April 21, 2025

26 Views

Convert geographical coordinates between Decimal Degrees (DD) and Degrees, Minutes, Seconds (DMS) formats. Essential tool for GIS, mapping, and navigation.

Latitude & Longitude Converter

Convert geographic coordinates between Decimal Degrees (DD) and Degrees, Minutes, Seconds (DMS) formats. Useful for GPS coordinates, mapping, and GIS data.

Convert Decimal Degrees (DD) to DMS

Latitude (DD):

Longitude (DD):

Convert DMS to Decimal Degrees (DD)

Enter Degrees, Minutes, Seconds and select Direction.

Latitude:

Longitude:

Understanding Coordinate Formats (DD vs. DMS)

Geographic coordinates pinpoint locations on Earth. Latitude measures position north or south of the Equator, while Longitude measures position east or west of the Prime Meridian. They can be expressed in different formats:

Decimal Degrees (DD): Expresses coordinates as a single decimal number per latitude and longitude. North latitude and East longitude are positive; South latitude and West longitude are negative. Example: `40.7486`, `-73.9864`. This format is commonly used in computing and GIS systems.
Degrees, Minutes, Seconds (DMS): Divides each degree into 60 minutes, and each minute into 60 seconds. Includes a direction indicator (N/S for latitude, E/W for longitude). Example: `40° 44' 55" N`, `73° 59' 11" W`. This format is often seen on traditional maps and GPS devices.

This lat long converter helps you accurately switch between these formats (decimal degrees to dms and dms to decimal degrees). It's a crucial mapping tool for anyone working with GPS coordinates or geographic data.

Use Cases:

Converting coordinates from a GPS device (often DMS) for use in software (often DD).
Formatting coordinates from a database (DD) for display on a map (DMS).
Ensuring consistency in GIS projects.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How are negative values used in Decimal Degrees (DD)?

Negative latitude values indicate the Southern Hemisphere (S). Negative longitude values indicate the Western Hemisphere (W). Positive latitude is North (N), positive longitude is East (E).

What are the maximum values for DMS?

Latitude degrees range from 0° to 90° (N or S). Longitude degrees range from 0° to 180° (E or W). Minutes and Seconds both range from 0 to 59 (seconds can have decimals for higher precision).

Does this converter handle different map datums (e.g., WGS84, NAD83)?

No. This tool converts between coordinate *formats* (DD and DMS). It does not change the underlying map datum. Converting coordinates between different datums requires more complex geodetic calculations.

How precise is the conversion?

The conversion uses standard mathematical formulas. The precision of the output depends on the precision of your input. When converting DD to DMS, seconds are typically rounded to a few decimal places. When converting DMS to DD, the number of decimal places reflects the precision of the input seconds.