Abstract: In this paper, we deal with the problem of computing the distance to a surface (a curve in two dimensional) and consider several distance function approximation methods which are based on solving partial differential equations (PDEs) and finding solutions to variational problems. In particular, we deal with distance function estimation methods related to the Poisson-like equations and generalized double-layer potentials. Our numerical experiments are backed by novel theoretical results and demonstrate efficiency of the considered PDE-based distance function approximations.