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DMS to Decimal Degrees Converter

Q: What is the difference between DMS and decimal degrees?

DMS expresses coordinates as 48°51''30.2''N. Decimal degrees express the same location as 48.8584°. Google Maps and most modern GPS apps use decimal degrees. DMS is common on printed maps, nautical charts and older GPS devices.

Paste GPS coordinates in Degrees Minutes Seconds format — convert to decimal degrees and 26 other formats in one click.

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What is DMS format?

DMS stands for Degrees, Minutes, Seconds — the traditional way to express geographic coordinates. A latitude/longitude pair in DMS looks like: 48° 51' 30" N, 2° 17' 40" E. This format is standard on nautical charts, topographic maps, and many legacy GPS devices.

Modern apps like Google Maps, Waze and Apple Maps use decimal degrees (48.8583, 2.2944), which is why converting DMS to decimal is one of the most common GPS tasks.

The conversion formula

Decimal = Degrees + (Minutes / 60) + (Seconds / 3600)

For 48° 51' 30" N: 48 + 51/60 + 30/3600 = 48.8583°. South or West coordinates produce a negative result.

Common uses

Google Maps: paste the decimal result directly in the search bar
Waze: use the generated Waze link to open the destination immediately
GIS software: QGIS, ArcGIS and PostGIS all accept decimal degrees
Aviation: convert aviation chart positions (DMS) to modern flight planning apps
Field survey: convert field readings to decimal for database import

Supported input notations

48° 51' 30" N — with symbols
48d 51m 30s N — with letters
48:51:30N — colon-separated
N48 51.5 — degrees decimal minutes (DDM)
Copy-paste from Google Maps, Garmin, or any GPS receiver

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I convert DMS to decimal degrees?

Apply the formula: Decimal = Degrees + (Minutes / 60) + (Seconds / 3600). For 48° 51' 30" N, the result is 48 + 51/60 + 30/3600 = 48.8583°. GPSwitch calculates this instantly for any coordinates.

What is the difference between DMS and decimal degrees?

DMS expresses coordinates as 48° 51' 30" N. Decimal degrees express the same location as 48.8583°. Google Maps and most modern GPS apps use decimal degrees. DMS is common on printed maps, nautical charts and older GPS devices.

Can GPSwitch convert DMS to UTM, MGRS or Geohash at the same time?

Yes. GPSwitch converts your DMS input to all 27 supported formats simultaneously: decimal degrees, DDM, UTM, MGRS, Geohash, Plus Code, what3words, Waze link, Google Maps link, and more.

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