Qibla direction
The exact angle to the Kaaba from your city, and how to find it with a simple compass.
Paris
119.2°
Direction: south-east
Distance to the Kaaba: 4,496 km
The angle is measured clockwise from true north. With a compass set to true north, turn until you reach this angle and you're facing the qibla.
How it works
Find the qibla in three steps
- 1
Tell it where you are
Choose your city or use your location. Nothing is sent: the calculation happens on your device.
- 2
Read the angle
The tool gives the angle from true north, for example 119° from Paris, which is south-east.
- 3
Turn to face it
With a compass set to true north, turn until you reach that angle: that's the qibla.
How the qibla is calculated
The qibla is the direction of the shortest path across the globe to the Kaaba (21.4225° N, 39.8262° E), what geographers call a great circle. That's why it sometimes looks strange on a flat map: from North America, it points north-east, not south-east. The tool calculates this angle from your coordinates, measured clockwise from true north (geographic north).
Reading the angle with a compass
A phone compass measures the magnetic field, and magnetic north is not exactly true north. On iPhone, the Compass app can show true north: the option is in Settings, Compass. For a reliable reading:
- calibrate the compass by drawing a figure 8 with your phone;
- keep away from metal objects and magnets (magnetic flip case, car mount, metal desk);
- stand near a window or outside, since the metal in buildings throws readings off.
Checking without a compass
Twice a year, the sun passes directly over the Kaaba: on May 27 or 28 around 09:18 UTC and on July 15 or 16 around 09:27 UTC. At that moment, the shadow of a vertical object points directly away from the Kaaba: turn your back to the shadow and you're facing the qibla. Your mosque's mihrab, aligned with the qibla when the mosque was built, is also a good reference.
And every day, right in your pocket
In the QuranWay app, the qibla angle and the distance to the Kaaba are shown from your location, on iPhone and on Apple Watch. The Premium version adds a compass on iPhone that follows the phone's orientation.
We make QuranWay. These tools are free, with no sign-up. Whatever depends on you (your location, your settings) stays in your browser: your location is never sent anywhere.
Frequently asked questions
What is the qibla direction in France?
South-east. The angle varies by city: about 119° from Paris and 116° from Marseille, measured from true north. Choose your city in the tool to get the exact angle.
Why don't my compass and my app show the same qibla?
Most often, the compass isn't calibrated or it's being thrown off by metal. There can also be the gap between magnetic north and true north. Calibrate it by drawing a figure 8, move away from metal and try again near a window.
Is the qibla a straight line on a map?
No. It's the shortest path over the Earth's surface, which looks curved on a flat map. That's why the qibla from some countries seems counterintuitive.
How can I check the qibla without a phone?
On May 27 or 28 around 09:18 UTC and on July 15 or 16 around 09:27 UTC, the sun is directly over the Kaaba: turn your back to the shadow of a vertical object. The mihrab of a nearby mosque is also a reliable reference.