GPS coordinate converter
What is a Gps Coordinate Converter?
GPS coordinates are written in two main formats. Decimal degrees (DD), like 48.858370, 2.294481, are used by Google Maps, GIS software and APIs. Degrees, minutes and seconds (DMS), like 48° 51' 30.1" N, 2° 17' 40.1" E, appear on paper maps, nautical charts and survey documents. This converter translates between them.
How to use it
- Enter coordinates in either format.
- Read the converted latitude and longitude.
- Copy the result into your map, spreadsheet or GPS device.
Decimal to DMS
Take latitude 48.858370:
- Degrees = 48.
- Minutes = 0.858370 × 60 = 51.5022, so 51.
- Seconds = 0.5022 × 60 = 30.13.
Result: 48° 51' 30.13" N.
DMS to decimal
DD = degrees + minutes / 60 + seconds / 3600. South latitudes and west longitudes are negative in decimal form: 33° 52' 4" S becomes -33.8678.
How precise is a decimal place?
- 2 decimal places: about 1.1 km
- 4 decimal places: about 11 m
- 5 decimal places: about 1.1 m
- 6 decimal places: about 0.11 m, more than consumer GPS can measure
Common mistakes
- Swapping latitude and longitude. Latitude (north-south, -90 to 90) comes first in most formats, but GeoJSON uses longitude first.
- Forgetting the minus sign for southern or western coordinates, which moves the point to the other side of the world.
- Confusing decimal minutes (DDM, 48° 51.502' N) with DMS.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert decimal degrees to DMS?
Take the whole degrees, multiply the remainder by 60 for minutes, then multiply the minutes remainder by 60 for seconds.
How are south and west shown in decimal degrees?
As negative numbers. South latitudes and west longitudes are negative.
Which comes first, latitude or longitude?
Usually latitude first. GeoJSON and some APIs use longitude first, so check the format.
How many decimal places do I need?
Five decimal places give about one metre of precision, which is enough for most uses.