Bearing Converter Degrees ↔ Compass Directions
Degrees → Direction
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Direction → Degrees
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Lookup table (click to fill)
Quick reference for the selected precision. Tap a label to push it into the converter.
| Label | Center (°) | Range (°) |
|---|
Center is the midpoint for that label; range shows the degrees that round to it.
How this Bearing Converter helps (in plain English)
- Degrees to words instantly. Type any azimuth—say 247.5°—and get a clear direction like WSW (west-southwest). It’s perfect when a map, GPS track, or drone app gives degrees but your brain thinks in N/NE/E…
- Pick your precision. Choose classic 4-point (N/E/S/W), 8-point (adds NE/SE/SW/NW), the common 16-point set (NNE, ENE, etc.), or go full 32-point for “north by east” style labels.
- Works both ways. Convert “WSW” or “west-southwest” back to degrees. You’ll see the center angle plus the degree range that rounds to that label.
- Built for mobile. Touch-friendly inputs and copy buttons make sharing a heading with your hiking group or notes app easy.
- Pairs with 123Compass. Use 123Compass to read your live heading, then drop the number here to translate it into plain-language directions.
Key terms without the jargon
- Azimuth (°): An angle measured clockwise from North. 0° or 360° is North, 90° East, 180° South, 270° West.
- Cardinal directions: N, E, S, W. Intercardinal add NE/SE/SW/NW. Secondary intercardinals (like NNE, ENE) give 16 total; “by” points make 32.
- Heading vs. bearing: Heading is where your phone (or vehicle) points. Bearing is the direction from you to a target. They only match when you’re aimed right at it.
Common conversions people look for
- 73° → ENE (east-northeast)
- WSW → 247.5° (center of the WSW sector at 16-point precision)
- 0° / 360° → N, 90° → E, 180° → S, 270° → W
- north-northwest → 337.5° (NNW center at 16-point precision)
Real-world uses
- Hiking & orienteering: “Walk ENE to the ridge” is easier to remember than decimals.
- Boating & fishing: Sharing a course as SSW avoids mishearing “about 200°” over radio.
- Drones & photography: Many apps output azimuth; convert to NE/ENE language for shot lists.
- Weather & wind: “Wind from the NW” makes instant sense when you can see the quadrant.
Note: The converter snaps to the nearest label for the chosen precision. If you need quadrant bearings like N30°E, use 16- or 32-point mode or describe the angle directly (e.g., “30° east of north”).