How many compass points does this tool use?

The tool uses the 16-point compass rose: the 4 cardinal points (N, E, S, W), 4 intercardinal (NE, SE, SW, NW), and 8 secondary intercardinal points (NNE, ENE, ESE, SSE, SSW, WSW, WNW, NNW). Each sector covers 22.5 degrees.

Does 0° and 360° both mean North?

Yes. A bearing of 0° and 360° are identical — both represent true North. The tool treats any input of 360 as equivalent to 0 (North).

What is the difference between wind direction and wind heading?

Meteorological wind direction is the direction FROM which the wind blows. A north wind (360°/N) blows FROM the north, moving air toward the south. Navigation headings describe the direction TO which you are traveling, which is the opposite convention.

What is a reciprocal bearing?

The reciprocal bearing is the direction exactly opposite to the entered bearing — 180° away. For example, the reciprocal of North (0°) is South (180°). It is useful for plotting return courses or finding the true wind source direction.

Why does the tool show 16 compass points and not 32?

The 16-point system is the most widely used standard in aviation (METAR), marine forecasts, and general meteorology. The 32-point system adds points like NbE (North by East) that are rarely used in modern reporting.

Can I use decimal degrees as input?

Yes. The degrees field accepts decimal values such as 157.5. The tool rounds to the nearest 22.5-degree sector to assign a compass point name.

Wind Direction Converter

Name: Wind Direction Converter
Availability: InStock
Author: Nham Vu

Enter degrees or a compass point to instantly convert wind direction and see it displayed on an interactive compass rose.

Wind Direction Input

Compass Bearing (degrees)

Compass Point

Enter a bearing or select a compass point to see the result.

Compass Rose

Arrow points in the direction the wind is coming FROM.

16-Point Compass Reference

Your current selection is highlighted.

#	Abbr.	Full Name	Mid (°)	Sector (°)

Summary

Enter degrees or a compass point to instantly convert wind direction and see it displayed on an interactive compass rose.

How it works

Type a bearing in degrees (0–360) into the Degrees field, or select a compass point from the dropdown.
The tool maps the bearing to the nearest of the 16 standard compass points using 22.5-degree sectors.
The result shows the bearing, abbreviation, full name, and the reverse (reciprocal) bearing.
The compass rose SVG rotates the wind arrow to match the entered direction in real time.
Switch between the two input modes at any time — both stay in sync.

Use cases

Decoding METAR and TAF wind direction codes for aviation preflight.
Converting ship course headings between degrees and compass points.
Checking weather station wind direction against a chart compass.
Teaching students how to read a compass rose.
Converting hiking and orienteering bearing data to named directions.
Cross-referencing buoy and offshore wind reports with navigation charts.
Verifying wind vane and anemometer readings against forecast models.
Quick reference for marine VHF weather bulletins that use compass points.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-06-15 · Reviewed by Nham Vu