To convert GPS coordinates between formats, multiply or divide by 60. Turn decimal degrees into minutes and seconds by multiplying the decimal part by 60. Turn minutes and seconds back into decimals by dividing by 60.

This guide gives you the exact formulas, worked examples in both directions, and a quick reference table. A free converter that does it for you is built into LocationMe, with no signup needed.

How to convert GPS coordinates: the formula cheat sheet

The whole system rests on one fact: 1 degree equals 60 minutes, and 1 minute equals 60 seconds. Every conversion below is just multiplying or dividing by 60.

From	To	Formula
DD	DMS	Degrees = whole number. Minutes = whole number of (decimal part × 60). Seconds = leftover × 60.
DMS	DD	DD = degrees + (minutes ÷ 60) + (seconds ÷ 3600)
DD	DDM	Degrees = whole number. Minutes = decimal part × 60.
DDM	DD	DD = degrees + (minutes ÷ 60)
DMS	DDM	Minutes = whole minutes + (seconds ÷ 60)
DDM	DMS	Seconds = (decimal part of minutes) × 60

Keep the compass direction through every conversion. North and east stay positive, while south and west become negative in decimal degrees.

New to these formats? Read our guide to decimal degrees vs DMS first, then come back for the math.

How to convert DD to DMS, step by step

Take the coordinate 24.8607°. The goal is 24° 51' 38.52".

1. Split off the whole degrees. The whole number is 24, so you have 24°.
2. Multiply the decimal by 60. 0.8607 × 60 = 51.642. The whole number is your minutes: 51'.
3. Multiply the leftover by 60. 0.642 × 60 = 38.52. These are your seconds: 38.52".
4. Combine the parts. The answer is 24° 51' 38.52".

Now try a southern coordinate: -33.8688. Drop the minus sign and convert 33.8688 the same way: 33° + (0.8688 × 60 = 52.128') + (0.128 × 60 = 7.68"). Then reattach the direction: 33° 52' 7.68" S.

How to convert DMS to decimal degrees, step by step

Going backward uses division. Take 24° 51' 38.52" and turn each piece into a decimal.

1. Keep the degrees as they are: 24.
2. Divide the minutes by 60: 51 ÷ 60 = 0.85.
3. Divide the seconds by 3600: 38.52 ÷ 3600 = 0.0107.
4. Add them up: 24 + 0.85 + 0.0107 = 24.8607°.

The 3600 comes from 60 × 60, since a second is a sixtieth of a minute. For S or W coordinates, make the final answer negative. So 33° 52' 7.68" S becomes -33.8688.

Worked example: converting longitude both ways

Latitude examples use north and south. Longitude works the same, with east and west. Take 67.0011° E.

DD to DMS: the degrees are 67°. Multiply 0.0011 × 60 = 0.066, so the minutes are 0'. Multiply 0.066 × 60 = 3.96, so the seconds are 3.96". The answer is 67° 00' 3.96" E.

DMS to DD: apply the same formula. 67 + (0 ÷ 60) + (3.96 ÷ 3600) = 67 + 0 + 0.0011 = 67.0011°. East stays positive, so the signed form is 67.0011.

Tiny decimals like 0.0011 are normal for longitude near a whole degree. Do not round them away. They still represent about 120 meters on the ground.

Converting in a spreadsheet

Converting a whole list of coordinates by hand is slow. A spreadsheet does it in seconds. Put your decimal degrees in cell A1.

For DD to DMS, use three formulas. Degrees: =INT(A1). Minutes: =INT((A1-INT(A1))*60). Seconds: =((A1-INT(A1))*60-INT((A1-INT(A1))*60))*60.

For DMS to DD, put degrees in A1, minutes in B1, and seconds in C1. The formula is =A1+B1/60+C1/3600.

These formulas assume positive values. For southern or western coordinates, convert the absolute value first. Then add the minus sign or compass letter.

Working with the DDM format

DDM (degrees, decimal minutes) skips seconds entirely. Karachi is 24° 51.642' N in DDM. You get there from DD in one step: multiply the decimal part by 60. From 24.8607°, that is 0.8607 × 60 = 51.642'.

To go from DDM to DMS, split the decimal minutes. In 51.642', the whole minutes are 51' and the leftover 0.642 × 60 = 38.52" gives the seconds. The result is 24° 51' 38.52".

DDM is common on boats and in aircraft, where instruments show degrees and minutes. If your device shows this style, now you know how to read it.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Dropping the minus sign. -33.8688 without the minus lands in the northern hemisphere. Always convert S and W to negative in DD.
• Dividing seconds by 60 instead of 3600. Seconds are sixtieths of minutes, so they need division by 3600. This is the most common error.
• Mixing up minutes and seconds. 24° 51' 38" is not the same as 24° 38' 51". Keep the order: degrees, then minutes, then seconds.
• Rounding too early. Round only the final answer. Rounding mid-way can shift your point by several meters.
• Forgetting that longitude uses E and W. The same minus-sign rule applies. Eastern longitudes are positive, western ones are negative.
• Assuming more digits means a better answer. Extra digits copied from a bad GPS fix do not add real accuracy. Garbage in, garbage out.

Quick practice drill

Test yourself with two short exercises. Work them out on paper before checking. The answers are right below.

1. Convert 40.7128° to DMS.
2. Convert 74° 00' 21.6" W to signed decimal degrees.

Answers: (1) 0.7128 × 60 = 42.768, so 42'. Then 0.768 × 60 = 46.08", giving 40° 42' 46.08". (2) 74 + (0 ÷ 60) + (21.6 ÷ 3600) = 74.006. West is negative, so -74.006.

If both answers match, you have the method down. If not, redo the step-by-step sections above until the pattern clicks.

Try the free coordinate converter

If the math feels slow, let the tool do it. The converter built into LocationMe accepts DD, DMS, or DDM and shows all three instantly. It handles negative values, compass letters, and extra whitespace. Paste a coordinate, and it also shows the address and a map pin.

No account or install is needed. It runs entirely in your browser, so your coordinates never leave your device. Have an address instead of a coordinate? Look up its latitude and longitude first, then convert formats from there.

Frequently asked questions

How do I convert GPS coordinates from DD to DMS?
Multiply the decimal part by 60 to get minutes, then multiply the leftover by 60 to get seconds. For example, 24.8607° becomes 24° 51' 38.52".

How do I convert DMS to decimal degrees?
Use the formula DD = degrees + (minutes ÷ 60) + (seconds ÷ 3600). So 24° 51' 38.52" becomes 24 + 0.85 + 0.0107 = 24.8607°.

What is the DDM format?
DDM means degrees and decimal minutes, like 24° 51.642' N. It uses degrees plus minutes with a decimal, skipping seconds. Marine GPS units and aircraft instruments often show this format.

Is there a free coordinate converter online?
Yes. LocationMe has a free built-in converter that switches between DD, DMS, and DDM instantly, with no signup. It also shows your live position on a map.

Why do my converted coordinates look slightly different?
Small differences come from rounding. Keep at least five decimal places in DD or one decimal of a second in DMS. Both give about one-meter precision, which is enough for almost every use.