How to Draw a Compass Rose Step by Step
Step 1: Draw the Outer Circle
Mark a small dot in the middle of your paper. This is the center of your compass rose, and every circle you draw will use this same point. Now draw a large circle around it.
Leave some empty space around the circle. In Step 5, the main points will poke out past this circle, and you’ll need room for the N, E, S and W letters too.
Tip: If you’re using a drawing compass, put a small piece of tape on the back of the paper at the center. It stops the needle hole from getting bigger, so all your circles stay perfectly centered.
Step 2: Add the Rim
Draw a second circle just slightly smaller than the first one. The thin gap between these two circles becomes the rim of your compass rose, just like the edge of a real compass.
Try to keep the gap the same width all the way around. An even rim instantly makes your drawing look neat and professional.
Step 3: Draw the Inner Ring
Now draw a third circle inside the rim. Make it noticeably smaller, about three-quarters of the size of the rim.
This inner ring frames the star you’re about to draw and adds depth to the design. Use the same center dot again so the rings stay evenly spaced.
Step 4: Add the Center Circles
Draw two small circles right in the center, one inside the other. These are guides: the bases of your main points will start on the edge of the larger small circle in the next step.
Don’t press hard here. You’ll erase these two little circles at the end.
Step 5: Draw the Four Cardinal Points
Now the compass rose starts to take shape. Draw four long, narrow triangles: one pointing up (north), one down (south), one right (east) and one left (west). These are called the cardinal points.
Each triangle starts on the edge of the larger center circle and stretches out past the outer rim to a sharp tip.
Tip: Draw the north point first, then measure it with your ruler. Make the other three exactly the same length. Also check that north and south line up in one straight line through the center, and east and west do the same.
Step 6: Add the Four Intercardinal Points
Between each pair of main points, draw a shorter diagonal point. These are the intercardinal points: northeast, southeast, southwest and northwest. Each one sits exactly halfway between two main points, at a 45° angle.
Make these points shorter than the main ones so the cardinal directions stand out. Draw them as if they sit behind the main points.
You can also draw a small cross inside the center circle. It marks the exact middle and helps you line up everything in the next step.
Step 7: Draw Center Lines and Label the Directions
Use your ruler to draw a straight line from the center of the compass rose to the tip of every point, all eight of them. These lines split each point into two halves, which is what will give your compass rose its 3D look later.
Now add the letters just beyond the tips of the main points: N at the top, E on the right, S at the bottom and W on the left. Capital letters with small serifs (little lines at the ends of each stroke) give it a classic map style.
Memory trick: Going clockwise from the top, remember Never Eat Soggy Waffles.
Step 8: Erase and Finish the Outline
Erase the two small center circles and any leftover guidelines, so all eight points meet neatly in the middle. Then trace over your final lines with a black pen or fineliner. Wait a minute for the ink to dry, then erase any remaining pencil marks.
Symmetry check: Turn your paper upside down, or look at your drawing in a mirror. Any point that looks too long, too short or crooked will jump out immediately.
Congratulations, you’ve drawn a compass rose!
How to Shade a Compass Rose So It Looks 3D
The center lines from Step 7 split every point into two sides, or “facets.” Shading one side and leaving the other light makes each point look like a raised, folded shape.
- Pick a light direction. For example, imagine light coming from the top left.
- Shade the same side of every point. Going around the circle, always shade the half that faces away from the light. Consistency matters most; if you switch sides, the 3D effect breaks.
- Use two tones. For the classic nautical look, fill one half of each main point solid black. For the shorter points, use a medium gray on one half and a light gray on the other.
- Add a soft shadow where the shorter points tuck behind the main ones.
How to Color Your Compass Rose
There’s no wrong way to color a compass rose, but these four styles always look great:
- Classic map: red and navy blue halves on the points, with a gold or yellow rim.
- Vintage / antique: browns, sepia and cream. Draw on cream paper or tea-stained paper with a brown pen for an old-chart feel.
- Fantasy map: match the colors of your map, like a deep red rim with beige or parchment points.
