Qibla finder / United States
Qibla direction from San Francisco, 18.8° north-northeast.
From San Francisco, CA, face 18.8° clockwise from true north to face the Kaaba in Makkah, 13,176 km away. With a magnetic compass, face 6.0°.
- Distance to the Kaaba
- 13,176 km (8,187 miles)
- Magnetic compass bearing
- 6.0°
- Magnetic declination
- 12.8° east
- City centre
- 37.7749, -122.4194
How to face the qibla
Stand with a compass and turn until it reads 6.0°. That is 18.8° from true north, adjusted for the 12.8° east magnetic declination in San Francisco. Or open the live compass on your phone.
Worked out for the centre of San Francisco. Across the city the direction changes by less than a degree.
Guide
Why the qibla is north-northeast from San Francisco.
The qibla is the direction of the Kaaba, measured along the shortest path over the globe. From San Francisco that path leaves heading north-northeast, at 18.8° 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 San Francisco is 12.8° east of true north this year, by the World Magnetic Model 2025. That is why the compass bearing, 6.0°, 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 |
| Boston, MA | 60.4° | ENE |
| Seattle, WA | 17.6° | 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 San Francisco?
The qibla from San Francisco, CA is 18.8° from true north, which is north-northeast. With an ordinary magnetic compass, face 6.0°.
How far is San Francisco from Makkah?
About 13,176 km (8,187 miles) in a straight line over the globe.
Why is the qibla north-northeast from San Francisco?
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.