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Distance in Excel with Google Maps

How to Calculate
Distance in Excel
with Google Maps
Written by
Md. Sourov Hossain Mithun
Last updated: Dec 21, 2023

Excel has a wide range of applications. And while

using VBA then it seems that we can do whatever
we want in Excel. So of course, we can find the
distance between places using a map in Excel. In
this article, I’ll show a quick guide to calculate the
distance in Excel with Google Maps with sharp
steps and clear illustrations.

Table of Contents [ Expand ]

How to Calculate
Distance in Excel with
Google Maps: Using a
User-Defined Function
Here, we’ll find the distance between two cities
such as Las Vegas and Philadelphia using
Google Maps.

First, we need to know an important thing. To

calculate the distance between two addresses in
Excel using Google Maps, we will need an API
key. API stands for Application Programming
Interface. Excel connects with Google Maps
using the API key for collecting required data.
Some maps provide free API keys like Bing
Maps. But Google Maps doesn’t provide free API.
Although you manage a free API somehow, that
may not work perfectly. So, you can buy an API
key.

I have yet to mention that I have been using the

Microsoft 365 version for this article. I have
managed a free API key. It works properly. I just
used to show it as an example. We’ll use VBA to
create a user-defined function named
Calculate_Distance to find the distance. It will
have three arguments- startlocation,
endlocation, and keyvalue. Now let’s start the
procedures.

Steps:

Select range C4:C5.

Navigate to the Data tab and click on
Geography from the Data Types group.

Choose C8 and insert the following formula.

=C4.Latitude &", "&C4.Longitude

Later, drag the Fill Handle icon to C9.

Next, input the following API key in C11.

AoCgFc5qOKVpyHuiGyPBgzDk8RgQnGGMvNq

wcmtxfj7VnHEm-bpqH2GkRpoSJSAD

NOTE

The API Key will become an invalid one If

3 months or 10K transactions are
reached.

Press ALT + F11 to open the VBE window.

Next, click Insert > Module to create a new
module.
Later, type the following codes in the VBE
module and press Ctrl+S.

Public Function
Calculate_Distance(startlocati
on As String, endlocation As
String, keyvalue As String) As
Double

Dim Initial_Value As String,

temp_Value As String,
Destination_Value As String,
mitHTTP As Object, mitUrl As
String
Dim distance As Double

Initial_Value =
"https://dev.virtualearth.net/
REST/v1/Routes/DistanceMatrix?
origins="
temp_Value = "&destinations="
Destination_Value =
"&travelMode=driving&o=xml&key
=" & keyvalue &
"&distanceUnit=mi"

Set mitHTTP =
CreateObject("MSXML2.ServerXML
HTTP")

mitUrl = Initial_Value &

startlocation & temp_Value &
endlocation &
Destination_Value
mitHTTP.Open "GET", mitUrl,
False
mitHTTP.SetRequestHeader
"User-Agent", "Mozilla/4.0
(compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows
NT 5.0)"
mitHTTP.Send ("")

distance =
Round(Round(WorksheetFunction.
FilterXML(mitHTTP.ResponseText
, "//TravelDistance"), 3), 0)

Calculate_Distance = distance

End Function

CODE BREAKDOWN

The function declares several

variables: Initial_Value,
temp_Value, and
Destination_Value are strings that
store parts of the URL for the API
request.
The Open method of the mitHTTP
object is called to initialize the HTTP
request. The SetRequestHeader
method sets the User-Agent header.
The Send method is called to send
the HTTP request. The request body
is empty in this case.
The response from the API is
received and stored in the
mitHTTP.ResponseText property.
The WorksheetFunction.FilterXML
function extracts the value of the
TravelDistance element from the
XML response. The distance is
rounded to three decimal places
using the Round function.
The final distance value is rounded to
the nearest whole number using the
Round function again.
The calculated distance is assigned
to the Calculate_Distance function.

Now you see, our function is ready to use.

