Decimal Degrees (DD) to Degrees, Minutes and Seconds (DMS) Convertor
This tool permits the user to convert latitude and longitude between decimal degrees (DD) and degrees, minutes and seconds (DMS).
Latitude and longitude are coordinates that can be used to identify the location of any place on Earth. Latitudes are horizontal lines that measure distance north or south of the equator. Longitudes are vertical lines that measure east or west of the prime meridian in Greenwich, UK.
Decimal degrees (DD) is a modern format to express latitude and longitude as decimal fractions, they can typically be found displayed on Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers and web mapping applications.
For example, the geographical coordinates expressed in decimal degrees (DD) for London are:
Latitude: 51.509865
Longitude: -0.118092
One way of representing latitude and longitude is to use degrees, minutes and seconds (DMS). This is the oldest format for representing geographical coordinates.
Where:
° : degrees
‘ : minutes
” : seconds
N: North of the Equator (Can also be represented as S if south of the equator)
W: West of the Prime meridian (Can also be represented as E if east of the prime meridian)
We can convert from decimal degrees (DD) to degrees, minutes, seconds (DMS) using the following equations:
One degree (°) is equal to 60 minutes (‘) and equal to 3600 seconds (“):
1° = 60′ = 3600″
The integer degrees (d) are equal to the integer part of the decimal degrees (dd):
d = integer(dd)
The minutes (m) are equal to the integer part of the decimal degrees (dd) minus integer degrees (d) times 60:
m = integer((dd – d) × 60)
The seconds (s) are equal to the decimal degrees (dd) minus integer degrees (d) minus minutes (m) divided by 60 times 3600:
s = (dd – d – m/60) × 3600
Example:
Convert Latitude: 51.509865 to Degrees, Minutes, Seconds (DMS)
d = integer(51.509865) = 51
m = integer((dd – d) × 60) = 30
s = (dd – d – m/60) × 3600 = 35.5140
Convert Longitude: -0.118092 to Degrees, Minutes, Seconds (DMS)
d = integer(-0.118092) = 0
m = integer((dd – d) × 60) = 7
s = (dd – d – m/60) × 3600 = 5.1312
The geographic coordinates expressed in degrees, minutes and seconds (DMS) for London, UK are therefore:
Latitude: 51° 30′ 35.5140” N
Longitude: 0° 7′ 5.1312” W
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Disclaimer
Please note that this or any other calculators on the wkcgroup.com tools room are for information only. WKC Group has endeavoured to ensure that the information presented here is accurate and that the calculations are correct, but will not accept responsibility for any consequential damages, faults or human errors that may arise from the use of formulas, inventories and values.
