How to Convert Radians to Degrees in Python

Angles in Python’s math functions are often expressed in radians, but most people are familiar with degrees. Whether you’re doing trigonometry, working with graphics, or just need a quick conversion, Python makes converting radians to degrees straightforward. Here are the best ways, with code examples and explanations.

Table of Content

• # Why Convert Radians to Degrees?
• # Using math.degrees() (Recommended)
• # Using the Radians-to-Degrees Formula
• # Converting a List or Array of Radians
• # Comparison Table: Conversion Methods
• # Conclusion

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Why Convert Radians to Degrees?

• Trigonometry: Most angles in school and engineering are in degrees, but Python’s math functions use radians.
• Graphics/Plotting: Rotate shapes or set angles more intuitively in degrees.
• User Input/Output: Make results friendlier for most users and interfaces.

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01. Using math.degrees() (Recommended)

The math.degrees() function quickly converts radians to degrees with correct rounding and avoids manual calculation.

import math

angle_rad = math.pi / 2
angle_deg = math.degrees(angle_rad)
print(angle_deg)

Output:

90.0

Explanation:

• math.degrees() is available in Python’s standard math module.
• Takes a number in radians and returns the angle in degrees as a float.

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02. Using the Radians-to-Degrees Formula

The mathematical formula to convert radians to degrees is:
degrees = radians × (180 / π)

import math

angle_rad = 1.5
angle_deg = angle_rad * 180 / math.pi
print(angle_deg)

Output:

85.94366926962348

Explanation:

• Always import math.pi for the most accurate value of π.
• The result is a float, as most angles are not whole numbers.

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03. Converting a List or Array of Radians

Use a list comprehension or NumPy for bulk conversion.

import math

angles_rad = [0, math.pi/6, math.pi/4, math.pi/2]
angles_deg = [math.degrees(r) for r in angles_rad]
print(angles_deg)

Output:

[0.0, 30.0, 45.0, 90.0]

With NumPy:

import numpy as np

arr_rad = np.array([0, np.pi/2, np.pi, 2*np.pi])
arr_deg = np.degrees(arr_rad)
print(arr_deg)

Output:

[  0.  90. 180. 360.]

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04. Comparison Table: Conversion Methods

Method	Single Value	Multiple Values	Best For
math.degrees()	Yes	With list comp	Standard, most use cases
radians × 180 / math.pi	Yes	With list comp	Quick math, full control
numpy.degrees()	Yes	Yes (arrays)	Batch processing, scientific

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Conclusion

Converting radians to degrees in Python is both quick and accurate. Use math.degrees() for any single value, the formula for custom calculations, or numpy.degrees() if you’re working with arrays. This ensures your code is readable and your results match common expectations in engineering, math, or user-facing apps.