Choose cell C13 and type the following
formula.

=Calculate_Distance(C8,C9,C11)

Finally, press the ENTER button to get the

distance. It will show the distance in the
Miles units.

Pros and Cons While

Calculating Distance with
Google Maps
You must have a valid API key.
The above code will give the output in the
Miles units.
The user-defined function does not use
place names directly. Here, it needs to use
Lat and Long values.
Make sure you have used a valid place.

Advantages and
Disadvantages of
Calculating Distance with
Google Maps
Advantages
For a large couple of places, it is quite
feasible because we can use the Fill Handle
tool to copy the formula. That is not possible
in Google Maps
It’s a pretty faster way.

Disadvantages
It can only work with coordinates.
You won’t get the map or route, just you will
get the distance.
It won’t work with the approximate match of
the place names.

Download Practice Workbook

You can download the free Excel workbook from

here and practice on your own.

 Calculate Distance with Google

Maps.xlsm

Conclusion
I hope the procedures described above will be
good enough to calculate the distance in Excel
with Google Maps. Feel free to ask any questions
in the comment section, and please give me
feedback.

<< Go Back to Distance | Formula List |

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TAGS: Distance Formula in Excel

Md. Sourov Hossain Mithun

 

Md. Sourov Hossain Mithun, an Excel and

VBA Content Developer at Softeko's
ExcelDemy project, joined in October
2021. Holding a Naval Architecture &
Marine Engineering degree from BUET,
Mithun showcases expertise during his
two-year tenure. With over 200 published
articles on Excel topics, he earned a
promotion to Team Leader, excelling in
leading diverse teams. Mithun's passion
extends to Advanced Excel, Excel VBA,
Data Analysis, and Python programming,
contributing significantly to the innovative
and dynamic environment of ExcelDemy...
Read Full Bio

12 Comments

 Reply

JAN T
Nov 30, 2022 at 3:25 AM

sorry but this can’t work. Your VBA code accepts only 2
arguments, and you use 3 arguments.
full of errors.

 Reply

TANJIMA HOSSAIN
Dec 1, 2022 at 12:52 PM

Hello JAN T,
Hope you are doing well. I think by following the below-
stated procedures you can make your code work.
• After going to your VBE window, go to the Tools tab
>> References option.

Then, the References – VBAProject window will

appear.
• Check the following options.
o Microsoft Scripting Runtime
o Microsoft WinHTTP Services, version 5.1
• Press OK.

• Now, type the following code.

Public Function
Calculate_Distance(start As
String, dest As String, Alink
As String) As Double
Dim first_Value As String,
second_Value As String,
last_Value As String
Dim mitHTTP As Object
first_Value =
"http://maps.googleapis.com/ma
ps/api/distancematrix/json?
origins="
second_Value =
"&destinations="
last_Value =
"&mode=car&language=pl&sensor=
false&key=" & Alink
Set mitHTTP =
CreateObject("MSXML2.ServerXML
HTTP")
Url = first_Value &
Replace(start, " ", "+") &
second_Value & Replace(dest, "
", "+") & last_Value
mitHTTP.Open "GET", Url, False
mitHTTP.SetRequestHeader
"User-Agent", "Mozilla/4.0
(compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows
NT 5.0)"
mitHTTP.Send ("")
If InStr(mitHTTP.ResponseText,
"""distance"" : {") = 0 Then
GoTo ErrorHandl
Set mit_reg =
CreateObject("VBScript.RegExp"
): mit_reg.Pattern =
"""value"".*?([0-9]+)":
mit_reg.Global = False
Set mit_matches =
mit_reg.Execute(mitHTTP.Respon
seText)
tmp_Value =
Replace(mit_matches(0).Submit_
matches(0), ".",
Application.International(xlLi
stSeparator))
Calculate_Distance =
CDbl(tmp_Value)
Exit Function
ErrorHandl:
Calculate_Distance = -1
End Function

Make sure to add a third argument in your code and

use it in the indicated place.
• Finally, go to your sheet and use the following
function.
One thing to mention is that make sure to use a valid
API address, otherwise, you will get an error.

