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SFO to HEL: distance & flight time
San Francisco (San Francisco International Airport) → Helsinki (Helsinki Vantaa Airport)
5,421 mi
8,724 km · 4,711 nm
11h 6m
estimated nonstop flight time
+10h
time difference · heading north
See live SFO→HEL fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
5,421 miles nonstop takes roughly 11h 6m gate to gate, flying north. Add 45–90 minutes per connection if there's no nonstop service. Remember to factor the 10-hour time gain when reading arrival times on your ticket.
The two airports
- SFO — San Francisco International Airport · San Francisco, United States
- HEL — Helsinki Vantaa Airport · Helsinki, Finland
Distances are great-circle ("as the crow flies") — the same basis airlines use for frequent-flyer miles.
Alternate airports can cut this fare
Flying from or into a nearby airport is the #1 trick our agents use to beat online prices. Call and we'll compare every combination on one call.
Near SFO
- SQL · San Carlos Airport10 mi away
- HAF · Half Moon Bay Airport10 mi away
- OAK · Metropolitan Oakland International Airport11 mi away
- NGZ · Alameda Naval Air Station12 mi away
Near HEL
- HEM · Helsinki Malmi Airport5 mi away
- HYV · Hyvinkää Airfield23 mi away
- QLF · Lahti Vesivehmaa Airport62 mi away
- TLL · Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport63 mi away
Frequently asked questions
How far is SFO from HEL?
The flight distance from San Francisco (SFO) to Helsinki (HEL) is 5,421 miles (8,724 km, 4,711 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from SFO to HEL?
A nonstop flight takes about 11h 6m gate to gate. Actual time varies with winds, routing and season — eastbound transatlantic flights, for example, are usually faster than the return.
What is the time difference between San Francisco and Helsinki?
Helsinki is 10 hours ahead of San Francisco.
What is the cheapest way to fly from SFO to HEL?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on SFO–HEL that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.