The 16 Compass Points: Names, Bearings, Angles and Cardinal Directions
Master the 16-point compass rose. Complete guide to cardinal, intercardinal, and secondary-intercardinal directions with exact degree azimuths, naming conventions, and wind history.
Key Takeaways
- ✓The 16-point compass rose divides the 360° circle into equal 22.5-degree increments.
- ✓Points are structured into Cardinals (4), Intercardinals (4), and Secondary Intercardinals (8).
- ✓Names follow a strict naming rule: the nearest cardinal direction always precedes the intercardinal direction (e.g., North-Northeast, not Northeast-North).
- ✓Weather forecasts, wind reports, and maritime bearings frequently use 16-point nomenclature.
1. The Geometry of the 16-Point Compass Rose
Dividing a circle in half gives 180°. Dividing in half again gives the four 90° cardinal quadrants. When you continue halving these angles, you arrive at the classical 16-point compass rose, where each point is separated by exactly 22.5 degrees (360° ÷ 16 = 22.5°).
This subdivision allows for much greater practical precision without requiring continuous 3-digit numbers. When a weather report states that winds are coming from the "WSW" (West-Southwest), it communicates an exact directional corridor between 236.25° and 258.75°.
2. Complete Reference Table: All 16 Points
| Abbr. | Full Name | Nominal Azimuth | Degree Arc (Min–Max) | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N | North | 0.0° | 348.75° – 011.25° | Cardinal |
| NNE | North-Northeast | 22.5° | 011.25° – 033.75° | Secondary Intercardinal |
| NE | Northeast | 45.0° | 033.75° – 056.25° | Intercardinal |
| ENE | East-Northeast | 67.5° | 056.25° – 078.75° | Secondary Intercardinal |
| E | East | 90.0° | 078.75° – 101.25° | Cardinal |
| ESE | East-Southeast | 112.5° | 101.25° – 123.75° | Secondary Intercardinal |
| SE | Southeast | 135.0° | 123.75° – 146.25° | Intercardinal |
| SSE | South-Southeast | 157.5° | 146.25° – 168.75° | Secondary Intercardinal |
| S | South | 180.0° | 168.75° – 191.25° | Cardinal |
| SSW | South-Southwest | 202.5° | 191.25° – 213.75° | Secondary Intercardinal |
| SW | Southwest | 225.0° | 213.75° – 236.25° | Intercardinal |
| WSW | West-Southwest | 247.5° | 236.25° – 258.75° | Secondary Intercardinal |
| W | West | 270.0° | 258.75° – 281.25° | Cardinal |
| WNW | West-Northwest | 292.5° | 281.25° – 303.75° | Secondary Intercardinal |
| NW | Northwest | 315.0° | 303.75° – 326.25° | Intercardinal |
| NNW | North-Northwest | 337.5° | 326.25° – 348.75° | Secondary Intercardinal |
3. The Linguistic Rule for 3-Letter Points
Beginners often get confused between "NNE" and "ENE". The naming rule is simple:
- Step 1: Identify the nearest primary cardinal anchor point (North or South, East or West).
- Step 2: The cardinal direction (N, S, E, or W) comes first if it is the closest anchor.
- Example: The point halfway between North (0°) and Northeast (45°) is closer to North, so it is North-Northeast (NNE, 22.5°). The point halfway between East (90°) and Northeast (45°) is closer to East, so it is East-Northeast (ENE, 67.5°).
4. The Historic Winds of the Mediterranean
Before numbers were printed on compass dials, Mediterranean sailors named the 8 and 16 points after the prevailing meteorological winds:
- Tramontana (North): The cold, dry wind coming over the mountains from the Alps.
- Greco (Northeast): The wind blowing from Greece.
- Levante (East): The rising sun wind (from the Levant).
- Scirocco (Southeast): The hot, dusty desert wind originating in the Sahara.
- Ostro (South): The southern sea wind.
- Libeccio (Southwest): The storm wind from Libya.
- Ponente (West): The setting sun wind.
- Maestro / Mistral (Northwest): The master wind blowing from Rome/France.
Test Your Heading Right Now
Open our live digital compass on your smartphone to check your live magnetic degrees and 16-point rose heading in real time.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there 32-point compasses?
Yes. Traditional nautical navigation once used a 32-point rose ('boxing the compass'), which further subdivided points into quarter-points (11.25° each, like 'North by East'). Modern navigation has largely replaced 32 points with exact 360-degree digital headings.
Written by the Compass Online Editorial Team
The Compass Online editorial team consists of outdoor recreationists, geophysics enthusiasts, and software engineers dedicated to building accurate, privacy-first web navigation tools and peer-reviewed educational cartography guides.
Keep Reading