Strike & Dip Converter
Convert a strike & dip measurement between the three common notations — right-hand rule, dip direction, and quadrant (N45E) — instantly. Free, in your browser, no sign-up.
Right-hand rule
—
strike / dip
Dip direction
—
dip → dip direction
Quadrant
—
strike, dip + direction
The three strike & dip notations
Right-hand rule (RHR)
You record the strike so the plane dips down to your right. This makes the reading unambiguous: dip direction is always strike + 90°. Written as 045/30 (strike 045, dip 30).
Dip direction (dip azimuth)
You record the compass bearing of the steepest downhill line and the dip angle directly. Common outside the US. Written as 135/30 or "dips 30° toward 135°". This is the convention many European universities prefer.
Quadrant
Strike is given as an angle east or west of north/south, and dip as an angle plus a general direction. Written as N45E, 30SE. Common in older North American literature.
New to this? Read how to measure strike and dip, then plot your data on our free stereonet plotter.
Strike & dip conversion FAQ
What is the difference between strike and dip direction?
Strike is the bearing of a horizontal line on a tilted plane. Dip direction is the bearing of the steepest downhill line — always 90° clockwise from strike (right-hand rule). A plane striking 045 dips toward 135.
What is the right-hand rule?
Record the strike so the plane dips down to the right of the strike direction. Then dip direction is unambiguously 90° clockwise from the strike azimuth.
How do you convert strike to dip direction?
Add 90° to the right-hand-rule strike (wrap past 360). Strike 045 → dip direction 135; strike 300 → dip direction 030.
Does GeoKit support all three conventions?
Yes. The free GeoKit app lets you display measurements in dip-direction, right-hand-rule, or quadrant format — useful for international teams and universities.
Measure once, read it any way
GeoKit captures strike & dip in one step and displays it in your preferred convention — free, offline, on iOS & Android.
