Bearing ↔ azimuth converter
Type a quadrant bearing or an azimuth in either box. The other form and the back direction update as you type.
Like N 45 30 15 E, S68°05'35"W or N 12.5 W.
Like 248 05 35, 248°05'35" or 248.0931.
Type a bearing or an azimuth.
- Bearing
- Azimuth
- Azimuth, decimal degrees
- Back bearing
- Back azimuth
Conversion rules
Worked example
Take the bearing S 68°05′35″ W. It is in the southwest quadrant, so the azimuth is 180° + 68°05′35″ = 248°05′35″. The back azimuth is 248°05′35″ − 180° = 68°05′35″, which is the back bearing N 68°05′35″ E.
Entry formats
- Degrees, minutes and seconds separated by spaces, dashes or symbols:
68 05 35,68-05-35,68°05'35". - Decimal degrees:
68.0931. - Minutes and seconds must be below 60. A bearing angle can't exceed 90°, and an azimuth can't exceed 360°.
Questions
What is the difference between a bearing and an azimuth?
An azimuth is a single angle from 0° to 360°, measured clockwise from north. A quadrant bearing is an angle from 0° to 90° measured from north or south toward east or west, written like N 45°30′ E. Both describe the same direction.
How do I convert a bearing to an azimuth by hand?
NE: the azimuth equals the bearing angle. SE: 180° minus the angle. SW: 180° plus the angle. NW: 360° minus the angle.
What is a back bearing?
The direction of the same line seen from its other end. Add or subtract 180° from the azimuth, or swap both letters of the bearing: the back bearing of N 45° E is S 45° W.
Is this a north azimuth or a south azimuth?
North azimuth, clockwise from north, which is the convention in current practice. Some older surveys and some state plane work used south azimuths; add 180° to convert a south azimuth to a north azimuth.
Does it correct for magnetic declination?
No. It converts between two ways of writing the same direction and does not change the reference meridian.