Qibla finder / United States

Qibla direction from Aurora, 35.1° northeast.

From Aurora, CO, face 35.1° clockwise from true north to face the Kaaba in Makkah, 12,289 km away. With a magnetic compass, face 27.7°.

Qibla from Aurora35.1°

northeast (NE), from true north

Distance to the Kaaba
12,289 km (7,636 miles)
Magnetic compass bearing
27.7°
Magnetic declination
7.4° east
City centre
39.7294, -104.8319

How to face the qibla

Stand with a compass and turn until it reads 27.7°. That is 35.1° from true north, adjusted for the 7.4° east magnetic declination in Aurora. Or open the live compass on your phone.

Worked out for the centre of Aurora. Across the city the direction changes by less than a degree.

Guide

Why the qibla is northeast from Aurora.

The qibla is the direction of the Kaaba, measured along the shortest path over the globe. From Aurora that path leaves heading northeast, at 35.1° from true north. Flat maps distort this route, so it can look wrong on a map even though it is the true direction.

A compass points to magnetic north, which in Aurora is 7.4° east of true north this year, by the World Magnetic Model 2025. That is why the compass bearing, 27.7°, differs from the true bearing.

Hanafi position

Someone far from Makkah faces the direction (jihah) of the Kaaba. A small turn to the left or right does not affect the prayer, and a prayer made after a genuine effort stays valid even if you later learn you were slightly off.

Other madhhabs
Shafi'i
The stronger view is to aim at the Kaaba itself by your best effort, even from far away.
Maliki, Hanbali
Facing the direction is enough, as in the Hanafi school.

Qibla from other cities in United States

CityQiblaDirection
New York, NY58.5°ENE
Houston, TX45.5°NE
Chicago, IL48.7°NE
Los Angeles, CA23.9°NNE
Dallas, TX43.5°NE
Philadelphia, PA57.7°ENE
Minneapolis, MN43.8°NE
Atlanta, GA52.3°NE
Detroit, MI52.0°NE
Dearborn, MI51.9°NE
Washington, DC56.6°ENE
Boston, MA60.4°ENE
Seattle, WA17.6°NNE
San Francisco, CA18.8°NNE
San Jose, CA19.5°NNE
San Diego, CA25.3°NNE
Anaheim, CA24.2°NNE
Sacramento, CA19.6°NNE
Phoenix, AZ30.1°NNE
Las Vegas, NV26.4°NNE
Denver, CO35.0°NE
Miami, FL56.6°ENE
Orlando, FL55.3°NE
Tampa, FL54.8°NE
Charlotte, NC54.4°NE
Raleigh, NC55.8°NE
Columbus, OH52.3°NE
Cleveland, OH53.1°NE
Jersey City, NJ58.5°ENE
Paterson, NJ58.4°ENE
Baltimore, MD56.8°ENE
Austin, TX43.5°NE
San Antonio, TX43.2°NE
Indianapolis, IN50.1°NE
Nashville, TN50.2°NE
St. Louis, MO47.2°NE
Milwaukee, WI48.3°NE
Brooklyn, NY58.5°ENE
Buffalo, NY55.0°NE
Fairfax, VA56.4°ENE
Richmond, VA56.4°ENE
Salt Lake City, UT28.5°NNE
Anchorage, AK350.9°N
Fort Lauderdale, FL56.6°ENE
Troy, MI51.9°NE
St. Cloud, MN43.0°NE
Elgin, IL48.2°NE

The rulings on this page are pending review by the scholars on our team.

Questions

Good to know.

What is the qibla direction from Aurora?

The qibla from Aurora, CO is 35.1° from true north, which is northeast. With an ordinary magnetic compass, face 27.7°.

How far is Aurora from Makkah?

About 12,289 km (7,636 miles) in a straight line over the globe.

Why is the qibla northeast from Aurora?

The qibla follows the shortest route over the curved Earth to the Kaaba, called a great circle. On a flat map this route looks curved, so the direction can look different from what a map suggests.

How exact do I need to be?

In the Hanafi school, someone far from Makkah faces the general direction of the Kaaba. A small turn to either side does not affect the prayer. Do your best, or follow the direction of your local masjid.