Coordinate Bearing Calculator
The coordinate bearing calculator computes the initial bearing (forward azimuth) in degrees true north between two points on Earth identified by their latitude and longitude in decimal degrees. Enter the starting point and destination coordinates and the calculator returns the clockwise angle from true north that you would need to face at the start to travel the shortest great-circle arc to the destination. The result ranges from 0.00 to 360.00 degrees. This calculation is fundamental in land surveying, GIS routing, and navigation.
Starting point
Destination
Bearing formula
theta = atan2(sin(dLon)*cos(lat2), cos(lat1)*sin(lat2) - sin(lat1)*cos(lat2)*cos(dLon))
bearing = (theta in degrees + 360) mod 360
All inputs must be in radians. The result is normalized to 0-360 degrees. The back bearing is (initial bearing + 180) mod 360.
Understanding bearings in surveying
- Bearings of 0 or 360 degrees point true north. 90 degrees is east, 180 is south, 270 is west.
- In surveying, bearings are often expressed as quadrant notation such as N 45 E or S 30 W. This calculator gives the equivalent azimuth in 0-360 degree form.
- The back bearing (reverse bearing) is used when you need to look back from the destination toward the starting point.
- For magnetic navigation, subtract the local magnetic declination from the true bearing to get the magnetic bearing.
Coordinate bearing calculator: frequently asked questions
What is initial bearing?
Initial bearing (also called forward azimuth) is the compass direction you must face at the starting point to travel along the great-circle arc toward the destination. It is measured clockwise from true north (0 to 360 degrees).
Why does bearing change along a great-circle route?
Great-circle routes are not straight lines on a Mercator map. As you travel along the arc, the compass heading gradually changes. The initial bearing applies only at the starting point; the final bearing is the heading when you arrive at the destination.
How do I convert a bearing to a compass direction?
Divide 360 into 8 or 16 compass points. For example: 0/360 = North, 45 = NE, 90 = East, 135 = SE, 180 = South, 225 = SW, 270 = West, 315 = NW.
What is the difference between true bearing and magnetic bearing?
True bearing is measured from true geographic north. Magnetic bearing is measured from magnetic north, which differs from true north by the local magnetic declination. Navigation charts require applying declination to convert between them.
Can this calculator find the bearing for any two points on Earth?
Yes, as long as the coordinates are valid (latitude -90 to 90, longitude -180 to 180). If the two points are the same, the bearing is undefined and shown as n/a.
Official sources
- NOAA National Geodetic Survey: NGS geodetic tools and references.
- USGS: USGS mapping and geospatial resources.
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 15 June 2026. See our methodology.