Measure Angles and Bearings on Maps

A bearing needs a declared north reference

A route angle measured from screen-up is only screen-relative. The map tool withholds azimuth until you enter or drag a north direction. That user-defined arrow becomes zero degrees, clockwise values become azimuths from 0 through 360, and each saved route keeps its endpoints, page, north rotation, quadrant notation, and note.

Drag the blue north-arrow handle or enter its clockwise rotation from screen-up. Place a route start and end, then save it. Decimal degrees can be switched to degrees-minutes-seconds, reverse bearing adds 180 degrees, and two saved routes expose minimum, clockwise, and counterclockwise turns.

Orient a route sketch before reading direction

1. Import the image or PDF page and locate a trustworthy north arrow or chosen game-map reference.
2. Set the displayed north rotation; do not label it true north or magnetic north unless the source itself establishes that fact.
3. Click route start and end, inspect azimuth and quadrant bearing, and add a name and contextual note.
4. Save a second route to compare the minimum turn and both directed turns.
5. Export the marked pixels as PNG, a route-only SVG diagram, or CSV with coordinates and north rotation.

Rotation, projection, and screenshot distortion

• Screen north means the top of the displayed image; it becomes a bearing reference only when the user explicitly accepts it.
• True north follows geographic meridians, while magnetic north depends on location and date; this page determines neither automatically.
• Map rotation changes screen directions, so the chosen north arrow must rotate with the map.
• Projection can change direction relationships over large areas, and ordinary screenshots may be resized non-uniformly.
• Thick road strokes should be marked along a consistent centerline.

Appropriate direction-diagram examples

• Classroom map: set the printed north arrow and convert a drawn route to azimuth and quadrant notation.
• Game map: define the game's upward reference, compare two waypoint routes, and export a non-navigation diagram.
• Trail-planning sketch: annotate relative turns for discussion while checking real travel decisions in authoritative navigation sources.
• Interface screenshot: explain screen-relative orientation without implying a geographic projection.

Bearing versus an ordinary included angle

An included angle compares two directions and is often reported as the smaller separation. A bearing compares one directed route with a zero direction called north. That is why the same route has an azimuth, reverse bearing, quadrant bearing, and directed turns that require an explicit reference.

• No north set: endpoints can be drawn, but no realistic-looking bearing is emitted.
• One route: azimuth, quadrant, and reverse bearing are available.
• Two saved routes: minimum and directed turn values become available.

Not safety-critical navigation or surveying

The tool does not use geolocation, determine declination, identify a coordinate reference system, correct projection, or verify a screenshot's scale and rotation. Its outputs are visual diagram bearings from a user-defined north arrow, not instructions for aviation, marine, wilderness, emergency, or surveying decisions.

Map sources remain local to the browser and no location permission is requested.