Regards
Tanjima Hossain

 Reply

DEANNA
Jun 15, 2023 at 11:04 AM

This did not work either … UGGGGG

*****FRUSTRATION OVERLOAD****

LUTFOR RAHMAN SHIMANTO

Jun 20, 2023 at 4:44 PM

Hello DeAnna

Thanks for reaching out. To overcome the situation,

I will introduce another method. Here you must
convert the locations into Geography data types.
Later, you will find the Lat Long values for each
location. Lastly, you have to call the below User-
defined function in a cell.

Excel VBA Code:

Public Function
GetTotalDistance2Locations(
startlocation As String,
endlocation As String,
keyvalue As String) As
Double

Dim Initial_Value As
String, temp_Value As
String, Destination_Value
As String, mitHTTP As
Object, mitUrl As String
Dim distance As Double

Initial_Value =
"https://dev.virtualearth.n
et/REST/v1/Routes/DistanceM
atrix?origins="
temp_Value =
"&destinations="
Destination_Value =
"&travelMode=driving&o=xml&
key=" & keyvalue &
 "&distanceUnit=mi"

Set mitHTTP =
CreateObject("MSXML2.Server
XMLHTTP")

mitUrl = Initial_Value &

startlocation & temp_Value
& endlocation &
Destination_Value
mitHTTP.Open "GET", mitUrl,
False
mitHTTP.SetRequestHeader
"User-Agent", "Mozilla/4.0
(compatible; MSIE 6.0;
Windows NT 5.0)"
mitHTTP.Send ("")

distance =
Round(Round(WorksheetFuncti
on.FilterXML(mitHTTP.Respon
seText,
"//TravelDistance"), 3), 0)

GetTotalDistance2Locations
= distance

End Function

API:

AoCgFc5qOKVpyHuiGyPBgzDk8RgQnGGMvNqwcmtxfj
bpqH2GkRpoSJSAD

STEPS:
Select range B3:B4 >> go to Data tab >> click on
Geography.

Choose cell C3 >> apply the below formula >> drag

the Fill Handle to C4.

=B3.Latitude &”, “&B3.Longitude

Press Alt+F11 >> go to Insert >> click on Module

>> insert the mentioned code.

Choose cell C9 >> apply the below formula.

=GetTotalDistance2Locations(C3,C4,A7)

This concept will assist you in reaching your goal.

I’ve also attached the Solution Workbook to help
you understand it better. Best wishes.

Download Workbook

Regards
Lutfor Rahman Shimanto

 Reply

D KELLY
Jan 27, 2023 at 9:51 PM

I need code for three locations. For example the distance

from your starting point to the 1st location and then the
distance from the 1st location to the 2nd location. So that
would be 3 different distance fields to be included in the
total distance calculation. Can you show an example of
that please? Thank you so much.

 Reply

LUTFOR RAHMAN SHIMANTO

Jun 20, 2023 at 1:00 PM

Hi D KELLY,
Thanks for reaching out! I’d be happy to help you with
your code and provide a solution. To solve this issue,
we built a procedure called GetLatLong and a user-
defined function named GetTotalDistance3Locations
using VBA. You can input your desired locations in the
GetLatLong procedure. The model calculates the total
distance for three locations. Please click the link
underneath this section to get a copy of the illustration
workbook.
Download Workbook
Best regards,
Lutfor Rahman Shimanto
(ExcelDemy Team)

 Reply

SAMIR
May 16, 2023 at 12:26 AM

Does it still work in 2023? I made an API but it doesnt

work.

 Reply

LUTFOR RAHMAN SHIMANTO

May 16, 2023 at 1:46 PM

Hello SAMIR

Thanks for reaching out and posting your query.

