What is a Plus Code?
A Plus Code (Open Location Code) is a short code for any place on Earth, designed by Google as a free alternative to street addresses. The 10-character code 8FW4V75V+9R identifies a cell about 14 × 14 m at the Eiffel Tower; one more character narrows it to about 3 × 3 m.
Full codes and short codes
- Full code — 8 characters, a plus sign, then 2 or 3 more: 8FW4V75V+9R. It works anywhere without context.
- Short code — the first 2–6 characters are dropped and replaced by a town: V75V+9R Paris. Paste the short part and move the map near the town; the converter completes the code from the area you are looking at.
How the code is built
Pairs of characters refine latitude and longitude in turn using a 20-symbol alphabet (23456789CFGHJMPQRVWX — no vowels, so codes cannot spell words). The first pair is a 20° cell, then 1°, 0.05°, 0.0025° and 0.000125°. After the plus sign, extra characters split the cell into a 5 × 4 grid.
Conversions follow the reference algorithm of the open-source Open Location Code project.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert a Plus Code to coordinates?
Paste the full code, such as 8FW4V75V+9R, and the latitude and longitude of the cell centre appear in every format.
How do I use a short Plus Code like PX7V+4J?
Move the map to the town the code belongs to, then paste the short code. The missing characters are taken from the area shown on the map.
How precise is a Plus Code?
A 10-character code is a cell about 14 m across; 11 characters are about 3 m. The coordinates shown are the centre of the cell.