Let ($A$_{$0, A$}_{$1$}) be a compatible pair of quasi-Banach spaces and 1et$A$be a corresponding space of real interpolation type such that$A$_{$0$}∩$A$_{$1$}is not dense in$A$. Upper and lower estimates are obtained for the distance of any element$f$of$A$from$A$_{$0$}∩$A$_{$1$}. These lead to formulae for the distance in a large number of concrete situations, such as when$A$_{$0$}∩$A$_{$1$}=$L$^{$∞$}and$A$is either weak-$L$^{q}, a ‘grand’ Lebesgue space or an Orlicz space of exponential type.