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SFO to MEL: distance & flight time
San Francisco (San Francisco International Airport) → Melbourne (Melbourne International Airport)
7,863 mi
12,654 km · 6,832 nm
15h 53m
estimated nonstop flight time
+17h
time difference · heading southwest
See live SFO→MEL fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
7,863 miles nonstop takes roughly 15h 53m gate to gate, flying southwest. Add 45–90 minutes per connection if there's no nonstop service. Remember to factor the 17-hour time gain when reading arrival times on your ticket.
The two airports
- SFO — San Francisco International Airport · San Francisco, United States
- MEL — Melbourne International Airport · Melbourne, Australia
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 MEL
- MEB · Melbourne Essendon Airport5 mi away
- MBW · Melbourne Moorabbin Airport25 mi away
- AVV · Avalon Airport32 mi away
- GEX · Geelong Airport47 mi away
Frequently asked questions
How far is SFO from MEL?
The flight distance from San Francisco (SFO) to Melbourne (MEL) is 7,863 miles (12,654 km, 6,832 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from SFO to MEL?
A nonstop flight takes about 15h 53m 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 Melbourne?
Melbourne is 17 hours ahead of San Francisco.
What is the cheapest way to fly from SFO to MEL?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on SFO–MEL that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.