Compass Degrees Calculator

Use this compass degrees calculator to determine the bearing between two points using their coordinates. Whether you're navigating, surveying, or planning a route, this tool provides accurate compass bearings in degrees.

How to Use This Calculator

To calculate the compass bearing between two points:

Enter the latitude and longitude of the starting point in decimal degrees
Enter the latitude and longitude of the destination point
Click "Calculate" to get the compass bearing in degrees
Review the result and chart visualization

The calculator will display the bearing in degrees from true north (0°) to true north (360°). You can also view a chart showing the direction.

Formula Explained

The compass bearing between two points is calculated using spherical geometry. The formula used is:

θ = atan2(sin(Δλ) * cos(φ2),
cos(φ1) * sin(φ2) - sin(φ1) * cos(φ2) * cos(Δλ))

Where:

θ is the bearing in radians from north
φ1 is the latitude of the starting point
φ2 is the latitude of the destination point
Δλ is the difference in longitude between the two points

The result is converted to degrees and normalized to the range 0°-360°.

Note: This formula assumes the Earth is a perfect sphere. For more precise calculations, consider using ellipsoidal models.

Worked Examples

Example 1: Simple Bearing Calculation

Starting point: 40.7128° N, 74.0060° W (New York City)
Destination point: 34.0522° N, 118.2437° W (Los Angeles)

The calculated bearing is 285.5° from true north, which means the direction is west-northwest.

Example 2: Short Distance Calculation

Starting point: 51.5074° N, 0.1278° W (London)
Destination point: 52.3702° N, 4.8952° E (Amsterdam)

The calculated bearing is 32.1° from true north, indicating a northeast direction.

Starting Point	Destination Point	Calculated Bearing (°)
40.7128° N, 74.0060° W	34.0522° N, 118.2437° W	285.5
51.5074° N, 0.1278° W	52.3702° N, 4.8952° E	32.1

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a compass bearing?

A compass bearing is the direction from one point to another, measured in degrees clockwise from true north. It's commonly used in navigation, surveying, and mapping.

How accurate is this calculator?

This calculator provides accurate bearings based on spherical Earth geometry. For professional applications, consider using more precise ellipsoidal models.

Can I use this for aviation navigation?

While this calculator provides basic bearings, aviation navigation typically requires more precise methods and considerations for magnetic variation and wind effects.

What if my coordinates are in degrees, minutes, seconds?

You can convert your coordinates to decimal degrees using our coordinate conversion calculator before entering them here.