16-zone vs 8-direction Vastu

Updated 2 October 2026

The 8-direction school divides a home into 8 directions of 45 degrees. The 16-zone school divides it into 16 zones of 22.5 degrees, so it is twice as fine and sometimes reads the same room differently. Both measure from the centre of the home with North verified, and both keep the centre itself open.

These rules are a draft rule set, pending review by our consultants. Treat them as a guide, not a verdict.

The zones in degrees

Bearings are measured clockwise from true North, from the centre of the home. The first zone of each school is centred on North.

16-zone school

Zone	From	To
N	348.75°	11.25°
NNE	11.25°	33.75°
NE	33.75°	56.25°
ENE	56.25°	78.75°
E	78.75°	101.25°
ESE	101.25°	123.75°
SE	123.75°	146.25°
SSE	146.25°	168.75°
S	168.75°	191.25°
SSW	191.25°	213.75°
SW	213.75°	236.25°
WSW	236.25°	258.75°
W	258.75°	281.25°
WNW	281.25°	303.75°
NW	303.75°	326.25°
NNW	326.25°	348.75°

Traditional 8-direction school

Zone	From	To
N	337.5°	22.5°
NE	22.5°	67.5°
E	67.5°	112.5°
SE	112.5°	157.5°
S	157.5°	202.5°
SW	202.5°	247.5°
W	247.5°	292.5°
NW	292.5°	337.5°

Where the schools give opposite readings

Across the 10 room types in our rule table there are 93 bearing ranges where the two schools read a room differently. In most of them one school is neutral. In the 14 below, one school rates the placement good and the other says avoid. These are the rooms where two consultants are most likely to give you two answers.

Room	Bearing	16-zone	8-direction
Main entrance	101.25° to 112.5°	ESE: Avoid	E: Good
Master bedroom	191.25° to 202.5°	SSW: Avoid	S: Good
Master bedroom	202.5° to 213.75°	SSW: Avoid	SW: Good
Master bedroom	281.25° to 292.5°	WNW: Avoid	W: Good
Bedroom	101.25° to 112.5°	ESE: Avoid	E: Good
Bedroom	191.25° to 202.5°	SSW: Avoid	S: Good
Bedroom	281.25° to 292.5°	WNW: Avoid	W: Good
Bedroom	292.5° to 303.75°	WNW: Avoid	NW: Good
Toilet	101.25° to 112.5°	ESE: Good	E: Avoid
Toilet	202.5° to 213.75°	SSW: Good	SW: Avoid
Toilet	258.75° to 281.25°	W: Avoid	W: Good
Pooja room	101.25° to 112.5°	ESE: Avoid	E: Good
Study	101.25° to 112.5°	ESE: Avoid	E: Good
Study	281.25° to 292.5°	WNW: Avoid	W: Good

How the check combines them

Each school is scored on its own, starting at 100. The combined score is the weighted average of the two, and today the weights are equal. More schools can be added as our consultants contribute rule sets. The methodology page lists every rule.

Questions people ask

What are the 16 zones of Vastu?

The 16-zone school divides the home around its centre into 16 zones of 22.5 degrees each: N, NNE, NE, ENE, E, ESE, SE, SSE, S, SSW, SW, WSW, W, WNW, NW, NNW, clockwise from North. The centre is read separately.

What are the 8 directions of Vastu?

The traditional school uses 8 directions of 45 degrees each: N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW, clockwise from North, plus the centre.

Which school is correct?

Both are practised widely, and consultants differ. We do not pick one. The check shows the reading under each school and marks each room as schools agree or schools differ.