What is the difference between bearing and azimuth?

Azimuth is a horizontal angle measured clockwise from north (0-360 degrees). Bearing describes direction as an acute angle from north or south toward east or west (e.g., N45E or S30W). Azimuth is used in surveying and astronomy; bearing is traditional in navigation.

How do you convert bearing to azimuth?

NE quadrant: azimuth = bearing angle. SE quadrant: azimuth = 180 - angle. SW quadrant: azimuth = 180 + angle. NW quadrant: azimuth = 360 - angle. For example: N30E = 30, S30E = 150, S30W = 210, N30W = 330.

How do you convert azimuth to bearing?

0-90: N angle E. 90-180: S (180-angle) E. 180-270: S (angle-180) W. 270-360: N (360-angle) W. For azimuth 135: between 90-180, bearing = S(180-135)E = S45E.

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Home›Trigonometry Tools›Bearing and Azimuth Calculator

Bearing and Azimuth Calculator

Convert between bearing (N/S/E/W) and azimuth (0-360) formats with quadrant analysis

Convert Direction

Azimuth (0-360)

Bearing to Azimuth Conversion

NE: Azimuth = Bearing Angle (0-90)

SE: Azimuth = 180 - Angle (90-180)

SW: Azimuth = 180 + Angle (180-270)

NW: Azimuth = 360 - Angle (270-360)

Bearing and azimuth are two common ways to express direction in navigation, surveying, and geography. Understanding the conversion between them is essential for map reading and field work.

⚠ Azimuth: measured clockwise from north (0-360). Bearing: quadrant notation like N45E or S30W.

What Are Bearing and Azimuth?

Azimuth is a single 0-360 degree angle measured clockwise from north. Bearing uses a two-letter prefix (N/S) and suffix (E/W) with an acute angle. Both describe the same direction in different notation systems.

Azimuth

0 to 360 degrees clockwise from north. North=0, East=90, South=180, West=270. Standard in surveying and astronomy.

Bearing

Acute angle from N/S toward E/W. N45E = 45 azimuth. S30W = 210 azimuth. Traditional in navigation.

Back Azimuth

The opposite direction. Add or subtract 180 degrees from the forward azimuth. Used for return navigation.

Quadrants

Four quadrants: NE (0-90), SE (90-180), SW (180-270), NW (270-360). Each has its own conversion formula.

Teaching Example: Convert azimuth 135 to bearing. 135 is in SE quadrant (90-180). Bearing = S(180-135)E = S45E. Convert bearing N30W to azimuth. NW quadrant: azimuth = 360-30 = 330.

Applications

Navigation Surveying GIS Mapping Aviation Military Land Navigation

FAQs about Bearing and Azimuth

What is the difference?▼

Azimuth: single 0-360 angle from north. Bearing: N/S prefix + acute angle + E/W suffix. Same direction, different format.

How to convert N45E to azimuth?▼

N45E is NE quadrant. Azimuth = 45. For S30W (SW quadrant): azimuth = 180+30 = 210. For N30W (NW quadrant): azimuth = 360-30 = 330.

What is quadrant bearing?▼

Quadrant bearing uses N or S first, then an acute angle (0-90), then E or W. It tells direction relative to north or south.

What is a back azimuth?▼

The opposite direction: add or subtract 180 from azimuth. Azimuth 75 has back azimuth 255. Used for return navigation.

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