Free Tool · Real-time Conversion
Coordinates Converter — DD, DMS, DDM, UTM
Convert any GPS coordinate between Decimal Degrees, Degrees-Minutes-Seconds, Degrees-Decimal-Minutes, and Universal Transverse Mercator. Edit any field and the others update instantly. Pure JavaScript — no signup, no API call, runs entirely in your browser.
Convert coordinates
What is a coordinates converter?
A coordinates converter translates a single point on Earth between the different notations people use to write down GPS coordinates. The position itself never changes — only the way the numbers are written. The four formats handled here cover virtually every real-world use case: digital apps and APIs (DD), printed charts (DMS), marine GPS units (DDM), and surveying / hiking / military (UTM).
The need for conversion comes up more often than you'd think. A hiker reads UTM off a topographic map and wants to enter it into a phone app that only takes decimal degrees. A pilot copies a DMS coordinate from a flight plan into Google Maps. A real-estate listing publishes a Plus Code that needs to become a lat/long for a database import. This tool handles all of these in one place, in real time, with two-way editing.
How to use this converter
- Start with the format you have. Type or paste your coordinate into whichever block matches the source. If you have decimal degrees from a phone, edit block ①. If you copied DMS off a chart, edit block ②. DDM goes into block ③.
- Watch the other formats fill in. The instant you finish typing in one block, the other three update automatically. UTM zone, easting, and northing are recalculated on the fly.
- Pick the right hemisphere letter. DMS and DDM use N/S for latitude and E/W for longitude. Switching the letter flips the sign on the Decimal Degrees field.
- Use the Copy buttons. Each block has its own paste-ready copy button — get exactly the format your downstream tool wants without manual reformatting.
- Verify on the map. The marker below the converter moves to wherever the coordinates point. If it lands in the ocean when you expected a city, you probably typed a sign or hemisphere incorrectly.
- Or click Use my location to populate the converter with your device's live GPS reading and see every format at once.
Quick reference: when to use which format
- Decimal Degrees (DD) — Google Maps, Apple Maps, every smartphone, every modern web API. The default for anything digital. Six decimals = ~1 meter precision.
- Degrees-Minutes-Seconds (DMS) — paper nautical charts, aviation publications, most land-survey documents, older textbooks. Splits each degree into 60 minutes and each minute into 60 seconds.
- Degrees Decimal Minutes (DDM) — marine GPS receivers (Garmin, Raymarine, Lowrance), amateur radio, search and rescue. The natural intermediate between DD and DMS.
- Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) — hiking, surveying, search and rescue, military, GIS. Splits the world into 60 vertical zones and uses meter-based eastings and northings, so distances on the grid translate directly to real-world meters.
If you're not sure which format the receiving system wants, copy the DD value — it's the most universally accepted.
Why use GetMyLocations?
Two-way real-time sync
Edit any block and the others update instantly. No "convert" button to click — the conversion happens as you type.
UTM with proper math
Uses the WGS-84 ellipsoid and standard Transverse Mercator projection. Sub-meter accuracy within each zone.
Per-format copy buttons
Each output has its own paste-ready copy button. Grab exactly the format your downstream app wants.
Live map confirmation
Marker on a real map updates with every change — the fastest way to spot a hemisphere or sign error.
Pure browser math
No API call, no signup. All conversion happens in your browser, so it works on planes, in tunnels, anywhere.
Free with no limits
No paid tier, no usage cap. The math is open and free.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between DD, DMS, and UTM?
Decimal Degrees writes a coordinate as a single signed number (48.858420). DMS splits each degree into minutes and seconds (48° 51' 30.3" N). UTM uses a flat metric grid divided into 60 zones (31U 448262 5411917). They encode the same physical point in different notations.
Which format should I use?
Decimal Degrees for anything digital. DMS for paper charts, aviation, and older surveys. UTM for hiking, surveying, and military use where grid distances translate to real meters. DDM is what most marine GPS receivers prefer.
How accurate is the UTM conversion?
The tool uses the WGS-84 ellipsoid with standard Transverse Mercator projection formulas. Accuracy is sub-meter within each zone's 6° span. Points exactly on a zone boundary may differ slightly when reported in adjacent zones — this is expected behavior, not a bug.
What is a UTM zone?
UTM divides Earth into 60 zones, each 6° of longitude wide, numbered 1 through 60 starting from 180° west. A letter (C through X, skipping I and O) indicates the latitude band. The Eiffel Tower sits in zone 31U. Karachi is in zone 42R. New York City is in zone 18T.
Can I convert in both directions?
Yes. Edit any of the DD, DMS, or DDM fields — the other two update instantly. UTM is one-way output (DD/DMS/DDM → UTM) because typing easting / northing / zone by hand is uncommon; if you need UTM-to-DD conversion, a dedicated reverse tool is more practical.
How many decimal places do I need?
Six decimals of DD (about one meter) is the de facto storage standard. Three decimals identifies a city block; four a building; five a parking space. Beyond six, the digits are noise — consumer GPS rarely delivers better than one meter even outdoors.
What about MGRS or What3Words?
This tool focuses on the four most common formats. MGRS (Military Grid Reference System) is a derivative of UTM with an alphanumeric prefix — most UTM workflows accept either. What3Words is a proprietary three-word encoding that requires their official site to encode or decode.