How far is Mars from Earth?
Data as of July 2026
54.6 million kmat closest approach
There is no single answer: both planets are moving. At its closest, Mars is about 54.6 million km from Earth; when it is on the far side of the Sun the gap opens to roughly 377 million km.
▶ Watch Earth and Mars move in 3D
Mars orbits the Sun at 227 million km (1.52 AU) and Earth at 150 million km (1 AU). The distance between them is the difference when they line up on the same side of the Sun and the sum when they are on opposite sides, so it cycles between the two figures above.
A radio signal, or light itself, needs 4.3 minutes at the closest point and 21 minutes at the farthest. That delay is why probes at Mars cannot be driven live from Earth.
Closest and farthest distance from Earth, every planet
| Planet | Closest to Earth | Farthest |
|---|---|---|
| Mercury | 77.3 million km | 208 million km |
| Venus | 38.2 million km | 257 million km |
| Mars | 54.6 million km | 377 million km |
| Jupiter | 588 million km | 928 million km |
| Saturn | 1195 million km | 1,583 million km |
| Uranus | 2570 million km | 3,022 million km |
| Neptune | 4300 million km | 4,652 million km |
The farthest figure is not a quirk of Mars: it is Earth's whole orbit plus Mars's, which is why the gap can be several times the closest one.
Keep going
✓ Facts verified July 2026
Every figure on this page is a real, rounded value checked against primary sources. Found something out of date? See how we keep it accurate.