How to convert decimal degrees to DMS
- The whole number is the degrees: 40.7128 → 40°.
- Multiply the decimal part by 60: 0.7128 × 60 = 42.768 → 42′.
- Multiply the remaining decimal by 60: 0.768 × 60 = 46.08 → 46.08″.
- Replace the sign with a letter: positive latitude is N, negative is S; positive longitude is E, negative is W.
40.7128, −74.0060 → 40°42′46.08″N 74°00′21.60″W
DMS or decimal minutes?
Many marine and aviation GPS units and geocaching sites use degrees and decimal minutes (DDM) instead: 40°42.768′N 74°00.360′W. The converter shows both; copy whichever your device expects.
Rounding and carry-over
When seconds round up to 60, the value must carry into the next minute (and minutes into the next degree). A naive spreadsheet formula can produce impossible values such as 59′60″; this converter rounds on the total and carries correctly. Choose the number of decimals with the Precision buttons: one decimal of a second is about 3 metres.
Writing DMS for documents
Use the proper symbols — degree (°), prime (′) and double prime (″) — and put the hemisphere letter after each value. Write latitude first. Keep leading zeros on minutes and seconds (05′, 07″) so columns line up in tables and legal descriptions.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert decimal degrees to degrees, minutes and seconds?
The whole number is the degrees. Multiply the decimal part by 60 for minutes, then multiply the remaining decimal by 60 for seconds. Use N/S and E/W instead of plus and minus.
What does a negative longitude mean in DMS?
A negative longitude is west of Greenwich, so −74.006 becomes 74°00′21.60″W. A negative latitude is south of the equator.
What is the difference between DMS and DDM?
DMS splits the degree into minutes and seconds (40°42′46.08″). DDM keeps decimal minutes (40°42.768′) and is common on marine and aviation GPS.