Enter the equation of a plane and the coordinates of a point to calculate the distance from the point to the plane.

Distance From Point to Plane Calculator

Distance from point to plane formula

The following equation can be used to calculate the distance between a plane and a point.

d = \frac{|A\cdot X + B\cdot Y + C\cdot Z + D|}{\sqrt{A^2 + B^2 + C^2}}
  • Where d is the distance from the point to the plane
  • A, B, C, and D are constants of the plane equation AX + BY + CZ + D = 0
  • X, Y, and Z are the coordinates of the point

Distance From Point to Plane Definition

The distance from a point to a plane is defined as the shortest (perpendicular) distance from the point to the plane.

How to calculate the distance from a point to a plane?

How to calculate the distance from a point to a plane

  1. First, determine the equation of the plane.

    A 3-dimensional plane can be represented using an equation in the form AX + BY + CZ + D = 0.

  2. Next, gather the constants from the equation in step 1.

    Separate A, B, C, and D from the equation determined in step 1.

  3. Next, determine the coordinates of the point

    Measure or calculate the coordinates of the point x, y, and z.

  4. Calculate the distance

    Calculate the distance from the point to the plane using the equation above and information from steps 1-3.

FAQ

How can you calculate a distance from a point to a plane when the plane is everywhere?

Even though a plane extends infinitely, the distance from a point to a plane is well-defined: it is the shortest (perpendicular) distance from the point to the plane. You can compute it using the formula d=|AX+BY+CZ+D|/√(A²+B²+C²) for a plane written as AX+BY+CZ+D=0.