Convert DMS to Lat Long
Instantly convert Degrees, Minutes, Seconds coordinates to decimal latitude and longitude - free, fast, and accurate.
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DD, DMS, UTM, MGRS, Plus Code, UN/LOCODE - converted instantly.
What is DMS (Degrees, Minutes, Seconds)?
Degrees, Minutes, Seconds (DMS) is one of the oldest and most widely recognized formats for expressing geographic coordinates. Instead of using a single decimal number for latitude and longitude, DMS breaks each coordinate into three components:
- Degrees (°) - the largest unit, ranging from 0 to 90 for latitude and 0 to 180 for longitude
- Minutes (') - each degree contains 60 minutes
- Seconds (") - each minute contains 60 seconds
A typical DMS coordinate looks like
40°26'46"N 79°58'56"W, where the cardinal direction
(N/S for latitude, E/W for longitude) indicates the hemisphere.
Where is DMS Used?
DMS remains the standard notation in several fields:
- Aviation - flight charts and air traffic control communications use DMS
- Nautical navigation - maritime charts and ship positioning rely heavily on DMS
- Topographic maps - many printed and government-issued maps label coordinates in DMS
- Surveying - traditional land surveys often record positions in DMS format
How Does DMS to Decimal Conversion Work?
Converting DMS to decimal degrees follows a straightforward formula:
Decimal Degrees = Degrees + (Minutes ÷ 60) + (Seconds ÷
3600)
For example, 40°26'46"N converts to: 40 + (26 ÷ 60) +
(46 ÷ 3600) = 40.446111°. Southern latitudes and western longitudes
become negative decimal values.
When Would You Need to Convert?
Many modern applications - Google Maps, GPS devices, GIS software, and web mapping APIs - expect coordinates in decimal degrees. If you receive coordinates from a nautical chart, aviation report, or printed map, you will likely need to convert from DMS to decimal format before you can use them digitally. This converter handles that instantly, along with UTM, MGRS, and Plus Code output.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is DMS coordinate format?
DMS stands for Degrees, Minutes, Seconds. It is a traditional way of writing geographic coordinates where each value is broken into degrees (°), minutes ('), and seconds ("). For example, 40°26'46"N 79°58'56"W represents a location in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Each degree contains 60 minutes, and each minute contains 60 seconds.
How do I convert DMS to decimal degrees?
Use the formula: Decimal Degrees = Degrees + (Minutes ÷ 60) + (Seconds ÷ 3600). For southern latitudes (S) or western longitudes (W), the result is negative. For example, 40°26'46"N becomes 40 + 26/60 + 46/3600 = 40.4461°. You can use the converter above to do it instantly.
What is the difference between DD and DMS?
DD (Decimal Degrees) expresses coordinates as a single decimal number (e.g., 40.4461, -79.9822), while DMS breaks the same value into three components (e.g., 40°26'46"N 79°58'56"W). Both represent the same location - DD is more common in digital applications, while DMS is traditional in navigation and printed maps.
Where is DMS notation commonly used?
DMS is the standard coordinate notation in aviation (flight charts and ATC communications), nautical navigation (maritime charts), topographic maps, land surveying, and many government mapping publications. It remains widely used because the degree-minute-second breakdown provides an intuitive sense of scale.