Written by Muneeb Rana · Last updated 26 October 2026
Quick answer: Compass directions divide a circle into named points. The four cardinal directions are north (0°), east (90°), south (180°) and west (270°); intercardinal points like NE sit halfway. Finer 16- and 32-point roses add names like NNE. Bearings use degrees clockwise from north. A phone compass shows magnetic bearings unless it corrects for declination.
TL;DR
- Cardinal: N, E, S, W.
- Intercardinal: NE, SE, SW, NW.
- Degrees run clockwise from north.
- Magnetic north ≠ true north.
- Calibrate phone compasses.
Compass directions: the rose
| Point | Degrees |
|---|---|
| N | 0° |
| NE | 45° |
| E | 90° |
| SE | 135° |
| S | 180° |
| SW | 225° |
| W | 270° |
| NW | 315° |
Reading bearings
A bearing of 060° means 60° clockwise from north, between NE and E. Back bearings add or subtract 180°.
Magnetic vs true
Magnetic declination is the angle between magnetic and true north; NOAA's calculator gives your local value. Maps use true or grid north.
Phone compasses
Phones use magnetometers that metal and magnets disturb. Calibrate with a figure-eight. Speedometer PRO's Compass tab shows heading; the online compass works in a browser.
Course vs heading
When moving, GPS gives course over ground (direction of travel), which can differ from where the phone points.
The 32-point compass
Traditional mariners' compasses divide the circle into 32 points, each 11.25 degrees apart, with names like north by east. The 16-point version (N, NNE, NE, ENE…) is more common today, with points 22.5 degrees apart. Most apps simply show degrees from 0 to 359 alongside the nearest cardinal or intercardinal letter.
True north and magnetic north
A magnetic compass points to magnetic north, which differs from true (geographic) north by the magnetic declination. Declination varies by location and changes slowly over time; NOAA publishes a calculator. Phones can correct for it when they know your location.
Practising direction
On a clear day, note where the sun rises and sets relative to your phone's compass reading. It's a simple way to build an intuition for direction that still works when your battery doesn't.
Bearings in degrees
Bearings run clockwise from north: 0° north, 90° east, 180° south, 270° west. Each of the 16 points covers 22.5°.
Uses
Hiking, boating and orienting maps; see walking & hiking and boat.
Related: Free speed tools · Online compass · Speedometer with compass · Walking speed tracker for walks and hikes · Boat speedometer app: GPS speed over ground · Speedometer with map · Online speedometer: your speed in the browser · How fast am I going right now?
Get Speedometer PRO on Google Play · Download on the App Store · Set it up before you move; never handle your phone while driving.
Sources
- Compass (Wikipedia): en.wikipedia.org (accessed 26 October 2026)
- Magnetic declination (NOAA NCEI): ncei.noaa.gov (accessed 26 October 2026)
- Magnetic declination (Wikipedia): en.wikipedia.org (accessed 26 October 2026)
- Points of the compass (Wikipedia): en.wikipedia.org (accessed 26 October 2026)
FAQ
What are the four cardinal directions?
North, east, south and west, at 0°, 90°, 180° and 270°.
What does NNE mean?
North-northeast, halfway between north and northeast, at 22.5°.
Do compass degrees go clockwise?
Yes, bearings are measured clockwise from north.
Why is my phone compass wrong?
Nearby metal or magnets, or the sensor needs calibration.
What is magnetic declination?
The angle between magnetic north and true north at your location.