What is Lat Long to DMS Converter?

Converts geographic coordinates between five formats: decimal degrees (DD), degrees-minutes-seconds (DMS), degrees-decimal-minutes (DDM), UTM, and MGRS. Useful for mapping, navigation, surveying, and GPS data from different sources.

Auto-detection means you can paste 40.7128, -74.0060 or 40°42'46"N 74°0'22"W and the tool figures out which format you used. Switch the input to UTM to convert a grid reading back to latitude and longitude, or click straight on the map to drop a pin and read off its coordinates. A precision slider controls how many decimal places appear on the DMS seconds, and a Use-my-location button pulls coordinates straight from device GPS. Have a whole list of waypoints? The batch panel converts every line at once and exports the table as CSV. Each conversion can also be shared as a URL that reopens the tool with the same coordinates already filled in.

How to use

1. Step 1 — Type or paste coordinates in any format. You can also switch to UTM input, click a point on the map, tap Use my location for a GPS reading, or open a shared link to load coordinates from the URL.
2. Step 2 — The tool auto-detects the format and converts to every other coordinate system at once.
3. Step 3 — Copy the converted coordinates in your desired format for use in maps, GPS devices, or reports.

When to use

• Transferring waypoints from a hiking app to a paper topo map that uses degrees-minutes-seconds.
• Filing an aviation flight plan that requires DDM format from a GPS recorded in decimal degrees.
• Importing geocoded photo metadata (often DMS) into a GIS that expects decimal degrees.

Result

A hiker enters GPS coordinates 34.0522° N, 118.2437° W from a trail app and converts them to DMS format 34°3'7.92"N, 118°14'37.32"W for a paper map reference.

FAQ

What's the difference between DMS and DDM?

DMS splits the fractional degree into integer minutes and decimal seconds: 40°42'46.08". DDM keeps the minutes as a single decimal: 40°42.768'. Marine and aviation usually prefer DDM because it survives transcription with fewer separators.

How many decimal places do I need for everyday use?

Five decimals in decimal degrees give roughly 1 m precision, six decimals about 10 cm. Anything beyond seven is below the noise floor of consumer GPS chips. The tool keeps six so you don't lose precision on the round trip.

Why is my converted longitude positive when it should be west?

Western longitudes are negative in decimal degrees. If a source omits the minus sign, the value is read as eastern. Add the minus or include the W suffix in the DMS string and the conversion stays in the right hemisphere.

Does the tool handle the international dateline correctly?

Yes. Inputs from -180° to +180° longitude are accepted, and the converter does not wrap. A coordinate exactly at -180 and one at +180 reference the same line but stay as-entered so you can compare them.

Are seconds with four decimals overkill?

For walking navigation, two decimals on seconds is enough (about 30 cm). Four decimals matter for surveying, geocaching benchmark points, or photogrammetry. The tool keeps four to let you trim them down rather than lose precision on copy-paste.

Related Tools