DMS ↔ Decimal Degrees Converter
ConverterConvert coordinates between degrees-minutes-seconds (DMS) and decimal degrees, in both directions. Runs entirely in your browser.
About this tool
About DMS ↔ Decimal Degrees Converter
Geographic coordinates can be written in two common formats: degrees-minutes-seconds (DMS), like 40°26'46.302"N 79°58'56.903"W, which mirrors how coordinates were traditionally read off a map or GPS receiver; and decimal degrees, like 40.446195, -79.982473, which is what most mapping APIs, GPX files, and modern apps expect. This tool converts between the two, in both directions.
Converting decimal to DMS takes the whole-number part as degrees, multiplies the remainder by 60 for minutes, and multiplies that remainder by 60 again for seconds, choosing N/S or E/W based on the sign. Converting DMS to decimal reverses this: degrees plus minutes divided by 60 plus seconds divided by 3600, negated if the hemisphere is S or W.
Use this to convert a GPS coordinate from a map, survey document, or older device's DMS display into the decimal format needed by Google Maps, a mapping API, or a GPX/KML file, or to convert a decimal coordinate back into the DMS format used in traditional navigation and surveying contexts.
Instant, fully client-side conversion with no data ever leaving your browser. The conversion math is straightforward and exact — there's no approximation or external service involved.
Key Features
- Two-way conversion — decimal degrees to DMS or DMS to decimal degrees
- Handles both latitude and longitude in a single conversion
- Validates latitude (-90 to 90) and longitude (-180 to 180) ranges
- One-click copy of the converted coordinate pair
- 100% browser-based, no data ever transmitted
FAQ
DMS ↔ Decimal Degrees Converter — Frequently Asked Questions
What does DMS stand for?
DMS stands for Degrees, Minutes, Seconds — a way of writing a geographic coordinate as a whole number of degrees, a whole number of minutes (1/60th of a degree), and a number of seconds (1/60th of a minute), followed by a hemisphere letter (N, S, E, or W) instead of a plus or minus sign.
Why do mapping apps use decimal degrees instead of DMS?
Decimal degrees are a single plain number, which is much easier for software to store, sort, calculate distances with, and plot on a map. DMS is more familiar to humans reading a coordinate off a physical instrument, but decimal degrees are simpler for nearly everything else.
How precise is a given number of decimal places in decimal degrees?
Each additional decimal place roughly increases precision by a factor of 10: 1 decimal place is about 11 km, 3 decimal places is about 110 meters, 5 decimal places is about 1.1 meters, and 6 decimal places is about 11 centimeters, depending on latitude.
What format does the DMS input need to be in?
Enter both coordinates together, separated by a space, in the form degrees°minutes'seconds"hemisphere — for example 40°26'46.302"N 79°58'56.903"W. The tool expects the latitude (N or S) first, followed by the longitude (E or W).
Why does my DMS input fail to convert?
The most common causes are a missing hemisphere letter, using a lowercase or non-standard degree/minute/second symbol, or putting the longitude before the latitude. Make sure both coordinates are present and in the order latitude then longitude.
Tips
- Enter the latitude first, then the longitude, separated by a space — same order Google Maps and most APIs expect
- A negative decimal latitude means South, and a negative decimal longitude means West — this tool handles the sign conversion automatically
- Six decimal places in decimal degrees gets you to roughly 11 cm of precision — more than enough for almost any real-world use
- This converter never sends your coordinates anywhere — everything is computed entirely in your browser
Explore more
Related Tools
Other tools that might be useful for your workflow