Enter the runway and the reported wind to find the crosswind and headwind or tailwind components, including gusts. A to-scale runway diagram shows where the wind comes from, and you can compare every runway at the airport against your crosswind limit.
Last updated:
Runway
Runway number like 27, 09L or 4R, or a heading in degrees
Wind
°
Leave empty if no gusts are reported
°
From the chart or airport diagram
Limits & other runways
From your POH or your personal minimums
Comma-separated runway numbers at this airport
Enter your values to see the result.
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How to use the Crosswind Component Calculator
Enter the runway number (e.g. 27 or 09L), or switch to an exact heading in degrees.
Enter the wind direction and speed, plus gusts if reported.
Choose magnetic or true: ATIS and tower winds are magnetic; METAR and TAF winds are true, so add the variation.
Add your crosswind limit and the other runways to compare (optional).
Read the components and check the diagram and the runway table.
Crosswind and headwind formulas
Wind angle: θ = wind direction − runway heading, kept between −180° and +180°. Positive means the wind comes from the right.
Crosswind component: XW = V × sin θ.
Headwind component: HW = V × cos θ. A negative headwind is a tailwind.
Worked example: runway 27 (270°), wind 300° at 15 gusting 25 knots. θ = 30°, so the crosswind is 15 × sin 30° = 7.5 kt from the right (12.5 kt in gusts) and the headwind is 15 × cos 30° = 13.0 kt (21.7 kt in gusts).
Crosswind fraction by wind angle
Angle to runway
sin θ (crosswind share)
cos θ (headwind share)
Clock rule
Example: 20 kt wind
10°
0.17
0.98
—
3.5 kt XW, 19.7 kt HW
15°
0.26
0.97
¼
5.2 kt XW, 19.3 kt HW
30°
0.50
0.87
½
10.0 kt XW, 17.3 kt HW
45°
0.71
0.71
¾
14.1 kt XW, 14.1 kt HW
60°
0.87
0.50
all
17.3 kt XW, 10.0 kt HW
90°
1.00
0.00
all
20.0 kt XW, no HW
120°
0.87
−0.50
all
17.3 kt XW, 10.0 kt tailwind
Crosswind tips
Pick the runway with the wind closest to the nose. The comparison table does this for you and flags runways that exceed your limit.
Watch the tailwind. Even a few knots of tailwind can add a large share to the landing distance. Check your POH correction.
Plan for the gusts. Compare the gust crosswind with your limit, and many instructors teach adding half the gust factor to the approach speed.
Know your personal limit. Set a crosswind limit you have actually practiced with an instructor, often lower than the aircraft's demonstrated value.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate the crosswind component?
Find the angle between the wind direction and the runway heading, then multiply the wind speed by the sine of that angle: crosswind = wind speed × sin(angle). The headwind component is wind speed × cos(angle); a negative result means a tailwind. For example, runway 27 with wind 300° at 15 knots gives a 30° angle, so the crosswind is 15 × 0.5 = 7.5 knots and the headwind is 15 × 0.866 = 13 knots.
What is the crosswind rule of thumb?
The clock-face method: imagine the angle on a clock. 15° (a quarter hour) gives about a quarter of the wind speed as crosswind, 30° about half, 45° about three quarters, and 60° or more nearly all of it. It is a quick mental check; the sine formula gives the exact value.
Should I use true or magnetic wind?
Runway numbers are based on magnetic headings, so use magnetic wind. Winds from ATIS, AWOS and the control tower are already magnetic. Winds in METARs, TAFs and winds-aloft forecasts are true, so convert them: subtract easterly variation and add westerly variation.
How do gusts affect the crosswind component?
Use the gust speed to find the strongest crosswind you may meet. A wind of 15 gusting 25 knots at 30° to the runway gives a steady crosswind of 7.5 knots but up to 12.5 knots in the gusts. Many pilots check the gust value against their crosswind limit.
What is maximum demonstrated crosswind?
It is the highest crosswind component that was demonstrated during the aircraft's certification flight testing, listed in the POH. It is not always a structural limit, but it is a sensible upper bound, and many pilots set lower personal limits depending on experience.
How do I convert a runway number to a heading?
Multiply the runway number by 10. Runway 27 is about 270° magnetic and runway 09 about 090°. The real heading can differ by up to about 5°; enter the exact heading from the airport diagram for the most precise answer.
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Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.