or mosque. Many scholars say that people far from Makkah are asked to face its general direction, so please take their guidance on how to treat a small difference.
Check it with the sun
Twice a year the sun is directly above the Kaaba around midday in Makkah, on about 27 or 28 May at 12:18 pm and about 15 or 16 July at 12:27 pm Makkah time (UTC+3). At that moment, any upright object’s shadow points directly away from the Qibla. This works in places where the sun is up at that time, such as Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Australia, but not in most of North America, where it is still night or dawn.
Your privacy
The Qibla is calculated in your browser. We do not send your location to our servers and we do not store it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Qibla direction from the USA?
It depends on where you are. From New York the Qibla is about 58°, from Chicago about 49°, from Houston about 45° and from Los Angeles about 24°, all measured clockwise from true north. These all fall between north and east. Use the finder above for your exact location.
What is the Qibla direction from Canada?
From Toronto the Qibla is about 55°, from Montreal about 59° and from Vancouver about 17°, measured clockwise from true north. These all fall between north and east.
What is the Qibla direction from the UK and Europe?
From London the Qibla is about 119° (between east and south), from Paris about 119°, from Berlin about 137° and from Madrid about 104°. In Scandinavia it is a little further towards the south: Stockholm is about 148°.
Why does the Qibla point north-east from North America?
On a flat map Makkah looks almost due east of North America. But the Earth is a sphere, and the shortest route to Makkah curves up over the north. The Qibla follows that shortest route, which is why the direction is between north and east and not due east.
Is this the shortest direction to the Kaaba?
Yes. Like most Qibla calculators, this tool uses the great-circle (shortest-path) bearing from your location to the Kaaba in Masjid al-Haram, Makkah.
How accurate is a phone compass?
A phone compass is a good guide but it is not perfect. Magnets, metal objects, phone cases and nearby electronics can throw it off. Calibrate it by moving your phone in a figure-eight, hold it flat and compare the result with the bearing in degrees. If you need a precise direction for a prayer space, you can also check with your local mosque.
What if I cannot find the exact direction?
Make your best effort using this tool and a compass. For questions about prayer in special situations, such as while travelling or on a flight, please ask a qualified scholar.
Is my location saved?
No. The Qibla is calculated in your browser, and we do not send your location to our servers or store it.