We have determined the distance to NGC 5253 using the relationship between velocity dispersion and the integrated Hβ luminosity for giant HII regions. We find a distance of 4.6 +/- 0.7 Mpc, or a true distance modulus (m - M)_0_ = 28.31 +/- 0.30. This implies an absolute magnitude at maximum of M_B_ = - 19.90 +/- 0.35 for the extensively studied type Ia supernova SN1972E in NGC 5253.
