SiteCalculators
  1. Home
  2. Calculators
  3. Easting/Northing Distance + Bearing

Free site calculator

Easting and Northing Distance & Bearing Calculator

Enter two Easting and Northing coordinates to calculate horizontal plan distance, whole-circle grid bearing, reverse bearing, coordinate differences and midpoint.

Enter your data

Enter grid coordinates in metres; the result is a grid bearing and horizontal plan distance.

No sign-in
m
m
m
m
Inputs are processed in this browser. This calculator does not send project data to a server.
Bearing limitation: The result is a two-dimensional grid bearing and horizontal distance. Apply any required grid convergence, scale, elevation or true-bearing corrections separately.

How to calculate distance and bearing from Easting and Northing

Subtract Point A from Point B to obtain the coordinate differences: ΔE = EB − EA and ΔN = NB − NA. The Pythagorean formula gives the horizontal distance. Using atan2 with ΔE before ΔN gives a surveying bearing measured clockwise from grid North rather than a mathematical angle measured counter-clockwise from the positive x-axis.

The whole-circle bearing convention is North = 0°, East = 90°, South = 180° and West = 270°. Enter metre coordinates; the result is shown in decimal degrees and degrees-minutes-seconds.

bearing = atan2(ΔE, ΔN)
distance = √(ΔE² + ΔN²)

Worked Easting and Northing example

For point A at Easting 1000.000 m, Northing 2000.000 m and point B at Easting 1006.000 m, Northing 2008.000 m, the changes are ΔE = 6.000 m and ΔN = 8.000 m. The horizontal distance is √(6² + 8²) = 10.000 m. The grid bearing from A to B is 036.8699° (036° 52′ 11.6″), the reverse bearing is 216.8699°, and the midpoint is Easting 1003.000 m, Northing 2004.000 m.

For several connected drainage runs, the Manhole Schedule Gradient Checker applies the same coordinate-distance and bearing convention row by row.

Grid bearing versus true bearing

This is a coordinate-grid calculation. It does not apply grid convergence, magnetic declination, scale factor or projection corrections. Use appropriate survey control and project procedures for high-accuracy work.

Frequently asked questions

How do I calculate distance between Easting and Northing coordinates?

Subtract the first Easting and Northing from the second to obtain ΔE and ΔN, then calculate √(ΔE² + ΔN²). Keep both coordinate pairs in the same units and coordinate system.

How do I calculate bearing from Easting and Northing?

Use atan2(ΔE, ΔN), convert the result to degrees, and normalise it to 0–360°. That order gives a whole-circle grid bearing measured clockwise from North.

Is this a slope distance?

No. It is horizontal plan distance. A 3D slope distance also needs the level difference.

Which coordinate units should I use?

Enter Eastings and Northings in metres. Convert other coordinate units before using this page so the displayed distance unit remains unambiguous.