Coordinates Converter
Convert latitude and longitude coordinates between Decimal Degrees (DD), Degrees Minutes Seconds (DMS), and Degrees Decimal Minutes (DDM) formats. Perfect for GPS, surveying, and mapping applications.
Value between -90 (South) and 90 (North)
Value between -180 (West) and 180 (East)
What are the different coordinate formats?
The three common coordinate formats are: Decimal Degrees (DD) like 40.7128° N, 74.0060° W (used by Google Maps). Degrees Minutes Seconds (DMS) like 40° 42' 46" N, 74° 0' 22" W (traditional format for charts). Degrees Decimal Minutes (DDM) like 40° 42.767' N, 74° 0.360' W (used in aviation and marine navigation). All formats represent the same location, just with different precision and notation styles.
How do I convert DMS to Decimal Degrees?
Decimal Degrees = Degrees + (Minutes / 60) + (Seconds / 3600). Example: 40° 42' 46" N = 40 + (42/60) + (46/3600) = 40.71278° N. For South or West coordinates, the result is negative. So 74° 0' 22" W = -(74 + 0/60 + 22/3600) = -74.00611° W. To reverse: the whole number is degrees, multiply the decimal by 60 for minutes, multiply the remaining decimal by 60 for seconds.
What is the difference between latitude and longitude?
Latitude lines run horizontally (east-west) and measure how far north or south of the Equator (0°). Values range from -90° (South Pole) to 90° (North Pole). Longitude lines run vertically (north-south) and measure how far east or west of the Prime Meridian (0° at Greenwich, England). Values range from -180° to 180°. Together, latitude and longitude give an exact location on Earth. One degree of latitude ≈ 111 km (69 miles). One degree of longitude varies from 111 km at the equator to 0 km at the poles.
How precise do my coordinates need to be?
Precision requirements depend on use: 1 decimal place (11.1 km) for country/city, 2 decimal places (1.11 km) for town/region, 3 decimal places (111 m) for neighborhood, 4 decimal places (11.1 m) for street, 5 decimal places (1.11 m) for building, 6 decimal places (0.111 m) for precise GPS. Most GPS devices provide 6+ decimal places. Popular mapping services typically use 6-7 decimal places. For most practical purposes, 4-6 decimal places are sufficient.