Map scale calculator
Enter the map scale and the distance measured on the map, and the calculator converts it into the real distance in metres and kilometres.
4 cm on a 1 : 50000 map is 2.000 km on the ground.
Formula
m is the distance on the map in centimetres and s the scale denominator. The result comes out in centimetres and is converted onwards.
How we got there
A scale of 1 : 50,000 means one centimetre on the map is 50,000 centimetres on the ground — half a kilometre.
How to convert a map scale by hand
- Multiply the map distance by the scale denominator
4 × 50,000 = 200,000 centimetres.
- Convert centimetres to metres
200,000 ÷ 100 = 2000 metres.
- Convert metres to kilometres
2000 ÷ 1000 = 2 kilometres.
Map scale in geography? a lesson with a Mathema tutor
Frequently asked questions
That one centimetre on the map corresponds to 50,000 centimetres on the ground, or 500 metres.
Multiply it by the scale denominator, then convert the centimetres into metres or kilometres.
1 : 10,000 is larger. The smaller the denominator, the more detailed the map and the smaller the area it covers.
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