- Kids’ version: give each direction its own bright color, and make opposite points match.
Tip: If you plan to use watercolor or markers, outline your drawing with a waterproof pen first so the lines don’t smudge.
Easy 4-Point Compass Rose for Kids
For younger kids, keep it simple:
- Draw one circle and mark a dot in the center.
- Draw a plus sign (+) through the center.
- Turn each arm of the plus sign into a long triangle.
- Write N, E, S and W at the tips.
- Color each point a different color.
This version is perfect for a first geography lesson, because it focuses only on the four main directions.
Advanced: How to Draw a 16-Point Compass Rose
Ready for a challenge? A 16-point compass rose adds a third level of even smaller points. The key is the angles:
- 4-point: a point every 90°
- 8-point: a point every 45°
- 16-point: a point every 22.5°
- 32-point: a point every 11.25°
Follow Steps 1–6 above, then use a protractor to mark 22.5° halfway between each existing pair of points. Draw a third set of points that are shorter than the diagonal ones. These new directions are labeled NNE (north-northeast), ENE (east-northeast), ESE, SSE, SSW, WSW, WNW and NNW.
Tip: Make each level of points clearly shorter than the one before. Three distinct lengths keep a 16-point rose easy to read.
How to Draw a Compass Rose Freehand (No Ruler or Compass)
Don’t have tools? You can still draw a good-looking compass rose:
- Draw a plus sign (+) lightly, then an X through the same center.
- Sketch a circle by marking dots at the same distance along each of the 8 lines, then connect them with a smooth curve.
- Turn your paper as you draw, so you’re always drawing curves in the direction that feels most natural for your hand.
- Build the points on top of the 8 lines.
Freehand works best for small compass roses, like one in the corner of a travel journal or a hand-drawn map.
Common Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)
- Points are different lengths. Measure the first point and mark the same length on the others before you draw them.
- Circles aren’t centered. Use one center dot for every circle, and put tape behind the paper so the compass needle doesn’t wiggle.
- The compass rose looks tilted. North and south must form one straight line through the center, and so must east and west. Check with your ruler.
- Diagonal points aren’t halfway. Use a protractor to measure 45°, or fold a square piece of paper corner to corner to find the diagonals.
- Guidelines won’t erase. Sketch with light pressure and only press hard when you ink.
- Shading looks flat. Shade the same side of every point, all the way around.
What Is a Compass Rose?
A compass rose is a symbol on maps and nautical charts that shows the directions. Its four main points are the cardinal directions: north, east, south and west. Between them sit the intercardinal directions: northeast, southeast, southwest and northwest.
It’s called a “rose” because its many points spread out from the center like the petals of a flower. It was also once called a “wind rose,” because early versions marked the directions of the main winds that sailors relied on. Decorated compass roses have appeared on maps for centuries; the Catalan Atlas from 1375 is often mentioned as one of the earliest examples.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many points does a compass rose have?
A compass rose can have 4, 8, 16 or 32 points. The 8-point version, with the four cardinal and four intercardinal directions, is the most common and the one taught in this tutorial.
What is the difference between a compass and a compass rose?
A compass is a tool with a magnetic needle that points north. A compass rose is the drawn symbol showing the directions, found on maps and on the face of a compass.
How do you draw a compass rose without a drawing compass?
Trace around round objects like a cup, a jar lid or a roll of tape. You can also tie a string to a pencil, hold the other end on the center point and swing the pencil around.
What do NE, SE, SW and NW mean?
They stand for northeast, southeast, southwest and northwest. Each one is exactly halfway between two cardinal directions.
Why is it called a compass rose?
Because the points spreading out from the middle look like the petals of a rose.
What colors are traditionally used for a compass rose?
Red, blue, black and gold are the classic colors. Antique maps often use browns and cream.
How long does it take to draw a compass rose?
The 8-step version in this guide takes about 15–20 minutes, plus extra time if you add shading and color.
Where should I put a compass rose on a map?
Usually in a corner where it doesn’t cover important parts of the map. Make sure the north point matches the actual north of your map, which is normally the top.