Cal11 calculator
Search calculator...

Dms to Decimal Degrees Calculator

Reviewed by Calculator Editorial Team

Degrees, minutes, and seconds (DMS) is a coordinate format used in geography, navigation, and surveying. Decimal degrees are more common in digital mapping and calculations. This calculator converts DMS coordinates to decimal degrees with precise results.

What is DMS format?

DMS stands for Degrees, Minutes, and Seconds. This coordinate format divides a circle into 360 degrees, each degree into 60 minutes, and each minute into 60 seconds. It's commonly used in traditional maps and navigation.

For example, 40°42'47"N 73°58'39"W represents a location in New York City. The degrees are the main unit, minutes are 1/60th of a degree, and seconds are 1/3600th of a degree.

How to convert DMS to decimal degrees

To convert DMS coordinates to decimal degrees:

  1. Take the degrees value as-is
  2. Divide the minutes by 60 and add to the degrees
  3. Divide the seconds by 3600 and add to the previous result
  4. For west longitudes or south latitudes, make the result negative

This gives you a single decimal number that represents the same position as the DMS coordinates.

Conversion formula

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

For negative values (west longitudes or south latitudes), use the negative of this calculation.

Note: This formula assumes positive values for north latitudes and east longitudes. For south latitudes and west longitudes, the result should be negative.

Worked examples

Example 1: 40°42'47"N 73°58'39"W

Latitude conversion:

40 + (42/60) + (47/3600) = 40 + 0.7 + 0.013056 ≈ 40.713056°

Longitude conversion:

-(73 + (58/60) + (39/3600)) = -(73 + 0.966667 + 0.010833) ≈ -73.9775°

Example 2: 34°3'21"S 150°51'12"E

Latitude conversion:

-(34 + (3/60) + (21/3600)) = -(34 + 0.05 + 0.005833) ≈ -34.055833°

Longitude conversion:

150 + (51/60) + (12/3600) = 150 + 0.85 + 0.003333 ≈ 150.853333°

FAQ

Why would I need to convert DMS to decimal degrees?

Decimal degrees are more commonly used in digital mapping, GPS devices, and most software applications. Converting to decimal degrees makes it easier to work with coordinates in digital systems.

Is there a difference between DMS and decimal degrees?

Yes, DMS uses degrees, minutes, and seconds while decimal degrees use a single decimal number. The values represent the same positions but in different formats.

How accurate is this conversion?

This calculator provides precise conversions using the standard formula. The accuracy depends on the precision of your original DMS values.

Can I convert decimal degrees back to DMS?

Yes, there are calculators available that perform the reverse conversion from decimal degrees to DMS format.