A bearing is a direction expressed as an angle: how far clockwise from north you would have to turn to face something. Due north is 0°, east is 90°, south is 180°, west is 270°. Azimuth is the same measurement under a different name, and this tool reports it on the same 0–360° scale.
Click a starting point on the map and then a target, and the angle between them appears immediately, along with a compass rose, the 16-point abbreviation such as NE or SSW, and a sentence spelling the direction out in words. No account and no surveying kit required.
How it works
The angle is calculated from the geographic positions of your two points on the curved surface of the Earth, taken at the first point and measured clockwise from true north. Because it is worked out from coordinates rather than from the shape on screen, it does not drift with the map projection or the zoom level.
One distinction matters if you are going to walk the line with a compass: this is a true bearing, relative to the geographic north pole. A magnetic compass points at magnetic north instead, which sits somewhere else and moves over time, so the needle reading differs from the figure here by the local magnetic declination. MapGO does not apply that correction, so add or subtract your area's declination yourself before following a bearing in the field.
How to use the Bearing and Azimuth Tool
- 1
Open the bearing tool
Open the MapGO workspace and choose Bearing from the Measure tools, then move the map so both your points are in view.
- 2
Place the starting point
Click where you are measuring from. As you move the cursor, a dashed line and an arrow follow it, previewing the bearing live.
- 3
Click the target
Click the second point to lock the measurement. Press Esc before that second click if you want to restart from a different origin.
- 4
Read the direction
The panel gives the bearing in degrees, the compass rose with the arrow rotated to match, the 16-point abbreviation, and the direction written out in plain words.
- 5
Measure more lines
Start a new measurement for the next pair of points. Each bearing stays on the map as its own labelled arrow that you can rename, zoom to or delete.
What people use it for
Navigation and orienteering
Work out the heading from a known start to a target before you set off, then convert it to a magnetic bearing for your compass.
Surveying and site layout
Record the direction of a boundary, fence line or alignment as an azimuth for a plan, a note or a report.
Antennas and line of sight
Find the direction from a mast, dish or camera to the point it needs to face when planning an installation.
Aviation and marine planning
Read the direction of a leg between two positions on the standard 0–360° scale used in flight and passage planning.
Frequently asked questions
- Is this a true bearing or a magnetic bearing?
- A true bearing, measured clockwise from geographic north. A compass needle points to magnetic north, which differs by the local declination, so apply your area's declination if you plan to follow the bearing with a compass.
- What is the difference between bearing and azimuth?
- In everyday use, none here. Both describe an angle measured clockwise from north, and this tool reports it on the full 0–360° scale, so the number works as either.
- Does it show the distance as well?
- No — the bearing tool reports direction. Use the distance tool for the length of the same line; it is linked below and works the same way, by clicking points on the map.
- Does the bearing stay the same along the whole line?
- Over short distances, effectively yes. The figure is the direction at your starting point, and on a very long line the true direction shifts gradually as the path follows the curve of the Earth.
- Do I need an account to use it?
- No. Measuring bearings is free and needs no signup. An account is only required to save a map and reopen it later.