Coordinates at Selected Location
How to Find GPS Coordinates
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between DD, DMS, and DDM?
How accurate are the coordinates from this tool?
What coordinate system does this tool use?
How do I use my current GPS location?
Can I search for any address worldwide?
What Are GPS Coordinates?
GPS (Global Positioning System) coordinates are a pair of numbers — latitude and longitude — that uniquely identify any location on Earth's surface. Latitude measures north-south position from the equator (0°) to the poles (90°N / 90°S). Longitude measures east-west position from the Prime Meridian in Greenwich, UK (0°) to the International Date Line (180°E/W). Together, they form a global grid system that allows any point on Earth to be located within meters. GPS coordinates are used in navigation, mapping, surveying, geotagging photos, location-based apps, emergency services, and countless scientific applications.
The GPS system was developed by the US Department of Defense, launching its first satellite in 1978 and achieving full operational capability in 1995. Today, the system consists of 31 active satellites orbiting at ~20,200 km altitude, each broadcasting precise timing signals. A GPS receiver triangulates its position by measuring the time delay of signals from at least 4 satellites simultaneously. Civilian GPS accuracy is typically 3-5 meters, while military-grade encrypted signals can achieve sub-meter precision. Modern smartphones combine GPS with GLONASS (Russia), Galileo (EU), and BeiDou (China) for faster, more accurate positioning.
Coordinate Format Conversion Guide
There are three common ways to write GPS coordinates, and converting between them is straightforward:
- DD → DMS: Take the decimal portion and multiply by 60 to get minutes. Take the decimal portion of minutes and multiply by 60 to get seconds. Example: 37.7749° → 37° + 0.7749×60 = 37°46.494' → 37°46' + 0.494×60 = 37°46'29.6".
- DMS → DD: degrees + (minutes / 60) + (seconds / 3600). Example: 37°46'29.6" = 37 + 46/60 + 29.6/3600 = 37.774889°.
- DDM → DD: degrees + (decimal minutes / 60). Example: 37°46.494' = 37 + 46.494/60 = 37.7749°.
- Negative latitudes are in the Southern Hemisphere (S). Negative longitudes are in the Western Hemisphere (W).