A GPS coordinate converter translates location data between the four main formats used by GPS devices, maps, and navigation software. Decimal Degrees (DD) is used by Google Maps and smartphones. Degrees Minutes Seconds (DMS) appears on printed topo maps. UTM is the standard for surveying and military topo maps. MGRS is NATO's military grid reference format. Enter any format and all others update instantly.
Input Format
Example: New York City is 40.7128, -74.0060
Latitude
Longitude
Example: New York City is 40° 42' 46.08" N, 74° 0' 21.6" W
Example: New York City is 18T 583960 4507523
Format: Zone + Letter + GridSquare + Easting + Northing (e.g. 18TWL8396007523)
All Coordinate Formats
All formats represent the same geographic point. Accuracy: DD ±0.00001°, UTM ±1m, MGRS ±10m.
How to Use the Coordinate Converter
GPS coordinate formats look different but all describe the same point on Earth. The GPS coordinate converter translates between the four main formats used in navigation, cartography, and military operations.
Step 1: Choose Your Input Format
Select the format you have: DD (Decimal Degrees) for smartphone and web map coordinates, DMS (Degrees Minutes Seconds) for printed topo maps, UTM for survey maps, or MGRS for military maps. Each tab shows the appropriate input fields.
Step 2: Enter Your Coordinates
For Decimal Degrees: Enter latitude (positive = North, negative = South) and longitude (positive = East, negative = West). For example, New York City is 40.7128, -74.0060. For DMS: Enter degrees, minutes, seconds, and hemisphere separately. For UTM: Enter zone number (1-60), zone letter (C-X), easting, and northing in meters. For MGRS: Enter the full string like 18TWL8396007523.
Step 3: View All Formats
Click "Convert Coordinates" to see all four formats simultaneously. Each output card shows the coordinates in that format with a Copy button. The same location is shown in DD, DMS, UTM, and MGRS — pick whichever format your target device or map requires.
Understanding the UTM Conversion
UTM divides Earth into 60 north-south zones, each 6° of longitude wide. Zone 1 starts at 180°W, Zone 60 ends at 180°E. Zone letter indicates latitude band from C (80°S) to X (84°N). Easting ranges from 166,000m to 834,000m within each zone; northing ranges from 0m to ~10,000,000m. The converter uses WGS84 ellipsoid parameters for maximum accuracy.
MGRS Grid Square Letters
MGRS adds a 100km grid square letter pair after the zone. The first letter indicates the east-west column within the zone (A-Z excluding I and O, repeating every 3 zones). The second letter indicates the north-south row (A-V repeating). The easting and northing after the grid square are truncated to indicate precision: 10 digits = 1m, 8 digits = 10m, 6 digits = 100m. The converter uses 10-digit precision.
Common Use Cases
Use the coordinate converter when: a trail marker shows DMS but your GPS app needs DD, a military map shows MGRS but your civilian device shows UTM, you're translating between navigation systems for search and rescue, or you're entering coordinates from an old paper map into a modern app.
For a detailed walkthrough, see our guide: How to Read GPS Coordinates.
FAQ
Is this coordinate converter free?
Yes, completely free. No signup, no account, and no location data sent to any server. All conversions run locally in your browser using standard mathematical formulas.
Is my location data safe?
All coordinate calculations run entirely in your browser. No coordinates or location data are ever sent to our servers. Your location stays on your device.
What is the difference between DD and DMS formats?
Decimal Degrees (DD) expresses coordinates as a single decimal number, such as 40.7128° N. Degrees Minutes Seconds (DMS) breaks the same value into degrees, minutes, and seconds: 40° 42' 46" N. Both describe the same point — DD is preferred for software, DMS for printed maps and older GPS devices.
What is UTM format?
UTM (Universal Transverse Mercator) divides Earth into 60 numbered zones (1-60) from west to east. Each zone uses a flat grid with easting and northing values in meters. New York City in UTM is approximately 18T 583960 4507523. UTM is widely used in topographic maps, surveying, and military navigation.
What is MGRS format?
MGRS (Military Grid Reference System) is an extension of UTM used by NATO militaries and search-and-rescue teams. It adds a 100km grid square letter pair to the UTM zone, then shortened easting/northing. New York City in MGRS is approximately 18TWL8396007523. It encodes the same location as UTM but in a more compact format.
How accurate is this coordinate converter?
The converter uses standard WGS84 ellipsoid parameters (a=6378137m, f=1/298.257223563) for UTM/MGRS conversion, which matches the accuracy of consumer GPS devices (within 1 meter for UTM, within 10 meters for MGRS due to the truncated grid square format).
Why do I need to convert between coordinate formats?
Different tools and applications use different formats. Google Maps and smartphone apps use Decimal Degrees. Printed topo maps often use DMS. Military and government maps use UTM or MGRS. Surveyors use UTM. Pilots may use any format depending on their equipment. This converter lets you work with any source and use any destination format.