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 away from the epicenter.

Distance by Magnitude

• Magnitude 3.0-3.9: Felt up to 10-20 km away
• Magnitude 4.0-4.9: Felt up to 50-80 km away
• Magnitude 5.0-5.9: Felt up to 100-200 km away
• Magnitude 6.0-6.9: Felt up to 300-500 km away
• Magnitude 7.0+: Felt up to 1,000+ km away

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.

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 away. Buildings swayed in Tokyo, 373 km 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 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.

Why Some Earthquakes Travel Further

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 away, while a M5.8 earthquake in California might only be felt 300 km 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
• Moderate earthquakes (M5-6): Felt regionally within hundreds of kilometers
• Large earthquakes (M7+): Felt over vast distances exceeding 1,000 km

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.