Degrees Minutes Seconds to Decimal Degrees Converter
Degrees Minutes Seconds to Decimal Degrees Converter
Geographic coordinates and precise angles are often given in degrees, minutes, and seconds (like 40°26'46"N) — this tool converts that format into a single decimal degrees number, which is what most mapping software and GPS devices expect.
The conversion adds the degrees to the minutes divided by 60 and the seconds divided by 3600 — 40°26'46" works out to 40 + 26/60 + 46/3600, or approximately 40.4461°. This DMS-to-decimal conversion is a routine step whenever coordinates are copied from an older map, a survey document, or a source that reports latitude and longitude in the traditional sexagesimal format, since most modern digital mapping tools and APIs expect plain decimal degrees instead — remember that southern latitudes and western longitudes should be entered as negative values.
- Formula: decimal degrees = degrees + minutes/60 + seconds/3600.
- Example: 40°26'46" = 40 + 26/60 + 46/3600 = 40.4461°.
- Negative coordinates: for southern latitudes or western longitudes, enter the degrees value as negative (e.g. -73 for 73°W).
How do I enter a southern latitude like 33°52'04"S?
Enter -33 as degrees, 52 as minutes, and 4 as seconds — the negative sign carries through to the decimal result.
Why do minutes and seconds go up to 60, not 100?
DMS notation is based on the sexagesimal (base-60) system, the same one used for clock time.
Degrees Minutes Seconds to Decimal Degrees Converter
Geographic coordinates and precise angles are often given in degrees, minutes, and seconds (like 40°26'46"N) — this tool converts that format into a single decimal degrees number, which is what most mapping software and GPS devices expect.
The conversion adds the degrees to the minutes divided by 60 and the seconds divided by 3600 — 40°26'46" works out to 40 + 26/60 + 46/3600, or approximately 40.4461°. This DMS-to-decimal conversion is a routine step whenever coordinates are copied from an older map, a survey document, or a source that reports latitude and longitude in the traditional sexagesimal format, since most modern digital mapping tools and APIs expect plain decimal degrees instead — remember that southern latitudes and western longitudes should be entered as negative values.
- Formula: decimal degrees = degrees + minutes/60 + seconds/3600.
- Example: 40°26'46" = 40 + 26/60 + 46/3600 = 40.4461°.
- Negative coordinates: for southern latitudes or western longitudes, enter the degrees value as negative (e.g. -73 for 73°W).
How do I enter a southern latitude like 33°52'04"S?
Enter -33 as degrees, 52 as minutes, and 4 as seconds — the negative sign carries through to the decimal result.
Why do minutes and seconds go up to 60, not 100?
DMS notation is based on the sexagesimal (base-60) system, the same one used for clock time.