Detroit to London
7h 56m The flight from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) to London Heathrow Airport (LHR) covers 6,045 km (3,756 miles) and takes approximately 7h 56m gate to gate for a typical jet.
The route heads north-east on an initial great-circle bearing of 50°, passing near 54.8° N, 46.3° W at its midpoint.
The route
The great-circle path — the shortest line between the two airports across the curve of the earth. On a flat map it looks bent; on a globe it is straight.
Flight time at different cruise speeds
Aircraft type, winds and routing all move the real number. This is the same distance flown at different speeds, plus the 25-minute ground and climb allowance.
| Typical of | Cruise speed | Airborne | Gate to gate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turboprop / regional | 550 km/h | 10h 59m | 11h 25m |
| Narrowbody jet (A320, 737) | 780 km/h | 7h 45m | 8h 10m |
| Widebody jet (777, 787, A350) | 900 km/h | 6h 43m | 7h 08m |
| Private jet (Gulfstream) | 850 km/h | 7h 07m | 7h 32m |
Headwinds on an eastbound long-haul routinely add 30–60 minutes; the same route westbound can be quicker. Airlines publish schedules with padding built in.
Both airports
| DTW | LHR | |
|---|---|---|
| Airport | Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport | London Heathrow Airport |
| City | Detroit | London |
| Country | United States | United Kingdom |
| ICAO | KDTW | EGLL |
| Coordinates | 42.2138, -83.3538 | 51.4707, -0.4599 |
| Elevation | 645 ft | 83 ft |
Questions
How long is the flight from Detroit to London?
A non-stop flight from Detroit (DTW) to London (LHR) takes about 7h 56m. The great-circle distance is 6,045 km (3,756 miles, 3,264 nautical miles), flying north-east on an initial bearing of 50°.
How far is Detroit from London?
6,045 kilometres in a straight line over the earth's surface — 3,756 miles or 3,264 nautical miles. Actual flown distance is usually 2–5% longer because aircraft follow airways, avoid weather and route around restricted airspace.
Is there a non-stop flight between DTW and LHR?
This page calculates the direct-line time and distance; it does not track airline schedules. At 6,045 km the route is comfortably within range of a non-stop service if an airline chooses to fly it. Check an airline or booking site for what is actually scheduled.
What should I expect on a 7h 56m flight?
Anything past six hours is a long-haul flight: expect at least one meal service, a significant time-zone shift, and enough sitting that circulation and hydration start to matter. Cabin altitude, dry air and disrupted sleep do more damage to a training routine than the flight itself.
Airport coordinates from OurAirports (public domain). Distance is a great-circle calculation; flight time uses the model described on the method page. Flight times are great-circle estimates for planning only — always check the airline's published schedule.