How Far Away Can You Feel an Earthquake?

Have you ever wondered how far away you can feel an earthquake? The answer depends on the earthquake's magnitude, depth, and local geology. Generally, people can feel earthquakes up to 100-500 kilometers (60-310 miles) away from the epicenter.

Distance by Magnitude

The strength of an earthquake, measured on the moment magnitude scale, directly affects how far it can be felt:

• Magnitude 3.0-3.9: Felt up to 10-20 km (6-12 miles) away
• Magnitude 4.0-4.9: Felt up to 50-80 km (30-50 miles) away
• Magnitude 5.0-5.9: Felt up to 100-200 km (60-125 miles) away
• Magnitude 6.0-6.9: Felt up to 300-500 km (185-310 miles) away
• Magnitude 7.0+: Felt up to 1,000+ km (620+ miles) away

Check our live earthquake map to see current magnitudes and affected areas in real-time.

Factors That Affect How Far You Feel It

1. Earthquake Depth

Shallow earthquakes (less than 70km deep) are felt more strongly at the surface than deep earthquakes. The energy from deep earthquakes is absorbed and scattered as it travels through more rock before reaching the surface.

2. Local Geology

Soft sediment amplifies shaking, while hard bedrock dampens it. This is why people in valleys often feel earthquakes more than people on hills. Cities built on filled land or soft sediment (like Mexico City or San Francisco's Marina District) experience stronger shaking and are more vulnerable to liquefaction.

3. Building Type

Tall buildings sway more, making earthquakes more noticeable on upper floors. If you're on the 20th floor of a skyscraper, you'll feel a distant earthquake much more than someone on the ground floor.

4. Your Activity

People who are sitting still or lying down are more likely to feel earthquakes than people who are walking or driving. This is why many earthquake reports come from people who were in bed when the earthquake occurred.

Real-World Examples

The 2011 M9.1 Tohoku earthquake in Japan was felt as far away as Beijing, China - over 2,500 km (1,550 miles) away. Buildings swayed in Tokyo, 373 km (232 miles) from the epicenter, and people reported feeling the earthquake for several minutes.

The 1994 M6.7 Northridge earthquake in California was felt in Las Vegas, 350 km (217 miles) away. People in high-rise buildings reported noticeable swaying, while those on the ground felt a gentle rolling motion.

The 2011 M5.8 Virginia earthquake was felt from Georgia to Maine - an unprecedented distance for an East Coast earthquake. Over 10 million people reported feeling it because Eastern U.S. bedrock transmits seismic waves more efficiently than Western fault zones.

Record-Breaking Distance Examples

Some earthquakes have been felt at truly extraordinary distances. The 1964 M9.2 Alaska earthquake - the second-largest ever recorded - was felt as far south as Seattle, over 1,900 km (1,180 miles) away. The ground shook in Denver, Colorado, more than 3,200 km (2,000 miles) from the epicenter, though the shaking there was very subtle.

The 2004 M9.1 Indian Ocean earthquake that triggered the devastating tsunami was felt across South and Southeast Asia. Reports of shaking came from locations more than 3,000 km (1,860 miles) away, including parts of East Africa where the tsunami eventually struck.

Perhaps most remarkably, the 1755 Lisbon earthquake was reportedly felt across Europe and North Africa, with accounts of shaking and water disturbances as far as Finland and the Caribbean - though historical records from that era are less precise than modern seismic monitoring.

Why Some Earthquakes Travel Further

The Science of Seismic Wave Propagation

When an earthquake occurs, it generates several types of seismic waves that travel through the Earth at different speeds. Primary waves (P-waves) are the fastest, traveling at 5-8 km/s through the crust. These compression waves can travel through solid rock, liquids, and gases, which is why they're felt first and can travel the greatest distances.

Secondary waves (S-waves) travel at about 3-4.5 km/s and only move through solid materials. They create a side-to-side shaking motion that causes most earthquake damage. Surface waves (Love and Rayleigh waves) are the slowest but often the most destructive, creating the rolling and swaying motion people describe during strong earthquakes.

Regional Geology Differences

The distance an earthquake can be felt depends on the regional geology. In the Western United States, the crust is broken up by many faults, which absorb and scatter seismic energy. In the Eastern United States, the crust is older and more stable, allowing seismic waves to travel much further.

This is why a M5.8 earthquake in Virginia (2011) was felt 800+ km (500+ miles) away, while a M5.8 earthquake in California might only be felt 300 km (185 miles) away.

The Bottom Line

How far you can feel an earthquake depends on multiple factors: magnitude, depth, local geology, building type, and your activity. As a general rule:

• Small earthquakes (M3-4): Felt locally within tens of kilometers (up to 50 miles)
• Moderate earthquakes (M5-6): Felt regionally within hundreds of kilometers (up to 310 miles)
• Large earthquakes (M7+): Felt over vast distances exceeding 1,000 km (620+ miles)

What to Do When You Feel an Earthquake

If you feel an earthquake, even if it seems minor, take these immediate actions:

• Drop, Cover, and Hold On: Get under a sturdy desk or table, cover your head and neck, and hold on until the shaking stops
• Stay inside if you're indoors: Most injuries occur when people try to run outside and are hit by falling debris
• Move away from windows: Glass can shatter and cause serious injuries during strong shaking
• If outside, move to an open area: Stay away from buildings, power lines, and other structures that could collapse
• Check our real-time map: After the shaking stops, visit our earthquake monitoring system to see the magnitude and location of the earthquake you just felt

Remember that even if you're far from the epicenter, aftershocks can occur and may be felt at similar distances. Stay alert and prepared for potential aftershocks in the hours and days following a significant earthquake.

Understanding these factors helps explain why some earthquakes make headlines while others go unnoticed, and why your experience of an earthquake may differ dramatically from someone just a few kilometers away.