IP geolocation accuracy

IP geolocation maps an IP address to a physical location using databases that track which organisations own which IP ranges and where their infrastructure is. The result above is what websites see when you connect — but how accurate is it?

Accuracy by level

• Country — 95–99% accurate. Reliable enough for geo-blocking and compliance.
• Region / state — 55–80% accurate. Useful as a rough signal, not a hard fact.
• City — 50–75% within 25 miles. Frequently wrong for mobile and VPN users.
• Street address — not possible from an IP address alone.

Why IP location is often wrong

ISP routing

Your public IP is assigned by your ISP, but the ISP may route all traffic from your area through a data centre in a different city. Geolocation databases record where the ISP registered the IP block — which may be hundreds of miles from where you actually are.

VPNs and proxies

If you are connected to a VPN or proxy, your IP belongs to the VPN server's location, not yours. This is intentional — and exactly how VPNs change your apparent location.

Mobile networks

Mobile carriers aggregate traffic from many towers through regional gateways. Your IP may resolve to the gateway city, which can be far from where you physically are.

CGNAT (carrier-grade NAT)

Many ISPs share a single public IP among dozens of customers using CGNAT. The geolocated address reflects the NAT device's location, not any individual subscriber.

Stale databases

IP address ranges are bought, sold, and re-assigned. Geolocation databases must be updated regularly to stay accurate. If a database provider hasn't refreshed recently, an IP block that moved from one city to another will still show the old location.

Who uses IP geolocation and for what

• Streaming services — enforcing regional licensing (e.g. different Netflix catalogues by country).
• Fraud detection — flagging logins from unusual countries.
• Content localisation — showing prices, language, or local news.
• Ad targeting — serving region-appropriate ads.
• Security — blocking traffic from specific countries.

For country-level decisions, IP geolocation is reliable. For anything requiring precise location, it is not the right tool.

How to change what geolocation shows

If your detected location is wrong and it matters (e.g. a site is blocking you based on the wrong country), a VPN lets you exit through a server in any location you choose. See how to change your IP address or how to hide your IP.

Related: check your IP location · check your ISP · check if you're on a VPN