Bearing and distance calculator
Calculate whole-circle bearing and horizontal distance between two grid points, or radiate new coordinates from a bearing and distance.
This tool runs in your browser and nothing you enter is uploaded. Check results independently before relying on them for survey work.
How it works
Join uses ΔE = E₂ − E₁, ΔN = N₂ − N₁, distance = √(ΔE² + ΔN²) and bearing = atan2(ΔE, ΔN), normalised to 0–360°. Radiation uses E₂ = E₁ + d sin θ and N₂ = N₁ + d cos θ. No ground-to-grid or slope reduction is applied.
Worked example
From E 1000, N 1000 to E 1100, N 1100, the bearing is 045°00′00″ and distance is 141.421 m. Both coordinate differences are +100.000 m. Radiating 100 m at 90° from the first point gives E 1100.000, N 1000.000.
Sources and further reading
These are plane grid formulae. For distance and bearing between latitudes and longitudes on the ellipsoid, Geoscience Australia publishes Vincenty’s formulae, with online calculators.
Frequently asked questions
Are these true or grid bearings?
These are plane grid bearings. No meridian convergence, magnetic declination or geodesic correction is applied.
What happens when both points are the same?
Distance and coordinate differences are zero. A bearing is undefined for coincident points.
Can I enter degrees, minutes and seconds?
Yes. Use 45 30 15 or degree, minute and second symbols, or decimal degrees such as 45.5041667.
More free surveyor tools
- MGA2020 converter
Convert GDA2020 latitude and longitude to MGA2020 grid coordinates and back.
- Area from coordinates
Work out area and perimeter from grid coordinates.
- Traverse misclose
Check a traverse misclose and calculate a Bowditch adjustment.
- Rise and fall
Reduce a level book and check it against a closing benchmark.
- Survey fee proposal template
Write the scope, fees and terms, then print or save your proposal as a PDF.
Keep the fee proposal, crew bookings, field and office hours and staged invoices for each survey job together in BackSight.
BackSight for survey firms