Compass Bearing Converter
Convert compass bearing degrees to cardinal and intercardinal directions (N, NNE, NE, etc.) and back.
Includes all 32 compass points for navigation.
Enter degrees (0-360) or select a cardinal direction.
A compass bearing is measured in degrees clockwise from North.
Main cardinal directions (4):
- N = 0° (or 360°)
- E = 90°
- S = 180°
- W = 270°
Intercardinal directions (4 more):
- NE = 45°, SE = 135°, SW = 225°, NW = 315°
All 16 compass points (22.5° apart):
| Direction | Degrees | Direction | Degrees |
|---|---|---|---|
| N | 0° | S | 180° |
| NNE | 22.5° | SSW | 202.5° |
| NE | 45° | SW | 225° |
| ENE | 67.5° | WSW | 247.5° |
| E | 90° | W | 270° |
| ESE | 112.5° | WNW | 292.5° |
| SE | 135° | NW | 315° |
| SSE | 157.5° | NNW | 337.5° |
Formula: Each of the 16 points covers a 22.5° arc. Direction index = round(degrees / 22.5) mod 16
Bearings always run clockwise from north and are written as three digits (045°, not 45°) so they can’t be mistaken for anything else over a radio or on a chart. That three-digit habit comes straight from navigation and aviation, where ambiguity is genuinely dangerous.
Two ideas go hand in hand with bearings. The first is the back bearing, the reverse direction, found by adding or subtracting 180°: if you walk out on a bearing of 060°, your route home is 240°. The second is the difference between true and magnetic north. A compass points to magnetic north, but maps are drawn to true north, and the gap between them (magnetic declination) can run to many degrees depending on where you are. For a casual stroll it rarely matters, but over a long distance an uncorrected bearing will steadily walk you off course.
How we build and check this converter
This converter runs entirely in your browser, so the numbers you enter stay on your device. The math behind it is written by hand and tested against worked examples and standard references before the page goes live.
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