GPS Coordinate Formatter
Convert between Decimal Degrees and DMS format. Get current location.
Note: Decimal Degrees range: Latitude (-90 to 90), Longitude (-180 to 180). DMS format example: 40° 44' 55.74" N
Convert GPS coordinates between Decimal Degrees (DD) and Degrees Minutes Seconds (DMS) formats. Includes current location detection via browser geolocation.
GPS coordinates come in two common notations, and different systems insist on different ones. Decimal Degrees (DD) writes a location as signed numbers, such as 40.748817, -73.985428, and is what programming APIs, GeoJSON, and most mapping libraries expect. Degrees Minutes Seconds (DMS) writes the same point as 40° 44' 55.74" N, 73° 59' 7.54" W, and is what you find on nautical charts, surveying documents, and many handheld GPS units. This tool converts between the two in both directions.
Conversion is exact arithmetic, not lookup: one degree splits into 60 minutes, each minute into 60 seconds. Going DD to DMS, the tool validates that latitude falls between -90 and 90 and longitude between -180 and 180 before converting, and renders seconds to two decimal places with the correct N, S, E, or W suffix. Going DMS to DD, it parses the degree, minute, second, and direction tokens and outputs signed decimals to six places, which corresponds to roughly 11 cm of precision at the equator.
Two shortcuts speed things up. My Location asks the browser's geolocation API for your current position (with your permission) and fills in the decimal fields. Copy buttons next to each format put the full coordinate pair on the clipboard as comma-separated text, ready to paste into Google Maps, a flight plan, or code.
- 1
Enter coordinates in either format
Type decimal degrees in the DD card or DMS values like 40° 44' 55.74" N, or click My Location to detect your position.
- 2
Convert
Click Convert to DMS or Convert to DD. The tool validates ranges, runs the degree-minute-second arithmetic, and fills the other card.
- 3
Copy the result
Use the Copy DD or Copy DMS button to place the coordinate pair on your clipboard as comma-separated text for maps or code.
Preparing API input
A developer converts DMS coordinates from a survey document into six-decimal DD values for a geocoding API or GeoJSON file.
Reading nautical or aviation charts
Translate a chart waypoint written in degrees, minutes, and seconds into decimal form so it can be entered into a navigation app.
Sharing your current position
Click My Location during a hike, convert to DMS, and read the coordinates over the radio in the format rescuers expect.
Cleaning up mixed datasets
Standardize a spreadsheet where some location rows use DMS strings and others use decimals by converting everything to one notation.
What DMS format does the parser expect?
Degrees, minutes, and seconds followed by a direction letter, for example 40° 44' 55.74" N. The degree symbol, apostrophe, quote mark, and one of N, S, E, or W must all be present for the parse to succeed.
How precise are the converted values?
Decimal output uses six decimal places, which resolves to about 11 cm at the equator. DMS output shows seconds to two decimals, roughly 30 cm. Both exceed the accuracy of consumer GPS hardware.
Why does the tool reject my decimal coordinates?
Latitude must be between -90 and 90 and longitude between -180 and 180. Values outside those ranges are not valid positions on Earth, so the converter shows an error instead of producing a wrong answer.
How does the My Location button work?
It calls the geolocation API built into your browser, which asks for your permission first. The detected latitude and longitude fill the decimal fields directly on your device; the position is not reported to any server.
Are negative numbers or direction letters correct for south and west?
Both, depending on notation. Decimal degrees use negative signs (south latitude and west longitude are negative). DMS uses positive numbers with S or W letters. The converter handles the sign flip automatically in each direction.