Ultimate Coordinate Converter: DD, DMS, UTM & MGRS
Welcome to our coordinate converter—your go-to tool for transforming between Decimal Degrees (DD), Degrees-Minutes-Seconds (DMS), Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM), and Military Grid Reference System (MGRS). It auto-detects your input, plots it on an interactive map, and delivers precise outputs in all formats.
How it works:
- ➤ Paste your coordinates (e.g.
31°48′15.85″N 34°39′19.07″E). - ➤ Click Convert—we’ll auto-detect the format.
- ➤ View conversions for DD, DMS, UTM & MGRS and see your point on the map.
How to Use the Converter
Just insert any supported coordinate string into the box below and hit Convert. No manual format selection needed—our widget handles DD, DMS, UTM (all zones), and MGRS seamlessly.
Decimal Degrees (DD)
Definition: Latitude and longitude expressed as simple decimal numbers, for example
31.80440, 34.65530.
How It Works
- Earth is divided into 360° of longitude (east–west) and 180° of latitude (north–south).
- Each degree is represented by a floating-point value: degrees + fractional degrees.
- Precision is controlled by the number of decimal places (e.g., 6 decimals ≈ 0.11 m).
Primary Uses
- Web mapping APIs (Google Maps, OpenStreetMap): ingest as JSON or URL parameters.
- Data exchange in CSV, GeoJSON, or REST services.
- GPS devices that display coordinates directly.
Advantages & Limitations
- ➤ Very simple, machine-friendly format.
- ➤ Lacks human-readable granularity (no minutes/seconds).
- ➤ Suited for high-precision digital applications.
Degrees–Minutes–Seconds (DMS)
Definition: A sexagesimal format splitting each degree into 60 minutes and each minute into 60 seconds, e.g.
31°48′15.84″N 34°39′19.08″E.
How It Works
- 1° = 60′ (minutes); 1′ = 60″ (seconds).
- Seconds may include decimals for sub-meter precision.
- Hemisphere indicators (N/S/E/W) specify sign.
Primary Uses
- Nautical & aeronautical charts: traditional navigation.
- Land surveying: legal property descriptions on real-estate deeds.
- Field notebooks: human-readable in printed logs.
Advantages & Limitations
- ➤ Highly human-readable and precise.
- ➤ Bulky for data exchange (many characters).
- ➤ Requires parsing to convert to decimal or metric grids.
Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM)
Definition: A metric, zone-based projection dividing the globe into 60 zones (6° longitude each) using the Transverse Mercator projection.
How It Works
- Each zone has its own central meridian to reduce distortion locally.
- Coordinates given as ZoneNumberZoneLetter Easting Northing, for example
36S 597000 3550000. - Units are in meters from the zone’s origin.
Primary Uses
- Engineering & construction: road alignment, pipelines.
- Cartography: topographic map grids.
- Search & rescue: precise location in local metric units.
Advantages & Limitations
- ➤ Uniform metric units simplify distance and area calculations.
- ➤ Distortion increases near zone edges.
- ➤ Requires zone awareness—coordinates valid only within their zone.
Military Grid Reference System (MGRS)
Definition: An alphanumeric refinement of UTM that divides each UTM zone into 100 km grid squares, e.g.
36S WL 97000 50000.
How It Works
- Begins with the UTM zone → adds a two-letter 100 km grid identifier.
- Followed by truncated easting/northing digits (precision based on number of digits).
- Example:
36S WL 97 50locates to 1 km,36S WL 9700 5000to 100 m.
Primary Uses
- Military operations: rapid, concise grid references.
- First responders: coordinate exchange under stress.
- Offline GPS units: MGRS input for rugged field use.
Advantages & Limitations
- ➤ Compact, human-readable grid references.
- ➤ Leverages UTM’s metric accuracy.
- ➤ Precision limited by the number of digits specified.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which coordinate formats can I convert?
This widget handles all four major systems—just paste any one and click Convert:
- Decimal Degrees (DD): e.g.
31.80440, 34.65530 - Degrees–Minutes–Seconds (DMS): e.g.
31°48′15.84″N 34°39′19.08″E - Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM): e.g.
36S 597000 3550000 - Military Grid Reference System (MGRS): e.g.
36S WL 97000 50000
How do I specify north/south or east/west?
For DD, use a negative value for south (latitude) or west (longitude):
-34.65530, 31.80440 (34.65530° S, 31.80440° E)
For DMS, include the hemisphere letter:
31°48′15.84″S 34°39′19.08″W
Why doesn’t my DMS input convert correctly?
Make sure you:
- Include the degree (°), minute (′), and second (″) symbols.
- Use N/S/E/W immediately after each coordinate.
- Don’t mix text labels—just numbers and symbols.
How precise are the converted coordinates?
Precision depends on your input:
- DD: Each decimal place ≈ 11 m at the equator (6 decimals ≈ 0.11 m).
- DMS: You can add decimals to seconds for sub-meter accuracy.
- UTM/MGRS: Meter-level by default; add more digits for finer resolution.
How do I copy or export the results?
After conversion, simply:
- Highlight the output field you want (DD, DMS, UTM or MGRS).
- Use
Ctrl + C(or long-press on mobile) to copy.
Then paste anywhere—no formatting lost.
Can I use this on mobile or offline?
The converter runs 100% client-side, so:
- Mobile: Fully responsive—works in any browser.
- Offline: After the page loads, you can convert without an Internet connection (map tiles may not display).
Is my location data stored or shared?
No data leaves your browser. All parsing, conversion, and map plotting happen locally—your coordinates stay private.
What Did We Learn Today?
- You can convert between DD, DMS, UTM, and MGRS with one free widget.
- The tool auto-detects your input format—no manual selection required.
- Results are plotted on a Leaflet map for instant visual context.