Qibla finder / United States
Qibla direction from Boston, 60.4° east-northeast.
From Boston, MA, face 60.4° clockwise from true north to face the Kaaba in Makkah, 10,002 km away. With a magnetic compass, face 74.4°.
- Distance to the Kaaba
- 10,002 km (6,215 miles)
- Magnetic compass bearing
- 74.4°
- Magnetic declination
- 13.9° west
- City centre
- 42.3601, -71.0589
How to face the qibla
Stand with a compass and turn until it reads 74.4°. That is 60.4° from true north, adjusted for the 13.9° west magnetic declination in Boston. Or open the live compass on your phone.
Worked out for the centre of Boston. Across the city the direction changes by less than a degree.
Guide
Why the qibla is east-northeast from Boston.
The qibla is the direction of the Kaaba, measured along the shortest path over the globe. From Boston that path leaves heading east-northeast, at 60.4° 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 Boston is 13.9° west of true north this year, by the World Magnetic Model 2025. That is why the compass bearing, 74.4°, differs from the true bearing.
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
| City | Qibla | Direction |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | 58.5° | ENE |
| Houston, TX | 45.5° | NE |
| Chicago, IL | 48.7° | NE |
| Los Angeles, CA | 23.9° | NNE |
| Dallas, TX | 43.5° | NE |
| Philadelphia, PA | 57.7° | ENE |
| Minneapolis, MN | 43.8° | NE |
| Atlanta, GA | 52.3° | NE |
| Detroit, MI | 52.0° | NE |
| Dearborn, MI | 51.9° | NE |
| Washington, DC | 56.6° | ENE |
| Seattle, WA | 17.6° | NNE |
| San Francisco, CA | 18.8° | NNE |
| San Jose, CA | 19.5° | NNE |
| San Diego, CA | 25.3° | NNE |
| Anaheim, CA | 24.2° | NNE |
| Sacramento, CA | 19.6° | NNE |
| Phoenix, AZ | 30.1° | NNE |
| Las Vegas, NV | 26.4° | NNE |
| Denver, CO | 35.0° | NE |
| Miami, FL | 56.6° | ENE |
| Orlando, FL | 55.3° | NE |
| Tampa, FL | 54.8° | NE |
| Charlotte, NC | 54.4° | NE |
| Raleigh, NC | 55.8° | NE |
| Columbus, OH | 52.3° | NE |
| Cleveland, OH | 53.1° | NE |
| Jersey City, NJ | 58.5° | ENE |
| Paterson, NJ | 58.4° | ENE |
| Baltimore, MD | 56.8° | ENE |
| Austin, TX | 43.5° | NE |
| San Antonio, TX | 43.2° | NE |
| Indianapolis, IN | 50.1° | NE |
| Nashville, TN | 50.2° | NE |
| St. Louis, MO | 47.2° | NE |
| Milwaukee, WI | 48.3° | 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 Boston?
The qibla from Boston, MA is 60.4° from true north, which is east-northeast. With an ordinary magnetic compass, face 74.4°.
How far is Boston from Makkah?
About 10,002 km (6,215 miles) in a straight line over the globe.
Why is the qibla east-northeast from Boston?
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.