how far is the center of the earth

February 15, 2026

The center of the Earth is about 6,371 km (around 3,959 miles) below the surface on average.

Quick Scoop: How far is the center of the Earth?

When people ask “how far is the center of the Earth?” , they’re really asking for the Earth’s radius.
Because Earth isn’t a perfect sphere, this distance changes slightly depending on where you stand.

Key numbers

Average distance to Earth’s center: about 6,371 km (3,959 miles).

From the equator: about 6,378 km (3,963 miles).

From the poles: about 6,357 km (3,950 miles).

So you can safely say: it’s “about 4,000 miles” to the center of the Earth.

Why the distance isn’t exactly the same everywhere

Earth is slightly squashed at the poles and bulged at the equator (an “oblate spheroid”).

That’s why:

You are a bit farther from the center at the equator.

You are about 22 km closer to the center at the poles than at the equator.

Even with this squashing, the difference is small compared to the full 6,000+ km radius.

Inside that 6,371 km: very rough layer breakdown

These are approximate thicknesses of Earth’s main layers from the surface down toward the center.

Crust: about 5–75 km thick, depending on whether it’s ocean or continent.

Mantle: about 2,855–2,900 km thick beneath the crust.

Core (outer + inner): extends roughly the last 3,500 km down to the center.

Even our deepest drill, the Kola Superdeep Borehole, only reached about 12 km, which is tiny compared to the ~6,371 km to the center.

“Latest news” and forum-style chatter around this question

This question pops up regularly in Q&A sites and casual science forums, often phrased exactly as “how far is the center of the Earth?” or “how many miles to the center of the Earth?”.

Typical themes people discuss:

Comparing that 6,371 km to how little we’ve physically drilled (only ~12 km).

Speculating about sci‑fi ideas like traveling through a tunnel straight to the core.

Clarifying the slight difference between equatorial and polar distances.

You’ll also see this figure reused in “fun fact” posts and educational pieces explaining why we rely on seismic waves—not drilling—to understand the deep interior.

Mini FAQ

Is 6,371 km an exact number?
No, it’s a rounded average; real values range from about 6,357 to 6,378 km depending on location.

Why do some sources say ~3,958 or ~3,963 miles?
They’re using different conventions (average, equatorial, or polar radius), all within a few miles of each other.

Could we ever actually get to the center?
With current technology, no—the pressures and temperatures are far beyond what our materials and drilling methods can handle.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.