Initial Bearing & Heading Calculator
Work out the initial bearing from one coordinate to another — the heading to set off on, in degrees from true north, with the matching 16-point compass direction.
Initial bearing
This is the heading to set off on. Along a great circle the bearing drifts as you go, so re-check it en route.
The heading to start on
Bearing answers a simple question — “which way do I face to head toward that point?” The tool uses the standard atan2 forward-azimuth formula on the two coordinates and reports the angle clockwise from true north, along with the closest compass point so you can read it at a glance.
Remember that this is the initial heading of the great-circle route. Over short hops it barely moves, but across an ocean or a continent the bearing swings noticeably, which is why long-distance navigators break a route into legs and recompute the heading at each waypoint. And because it is a true bearing, add local magnetic declination before steering it on a handheld compass.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an initial bearing?
The initial bearing, or forward azimuth, is the compass heading you would set off on to follow the great-circle route from the start point to the end point. It is measured clockwise from true north, so due north is 0°, east is 90°, south is 180°, and west is 270°.
Why does the bearing change along the way?
A great circle is the shortest path on a sphere, but because the meridians it crosses are not parallel, the angle it makes with north keeps changing. That means the heading you start with is not the heading you finish with — on a long route you re-check and adjust the bearing as you go.
Is this a true or magnetic bearing?
The result is a true bearing, measured from geographic (true) north. A magnetic compass points to magnetic north, which differs from true north by the local magnetic declination. To steer this bearing with a compass, apply your area's declination.
What is the difference between a bearing and a heading?
A bearing is the direction to a target from your position. A heading is the direction your vehicle or body is actually pointing. In still conditions they match; with a crosswind or current, you may hold a heading offset from the bearing to keep tracking toward the target.
What does the compass point mean?
Alongside the numeric bearing the tool gives the nearest of the 16 traditional compass points — N, NNE, NE, ENE, and so on. It is a quick, human-readable way to describe a direction, each point covering a 22.5° slice of the circle.
Educational reference only. Bearings are measured from true north; apply local magnetic declination to steer them with a magnetic compass.