Can I use this tool with coordinates given in degrees, minutes, and seconds format?

Yes, GPS Visualizer's coordinate calculator accepts input in decimal degrees, degrees-minutes, and degrees-minutes-seconds formats, automatically converting whatever you enter.

What makes the distance calculation more accurate than other online bearing tools?

The tool uses the Vincenty formula, which accounts for the earth's flattened shape rather than assuming a perfect sphere, providing very high precision for great-circle distances.

Is it possible to find a destination point if I know the starting location, bearing, and distance?

Yes, the calculator supports bearing-based coordinate projection, allowing users to input an initial bearing and desired distance to compute destination coordinates.

Can I save or export the calculated route as an image or map file?

Yes, multiple map output formats are available including Leaflet, Google Maps, Google Earth, SVG, JPEG, and PNG, allowing users to download or view the great-circle route on their preferred platform.

Materials & MeasurementTool Review

Bearing Calculator

Provided byGPS Visualizergpsvisualizer.com

Its calculators page includes great-circle distance between two points with initial bearing output. It also supports ...

One of 6 options for Bearing Calculator

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Screenshot of Bearing Calculator on GPS Visualizer — gpsvisualizer.comOpen the live tool →

About this tool

What Bearing Calculator does

GPS Visualizer's Bearing Calculator determines the initial bearing and great-circle distance between any two geographical coordinates. Users receive precise distance measurements using the Vincenty formula, which accounts for the earth's flattened shape, and can choose from multiple map outputs including Leaflet, Google Maps, Google Earth, or SVG, JPG, and PNG formats. The tool also supports coordinate conversion and drawing range rings around a point. Beyond basic bearing calculations, it offers bearing-based coordinate projection to find destination points at a given distance and direction. All calculations occur within the web browser, requiring no downloads or installations. The interface presents input fields for latitude and longitude in multiple formats, with clear output options for map visualization or raw data. While other calculators focus solely on bearing or distance, this tool combines both with extensive mapping and export capabilities. The Vincenty formula implementation provides higher precision than many standard calculators that assume a spherical earth. Users benefit from the ability to visualize results on various mapping platforms or download static map images. The tool also handles coordinate format conversion, making it accessible regardless of how coordinates are originally specified. This combination of precision, visualization options, and projection capabilities distinguishes it from simpler bearing-only tools.

Step by step

How to use the GPS Visualizer Bearing Calculator

1
Enter the latitude and longitude of the starting point in the designated fields
2
Enter the latitude and longitude of the destination point in the second set of fields
3
Select preferred output format (Leaflet map, Google Map, Google Earth, SVG, JPEG, or PNG)
4
Click the calculate button to view the great-circle distance, initial bearing, and drawn route between the two points

Is it right for you

Best for

Travelers, hikers, and geocachers who need accurate initial bearing and distance between waypoints, especially those who want to visualize the great-circle route on a map or export the results as a static map image.

Limitations

Results rely on the Vincenty formula which may behave unpredictably at antipodal points
No direct unit switching between imperial and metric within the same calculation session
Map export formats require separate selection and may have size or resolution limitations not specified in the material

Questions

Bearing Calculator FAQ

Can I use this tool with coordinates given in degrees, minutes, and seconds format?: Yes, GPS Visualizer's coordinate calculator accepts input in decimal degrees, degrees-minutes, and degrees-minutes-seconds formats, automatically converting whatever you enter.
What makes the distance calculation more accurate than other online bearing tools?: The tool uses the Vincenty formula, which accounts for the earth's flattened shape rather than assuming a perfect sphere, providing very high precision for great-circle distances.
Is it possible to find a destination point if I know the starting location, bearing, and distance?: Yes, the calculator supports bearing-based coordinate projection, allowing users to input an initial bearing and desired distance to compute destination coordinates.
Can I save or export the calculated route as an image or map file?: Yes, multiple map output formats are available including Leaflet, Google Maps, Google Earth, SVG, JPEG, and PNG, allowing users to download or view the great-circle route on their preferred platform.

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