General
Mileage Calculator
Calculate the driving distance between any two locations. Get accurate mileage estimates for route planning, with support for both miles and kilometers.
Reviewed by the calculator.uk.com Team · Last reviewed 19 October 2026 · Our methodology
Enter locations to calculate distance
Most people who look up a driving distance need it for a mileage claim. If you use your own vehicle for work, your employer can pay you up to HMRC's approved rate tax-free. From 6 April 2026 the car rate for the first 10,000 business miles went up from 45p to 55p — the first change since 2011.
| Vehicle | 2026/27 | 2011/12 – 2025/26 |
|---|---|---|
| Cars and vans — first 10,000 business miles | 55p | 45p |
| Cars and vans — each mile over 10,000 | 25p | 25p |
| Motorcycles | 24p | 24p |
| Bicycles | 20p | 20p |
| Each passenger on a business trip | 5p | 5p |
Worked example: claiming relief when your employer pays less
Mark, a basic rate taxpayer, drives 12,000 business miles in his own car in 2026/27. His employer reimburses him 35p a mile.
- HMRC approved amount: 10,000 × 55p + 2,000 × 25p = £6,000
- Paid by his employer: 12,000 × 35p = £4,200
- Shortfall he can claim Mileage Allowance Relief on: £1,800
- Tax refund at 20%: £360 (a higher rate taxpayer would get £720)
Mark can claim online through HMRC, or on a Self Assessment return if he already files one. Claims can go back four tax years. If an employer pays more than the approved rate, the excess counts as taxable pay and goes through payroll.
Straight-line vs road distance
This calculator shows the straight-line ("as the crow flies") distance and, where a route is found, the driving distance. Only the miles you actually drive count for a claim, and the difference is significant:
| Route | Straight line | By road (typical route) |
|---|---|---|
| London → Birmingham | 101 miles | about 120–125 miles |
| London → Manchester | 163 miles | about 200 miles |
| London → Edinburgh | 332 miles | about 400 miles |
Which journeys count as business miles?
- Counts: driving to a client, a supplier, a training course, or a temporary workplace you expect to attend for less than 24 months.
- Doesn't count: your normal commute between home and your permanent workplace, even if you take work calls on the way.
- Keep a log: HMRC expects a record of the date, start and end points, purpose and miles for each trip. Recording the road distance from a route planner alongside each journey makes the claim easy to check.
Related to Mileage Calculator
The Mileage Calculator helps you determine the driving distance between any two locations. It calculates both the actual driving distance along roads and the straight-line distance (as the crow flies). This calculator is particularly useful for route planning, estimating travel times, and comparing different route options.
Distance Calculation Method
The calculator uses mapping services to determine the shortest driving route between your specified locations. It takes into account actual road networks, highways, and typical driving conditions. The straight-line distance is calculated using the Haversine formula, which determines the shortest distance between two points on a sphere (in this case, Earth).
Unit Conversions
The calculator supports both miles and kilometers, automatically converting between the two using the standard conversion factor (1 mile = 1.60934 kilometers). This allows users from different regions to work with their preferred unit of measurement while ensuring accurate results.
The calculator provides two different distance measurements and estimated travel time to help you plan your journey effectively:
Driving Distance
This is the actual distance you would need to drive along roads to reach your destination. It takes into account the road network and represents the shortest practical route. The calculator also provides an estimated travel time based on typical driving conditions and speed limits.
Straight Line Distance
Also known as "as the crow flies," this is the shortest possible distance between your starting point and destination, measured in a straight line. This distance is always shorter than the driving distance and can be useful for comparing how direct or indirect a driving route might be.
1. Why is the driving distance longer than the straight-line distance?
Driving distance is always longer because vehicles must follow established roads, which rarely follow a perfectly straight path. Roads need to account for terrain, buildings, natural obstacles, and other infrastructure, resulting in routes that are longer than the theoretical straight-line distance.
2. How accurate are the estimated travel times?
Travel time estimates are based on typical driving conditions and speed limits. Actual travel times can vary significantly depending on traffic conditions, weather, time of day, road work, and other factors. It's always good practice to allow extra time for your journey.
3. Can I use this calculator for international routes?
Yes, the calculator can determine distances between locations worldwide. However, for international routes, remember that border crossings, ferry routes, and different road systems might affect the actual travel time and accessibility of certain routes.
4. Why might different mapping services show slightly different distances?
Different mapping services might show varying distances due to factors like route optimization algorithms, map data updates, and how they account for road characteristics. These differences are usually minor and don't significantly impact journey planning.
5. What is the scientific source for this calculator?
Straight-line (as the crow flies) distances between coordinates are calculated with the haversine formula, a well-established trigonometric method for great-circle distance on a sphere that has been used in navigation since the 19th century, when James Inman popularized it in his 1835 nautical tables. Driving distances, where available, come from routing over real road networks rather than a simple geometric formula, so they'll generally be longer than the straight-line figure. Unit conversions use the fixed relationship of 1 mile = 1.609344 kilometers, the metric equivalence NIST and international standards bodies maintain today.