Compass Degrees to Direction Converter

Turn a bearing in degrees — from a compass, GPS or wind report — into a compass direction such as SW or NNE.

How to use the Compass Degrees to Direction Converter

Enter a bearing from 0 to 360 degrees.
Read the 16-point and 8-point direction.
See the opposite bearing and quadrant notation.

How it works

Bearings are measured clockwise from north: 0° (or 360°) is north, 90° east, 180° south and 270° west. Each of the 16 compass points covers 22.5°, centered on its exact bearing — NE is 45°, SW is 225°. Wind directions are reported as where the wind blows from: a 270° wind is a westerly.

Compass points

Direction	Bearing	Direction	Bearing
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°

Frequently asked questions

What direction is 270 degrees?

West.

What direction is 135°?

Southeast (SE).

Is 0° north?

Yes — 0° and 360° are both north.

What does a north wind mean?

The wind is blowing from the north (bearing 0°).

What is magnetic declination?

The angle between magnetic north (where a compass points) and true north. It varies by location — about 10–15° in parts of the US — so adjust compass bearings for map work.