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Convert degrees to compass bearings and cardinal directions instantly. Adjust for magnetic declination to translate between true north and magnetic north for precise navigation, surveying, and orienteering.
0° = North, 90° = East, 180° = South, 270° = West
Positive = East declination, Negative = West
True North Bearing
°
Magnetic North Bearing
°
Cardinal Direction
The 16-point compass rose divides the full 360° circle into equal 22.5° sectors. Each direction has a center bearing and an angular range.
| Degrees | Abbr. | Direction | Range (°) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0° | N | North | 348.75 - 11.25° |
| 22.5° | NNE | North-Northeast | 11.25 - 33.75° |
| 45° | NE | Northeast | 33.75 - 56.25° |
| 67.5° | ENE | East-Northeast | 56.25 - 78.75° |
| 90° | E | East | 78.75 - 101.25° |
| 112.5° | ESE | East-Southeast | 101.25 - 123.75° |
| 135° | SE | Southeast | 123.75 - 146.25° |
| 157.5° | SSE | South-Southeast | 146.25 - 168.75° |
| 180° | S | South | 168.75 - 191.25° |
| 202.5° | SSW | South-Southwest | 191.25 - 213.75° |
| 225° | SW | Southwest | 213.75 - 236.25° |
| 247.5° | WSW | West-Southwest | 236.25 - 258.75° |
| 270° | W | West | 258.75 - 281.25° |
| 292.5° | WNW | West-Northwest | 281.25 - 303.75° |
| 315° | NW | Northwest | 303.75 - 326.25° |
| 337.5° | NNW | North-Northwest | 326.25 - 348.75° |
A compass bearing is a direction expressed as an angle measured clockwise from north, ranging from 0° (due north) through 360° (a full rotation back to north). This angular system has been the foundation of terrestrial and maritime navigation for centuries, dating back to ancient Chinese and Mediterranean seafarers who used lodestone compasses to cross open waters.
Modern compasses use Earth's magnetic field to align a magnetized needle with magnetic north. However, magnetic north and true (geographic) north rarely coincide. The angular difference between them is called magnetic declination, and it varies by location and changes slowly over time as Earth's magnetic poles shift. In the United States, declination ranges from about -20° on the East Coast to +20° on the West Coast.
The compass rose subdivides the circle into progressively finer points. The four cardinal directions (N, E, S, W) split the circle into 90° quadrants. Adding the four intercardinal directions (NE, SE, SW, NW) creates 45° sectors, and the eight secondary intercardinal directions (NNE, ENE, ESE, SSE, SSW, WSW, WNW, NNW) yield the standard 16-point compass with 22.5° sectors used in weather reporting, aviation, and general navigation.
East declination is positive; West declination is negative.
Given: A bearing of 157°.
Step 1: 157° falls in the range 146.25° - 168.75°.
Step 2: That range corresponds to SSE (South-Southeast).
Result: 157° = SSE (South-Southeast).
Given: Magnetic bearing = 90°, Declination = +12° (east).
Step 1: True Bearing = 90° + 12° = 102°.
Step 2: 102° falls in 101.25° - 123.75° = ESE.
Result: True bearing is 102° ESE.
Given: True bearing = 270° (due West), Declination = -13° (west).
Step 1: Magnetic Bearing = 270° - (-13°) = 283°.
Step 2: 283° falls in 281.25° - 303.75° = WNW.
Result: Magnetic bearing is 283° WNW. Your compass should read 283°, not 270°.
To quickly estimate a cardinal direction from a degree value, divide by 90. If the result is near 0 or 4, you are heading roughly North. Near 1 means East, near 2 means South, and near 3 means West. For intercardinal directions, divide by 45 instead: 1 = NE, 3 = SE, 5 = SW, 7 = NW. This gives you a fast sanity check in the field.
| Scenario | Bearing (°) | Cardinal | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Due North along a trail | 0° | N | Toward geographic north |
| Sunrise direction (equinox) | 90° | E | Due east at equinox |
| Due South return path | 180° | S | Opposite of north |
| Sunset direction (equinox) | 270° | W | Due west at equinox |
| Northeast hiking route | 45° | NE | Between N and E |
| Southeast boat heading | 135° | SE | Between S and E |
| Southwest flight path | 225° | SW | Between S and W |
| Northwest wind direction | 315° | NW | Between N and W |
| Runway 09 approach | 90° | E | Aviation heading |
| Runway 27 approach | 270° | W | Aviation heading |
| City | Declination (°) | Direction |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | -13.0° | West |
| Los Angeles, CA | +11.5° | East |
| Seattle, WA | +15.5° | East |
| Miami, FL | -5.5° | West |
| Denver, CO | +7.5° | East |
| Chicago, IL | -3.0° | West |
| Anchorage, AK | +15.0° | East |
| Honolulu, HI | +9.5° | East |
A back bearing is the reverse of your current bearing. Add 180° if under 180°; subtract 180° if over.
