Plus Code Converter
Convert Google Plus Codes (Open Location Codes) to and from standard coordinate formats - free, fast, and accurate.
Paste anything. Get every format.
DD, DMS, UTM, MGRS, Plus Code, UN/LOCODE - converted instantly.
What are Google Plus Codes?
Plus Codes, also known as Open Location Codes (OLC), are a location
encoding system developed by Google to provide simple, reliable
addresses for places that lack traditional street addresses. A Plus
Code like 9C3XGV4C+HQ encodes a precise geographic
location into a short, easy-to-share string.
Unlike latitude and longitude, Plus Codes are designed to be human-friendly - they are short, use a limited character set that avoids ambiguous characters, and can be entered into Google Maps directly.
How Do Plus Codes Work?
Plus Codes divide the world into a grid, progressively narrowing down to a specific area:
- The first four characters encode a roughly 1° × 1° region (about 110km × 110km)
- Each subsequent pair of characters refines the location by a factor of 20 in both latitude and longitude
-
The
+symbol separates the area code from the local code -
A full 10-character Plus Code (before the
+) identifies an area of approximately 14m × 14m
The character set uses 20 characters
(23456789CFGHJMPQRVWX) specifically chosen to avoid
confusion between similar-looking letters and numbers.
Where are Plus Codes Used?
Plus Codes address a real global challenge - an estimated 4 billion people lack a reliable street address. They are used in:
- Developing regions - communities without formal addressing systems use Plus Codes for mail delivery, emergency services, and business registration
- Humanitarian aid - organizations use Plus Codes to locate beneficiaries and coordinate relief efforts
- Logistics and delivery - courier services use them as fallback addresses
- Google Maps - every location on Google Maps displays a Plus Code, searchable and navigable
Why Convert Plus Codes?
While Plus Codes are convenient for sharing locations with people, most mapping APIs, GIS software, and GPS devices work with latitude/longitude or UTM coordinates. Converting a Plus Code to decimal degrees lets you use the location in any mapping application, and converting from coordinates to a Plus Code gives you a shareable human-readable reference.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Google Plus Code?
A Plus Code is a location encoding system developed by Google. It converts a geographic location into a short alphanumeric string like 9C3XGV4C+HQ. Plus Codes provide simple, reliable addresses for places without traditional street addresses and can be searched directly in Google Maps.
How do Plus Codes work?
Plus Codes divide the world into a progressively finer grid. The first four characters encode a roughly 1° × 1° region, and each subsequent pair refines the location. A full 10-character code identifies an area of approximately 14m × 14m. The character set uses 20 characters chosen to avoid ambiguous characters.
Where are Plus Codes used?
Plus Codes are used in developing regions without formal addressing systems, humanitarian aid operations, logistics and delivery services, and Google Maps - where every location displays a searchable Plus Code.
Are Plus Codes the same as Open Location Codes?
Yes. "Plus Code" is the consumer-facing name used by Google, while "Open Location Code" (OLC) is the technical name for the underlying open-source encoding system. They refer to the same format and produce identical codes.