DMS Coordinate Converter

The DMS Coordinate Converter turns degrees-minutes-seconds (DMS) coordinates into decimal degrees (DD) and back again, instantly and entirely in your browser. Whether you are reading a latitude off a nautical chart, copying a position out of a GPS unit, or pasting a pin location from Google Maps, the format almost never matches what the next tool expects. This converter bridges that gap so you can move a single point between systems without hand-arithmetic or rounding mistakes.

It is built for surveyors, pilots, sailors, geocachers, GIS analysts, drone operators, and anyone who works with maps. DMS is the classic sexagesimal notation you see on printed charts and aviation plates (for example 40° 26′ 46″ N), while decimal degrees (40.446111) is what most software, spreadsheets, and mapping APIs actually want. Getting the conversion wrong by even a few seconds can shift a position by tens of metres, so accuracy matters.

There is nothing to install and no account to create. Type or paste your coordinates, read the converted result, and copy the pair with one click. A “Smart Paste” field even accepts a full coordinate string pasted straight from another app and parses the latitude and longitude for you. Every calculation happens locally, so your locations are never sent to a server.

How to use it

1. Pick a direction with the tabs at the top: DMS to Decimal or Decimal to DMS.
2. To convert DMS, enter degrees, minutes, and seconds for latitude and longitude, then choose the hemisphere (N/S for latitude, E/W for longitude).
3. To convert decimal degrees, type the signed latitude and longitude values — negative numbers mean South or West.
4. Prefer to paste? Drop a full coordinate string into the Smart Paste box (for example 40° 26' 46" N 79° 58' 56" W) and the fields fill automatically.
5. Read the converted coordinate pair in the result panel at the bottom.
6. Click Copy Pair to copy the result, or Open in Map to view the point on Google Maps.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between DMS and decimal degrees?

DMS (degrees, minutes, seconds) splits each degree into 60 minutes and each minute into 60 seconds, written like 40° 26′ 46″ N. Decimal degrees express the same angle as a single number, 40.446111. They describe the identical location — only the notation differs. Decimal degrees are easier for computers and spreadsheets; DMS is traditional on charts and in aviation.

How do I convert DMS to decimal degrees by hand?

Take the degrees, add the minutes divided by 60, and add the seconds divided by 3600: decimal = degrees + (minutes ÷ 60) + (seconds ÷ 3600). Then make the result negative if the direction is South or West. This tool does that for you and rounds sensibly to six decimal places.

Why are some coordinates negative?

In decimal degrees, the sign carries the hemisphere. Positive latitude is North and positive longitude is East; negative latitude is South and negative longitude is West. So 79.982222° W becomes -79.982222 in decimal form.

How many decimal places do I need?

It depends on the precision you need. Five decimal places is roughly one metre at the equator, and six places is about 0.1 metre — more than enough for almost any mapping task. This converter outputs six decimal places so you never lose meaningful precision.

Can I paste coordinates straight from Google Maps?

Yes. Use the Smart Paste field. It recognises both decimal pairs like 40.446111, -79.982222 and DMS strings like 40° 26' 46" N 79° 58' 56" W, then fills in the latitude and longitude automatically.

What does the seconds field accept?

Seconds can include decimals (for example 46.2″), which is common on precise survey and aviation data. Degrees and minutes are whole numbers, and minutes and seconds each range from 0 to 59.

Is my location data sent anywhere?

No. Every conversion runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you type is uploaded, stored, or tracked, which makes the tool safe to use with sensitive or proprietary coordinates.

Is the DMS Coordinate Converter free?

Yes, it is completely free to use with no sign-up, no limits, and no ads interrupting your work.