| Forward Bearing | Direction | Back Bearing | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0° | N | 180° | S |
| 45° | NE | 225° | SW |
| 90° | E | 270° | W |
| 135° | SE | 315° | NW |
| 180° | S | 0° | N |
| 225° | SW | 45° | NE |
| 270° | W | 90° | E |
| 315° | NW | 135° | SE |
Orienteering, hiking, and backcountry travel rely on accurate bearings to follow routes, triangulate position, and find waypoints without GPS.
Sailors plot courses on nautical charts using true bearings, then convert to magnetic bearings for helm steering, accounting for local declination.
Property boundaries, land descriptions, and topographic surveys are defined using precise bearings and azimuths recorded with total stations.
SAR teams coordinate search patterns, relay direction information, and guide helicopters using standardized compass bearings for efficiency.
The most common mistake is reading a bearing from a map (true north) and following it on a compass (magnetic north) without adjusting for declination. In areas with large declination, this can send you miles off course.
Declination changes annually. A topographic map printed 20 years ago may show a declination value that is several degrees off from the current value. Always check the most recent data from NOAA or your national geological survey.
Remember: East declination is positive, West is negative. Getting the sign wrong doubles the error. A helpful mnemonic is "East is least (subtract from magnetic to get true)" and "West is best (add to magnetic to get true)."
Holding a compass near belt buckles, knives, vehicles, or electronic devices introduces magnetic interference that distorts the reading. Always hold the compass away from metal and take readings at arm's length.
When navigating, always know your back bearing (forward bearing plus or minus 180°) so you can retrace your route. Forgetting this simple step is a common cause of getting lost in unfamiliar terrain.
You can find your local magnetic declination using the NOAA Magnetic Field Calculator at ngdc.noaa.gov or mobile compass apps. Enter your coordinates or zip code to get the current value. Declination changes over time, so always use up-to-date data. Most USGS topographic maps also print a declination diagram in the margin.
Magnetic declination is the angular difference between true north and magnetic north. If you follow a compass bearing from a map without adjusting for declination, you could be off course by 10 to 20 degrees or more. A 10-degree error translates to roughly 1 mile off course for every 6 miles traveled, which can be dangerous in wilderness settings.
In modern usage, bearing and azimuth are often synonymous: both describe an angle measured clockwise from north on a 0 to 360 degree scale. In traditional surveying, however, bearings use quadrant notation such as N 45 degrees E, while azimuth always uses the full-circle method. Azimuth is the preferred term in aviation and military contexts.
For recreational hiking and orienteering, accuracy within 2 to 3 degrees is sufficient. Standard handheld compasses provide about 2-degree accuracy. Professional surveying instruments achieve 0.1-degree precision. Even small errors compound over distance, so take multiple readings and always account for declination.
Yes, most smartphones have built-in magnetometers that function as compasses. However, phone compasses can be affected by magnetic interference from the device itself, magnetic phone cases, and nearby metal objects. For critical backcountry navigation, always carry a traditional magnetic compass as a backup.
Magnetic declination changes because Earth's magnetic field is generated by convection of molten iron in the outer core, which constantly shifts. The magnetic North Pole moves roughly 40 to 50 kilometers per year. Local magnetic anomalies from iron ore deposits also cause regional variations. Declination values are updated annually by geological survey agencies.
To convert a magnetic bearing to a true bearing, add the declination if it is east (positive) or subtract it if it is west (negative). The formula is: True Bearing = Magnetic Bearing + Declination. For example, if your magnetic bearing is 90 degrees and declination is +12 degrees east, your true bearing is 102 degrees.
The 16-point compass rose divides the 360-degree circle into 16 equal sectors of 22.5 degrees each. It includes the four cardinal directions (N, E, S, W), four intercardinal directions (NE, SE, SW, NW), and eight secondary intercardinal directions (NNE, ENE, ESE, SSE, SSW, WSW, WNW, NNW). Each point name describes its position between the nearest cardinal and intercardinal directions.
This calculator is provided for educational and informational purposes only. Always verify critical navigation calculations with professional instruments and current declination data. UnitTables is not responsible for errors resulting from the use of this tool.