---
title: Geo-distance query
description: Matches geo_point and geo_shape values within a given distance of a geopoint. Assume the following documents are indexed: Use a geo_distance filter to...
url: https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/3028/reference/query-languages/query-dsl/query-dsl-geo-distance-query
products:
  - Elasticsearch
---

# Geo-distance query
Matches [`geo_point`](https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/3028/reference/elasticsearch/mapping-reference/geo-point) and [`geo_shape`](https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/3028/reference/elasticsearch/mapping-reference/geo-shape) values within a given distance of a geopoint.

## Example

Assume the following documents are indexed:
```json

{
  "mappings": {
    "properties": {
      "pin": {
        "properties": {
          "location": {
            "type": "geo_point"
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
}


{
  "pin": {
    "location": {
      "lat": 40.12,
      "lon": -71.34
    }
  }
}


{
  "mappings": {
    "properties": {
      "pin": {
        "properties": {
          "location": {
            "type": "geo_shape"
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
}


{
  "pin": {
    "location": {
      "type" : "polygon",
      "coordinates" : [[[13.0 ,51.5], [15.0, 51.5], [15.0, 54.0], [13.0, 54.0], [13.0 ,51.5]]]
    }
  }
}
```

Use a `geo_distance` filter to match `geo_point` values within a specified distance of another geopoint:
```json

{
  "query": {
    "bool": {
      "must": {
        "match_all": {}
      },
      "filter": {
        "geo_distance": {
          "distance": "200km",
          "pin.location": {
            "lat": 40,
            "lon": -70
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
}
```

Use the same filter to match `geo_shape` values within the given distance:
```json

{
  "query": {
    "bool": {
      "must": {
        "match_all": {}
      },
      "filter": {
        "geo_distance": {
          "distance": "200km",
          "pin.location": {
            "lat": 40,
            "lon": -70
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
}
```

To match both `geo_point` and `geo_shape` values, search both indices:
```json

{
  "query": {
    "bool": {
      "must": {
        "match_all": {}
      },
      "filter": {
        "geo_distance": {
          "distance": "200km",
          "pin.location": {
            "lat": 40,
            "lon": -70
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
}
```


## Accepted formats

In much the same way the `geo_point` type can accept different representations of the geo point, the filter can accept it as well:

### Lat lon as properties

```json

{
  "query": {
    "bool": {
      "must": {
        "match_all": {}
      },
      "filter": {
        "geo_distance": {
          "distance": "12km",
          "pin.location": {
            "lat": 40,
            "lon": -70
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
}
```


### Lat lon as array

Format in `[lon, lat]`, note, the order of lon/lat here in order to conform with [GeoJSON](http://geojson.org/).
```json

{
  "query": {
    "bool": {
      "must": {
        "match_all": {}
      },
      "filter": {
        "geo_distance": {
          "distance": "12km",
          "pin.location": [ -70, 40 ]
        }
      }
    }
  }
}
```


### Lat lon as WKT string

Format in [Well-Known Text](https://docs.opengeospatial.org/is/12-063r5/12-063r5.html).
```json

{
  "query": {
    "bool": {
      "must": {
        "match_all": {}
      },
      "filter": {
        "geo_distance": {
          "distance": "12km",
          "pin.location": "POINT (-70 40)"
        }
      }
    }
  }
}
```


### Geohash

```json

{
  "query": {
    "bool": {
      "must": {
        "match_all": {}
      },
      "filter": {
        "geo_distance": {
          "distance": "12km",
          "pin.location": "drm3btev3e86"
        }
      }
    }
  }
}
```


## Options

The following are options allowed on the filter:
<definitions>
  <definition term="distance">
    The radius of the circle centred on the specified location. Points which fall into this circle are considered to be matches. The `distance` can be specified in various units. See [Distance Units](/elastic/docs-builder/docs/3028/reference/elasticsearch/rest-apis/api-conventions#distance-units).
  </definition>
  <definition term="distance_type">
    How to compute the distance. Can either be `arc` (default), or `plane` (faster, but inaccurate on long distances and close to the poles).
  </definition>
  <definition term="_name">
    Optional name field to identify the query
  </definition>
  <definition term="validation_method">
    Set to `IGNORE_MALFORMED` to accept geo points with invalid latitude or longitude, set to `COERCE` to additionally try and infer correct coordinates (default is `STRICT`).
  </definition>
</definitions>


## Multi location per document

The `geo_distance` filter can work with multiple locations / points per document. Once a single location / point matches the filter, the document will be included in the filter.

## Ignore unmapped

When set to `true` the `ignore_unmapped` option will ignore an unmapped field and will not match any documents for this query. This can be useful when querying multiple indexes which might have different mappings. When set to `false` (the default value) the query will throw an exception if the field is not mapped.