Hex Grid Mathematics Reference

Hex Grid Mathematics Reference

Coordinate Systems

Cube Coordinates (Recommended)

• Three axes: q, r, s where q + r + s = 0
• Best for algorithms and math
• Easy neighbor calculation, distance, rotation

Offset Coordinates

• Two axes: col, row
• Better for storage and display
• Odd-q or even-q offset for pointy-top hexes

Key Algorithms

Cube to Offset (odd-q)

int col = q;
int row = r + (q - (q & 1)) ~/ 2;

Offset to Cube (odd-q)

int q = col;
int r = row - (col - (col & 1)) ~/ 2;
int s = -q - r;

Distance

int distance(Hex a, Hex b) {
  return (abs(a.q - b.q) + abs(a.r - b.r) + abs(a.s - b.s)) ~/ 2;
}

Neighbors (6 directions)

const directions = [
  Hex(1, -1, 0), Hex(1, 0, -1), Hex(0, 1, -1),
  Hex(-1, 1, 0), Hex(-1, 0, 1), Hex(0, -1, 1),
];

List<Hex> neighbors(Hex h) {
  return directions.map((d) => Hex(h.q + d.q, h.r + d.r, h.s + d.s)).toList();
}

Hex to Pixel (pointy-top)

double x = size * (sqrt(3) * q + sqrt(3)/​2 * r);
double y = size * (3/​2 * r);

Pixel to Hex

double q = (sqrt(3)/​3 * x - 1/​3 * y) / size;
double r = (2/​3 * y) / size;
// Then round to nearest hex

Line Drawing (for line of sight)

List<Hex> lineDraw(Hex a, Hex b) {
  int n = distance(a, b);
  List<Hex> results = [];
  for (int i = 0; i <= n; i++) {
    results.add(hexRound(hexLerp(a, b, i / max(n, 1))));
  }
  return results;
}

Range (all hexes within N)

List<Hex> hexesInRange(Hex center, int range) {
  List<Hex> results = [];
  for (int q = -range; q <= range; q++) {
    for (int r = max(-range, -q - range); r <= min(range, -q + range); r++) {
      int s = -q - r;
      results.add(Hex(center.q + q, center.r + r, center.s + s));
    }
  }
  return results;
}

Reference

Full guide: https://www.redblobgames.com/grids/hexagons/