Regarding your question, I can assist you with a User-
defined function programmed in Excel VBA that will
take three arguments. Among these arguments, the
first and second will be the Latitude and Longitude of
the start and end location. And the third argument must
be an API Key. I am giving you an API for
demonstration which should work. However, you may
use your API as well as the third argument. I am
attaching the Workbook used to investigate the
described issue.

Excel VBA Code:

Public Function
GetTotalDistance2Locations(sta
rtlocation As String,
endlocation As String,
keyvalue As String) As Double

Dim Initial_Value As String,

temp_Value As String,
Destination_Value As String,
mitHTTP As Object, mitUrl As
String
Dim distance As Double

Initial_Value =
"https://dev.virtualearth.net/
REST/v1/Routes/DistanceMatrix?
origins="
temp_Value = "&destinations="
Destination_Value =
"&travelMode=driving&o=xml&key
=" & keyvalue &
"&distanceUnit=mi"

Set mitHTTP =
CreateObject("MSXML2.ServerXML
HTTP")

mitUrl = Initial_Value &

startlocation & temp_Value &
endlocation &
Destination_Value
mitHTTP.Open "GET", mitUrl,
False
mitHTTP.SetRequestHeader
"User-Agent", "Mozilla/4.0
(compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows
NT 5.0)"
mitHTTP.Send ("")

distance =
Round(Round(WorksheetFunction.
FilterXML(mitHTTP.ResponseText
, "//TravelDistance"), 3), 0)

GetTotalDistance2Locations =
distance

End Function

OUTPUT:

WORKBOOK:

SOLUTION WORKBOOK

The User-defined function and API will meet your

requirement. Don’t hesitate to contact us again with any
other inquiries or concerns.

Regards
Lutfor Rahman Shimanto

 Reply

MARCO
Aug 23, 2023 at 4:35 PM

Hello!
I get #NAME? error. May you guys help me out? I’d like
also to get distance in KM instead of miles.

Many thanks in advance.

 Reply

MD TANVIR RAHMAN
Aug 28, 2023 at 12:11 PM

Dear MARCO, Thanks a ton, and my heartfelt gratitude

to you.
Query 1: #NAME? error
Considering you are trying the code mentioned in the
content. However, there are several reasons for getting
#NAME? error in Excel.
Issue 1: The code contains custom custom-created
Public Function. So, when you download the file from
our site, by default it it may be blocked by your local
administration. Macro remains disabled in the
blocked file. So, you must unblock the file by selecting
File > Right-Click on Mouse > Properties > Check
Unblock.
Issue 2: Spelling mistake in the function name shows
#NAME? error.
Issue 3: Incorrect range and cell references also lead
to #NAME? error.
To learn more about #NAME? error, go through
#NAME? error in Excel.

Query 2: Convert Km instead of Miles

The mentioned code returns the outcome in Miles.
However, you can convert Miles into Kilometers by
inserting the following formula.
=(Calculate_Distance(C8,C9,C11))*1.61
or,
=CONVERT(Calculate_Distance(C8,C9,C11),”mi”,”
km”)

Thanks for reaching out. We team Exceldemy are here

to assist you. Please let us know if you face any other
shortcomings.

Regards,
MD Tanvir Rahman
Excel and VBA Content Developer
Exceldemy, Softeko.

 Reply

MX A HUSKINS
Oct 2, 2023 at 11:41 PM

This works well, only thing I noted not mentioned is that

you will probably need to set up your own Bing API code,
since their provided one probably won’t work for you,
which is easy and free to do.

 Reply

LUTFOR RAHMAN SHIMANTO

Oct 3, 2023 at 11:45 AM

Hello MX A HUSKINS

Thank you for reaching out and posting your comment.

You are right about setting up your own valid Bing
API to work properly.

The API Key will become an invalid one If 3 months or

10K transactions are reached. The API mentioned in
this article may have reached 10 K transactions.

Regards
Lutfor Rahman Shimanto

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