DMS Coordinate Converter

Convert Degrees Minutes Seconds (DMS) ↔ Decimal Degrees — Convert GPS coordinates between DMS and decimal formats.

DMS Format (Degrees Minutes Seconds)

Latitude

Longitude

Decimal Format

Latitude

37° 33' 57" N

Longitude

126° 58' 41" E

Example Coordinates

City	DMS	Decimal
Seoul	37° 33' 57" N, 126° 58' 41" E	37.5658, 126.9778
Busan	35° 10' 48" N, 129° 4' 33" E	35.1800, 129.0756
Jeju	33° 29' 53" N, 126° 31' 44" E	33.4983, 126.5289

GUIDE

Learn more

Understanding DMS and Decimal Coordinates

DMS (Degrees Minutes Seconds) expresses coordinates in degrees (°), minutes ('), seconds ("). 1 degree = 60 minutes, 1 minute = 60 seconds. For example, Seoul's latitude is 37° 33' 57" N. Decimal Degrees expresses coordinates with decimals. Seoul's latitude is 37.5658° N.

DMS → Decimal Conversion Formula

Formula: Decimal = Degrees + (Minutes ÷ 60) + (Seconds ÷ 3600). Example: 37° 33' 57" converts to: 37 + (33 ÷ 60) + (57 ÷ 3600) = 37.5658°. South (S) or West (W) uses negative (-).

Decimal → DMS Conversion Method

Method: ① Integer part is degrees (°). ② Decimal part × 60 = minutes ('). ③ Minutes decimal part × 60 = seconds ("). Example: 37.5658° → degrees = 37, (0.5658 × 60) = 33.948 minutes → minutes = 33, (0.948 × 60) = 56.88 seconds → 37° 33' 57".

Major Korean City Coordinates

Seoul: 37° 33' 57" N, 126° 58' 41" E (37.5658°, 126.9778°). Busan: 35° 10' 48" N, 129° 4' 33" E (35.1800°, 129.0756°). Jeju: 33° 29' 53" N, 126° 31' 44" E (33.4983°, 126.5289°).

GPS Coordinate Applications

GPS coordinates consist of Latitude (-90° to +90°) and Longitude (-180° to +180°). Google Maps uses decimal format (37.5658, 126.9778). Smartphone camera photos store GPS coordinates in DMS format in EXIF data.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between DMS and decimal degrees?

DMS expresses a coordinate as degrees, minutes, and seconds, while decimal degrees use a single number with a decimal point. 1 degree equals 60 minutes and 1 minute equals 60 seconds; GPS apps and Google Maps typically use decimal, while navigation and older maps use DMS.

How do I convert decimal degrees to DMS?

Take the integer part as degrees. Multiply the remaining decimal by 60 to get minutes, then take the decimal part of that result and multiply by 60 again to get seconds.

How do I handle South latitude or West longitude?

South (S) and West (W) values are represented as negative numbers in decimal format. Select the correct direction (N/S/E/W) in this tool and the sign is applied automatically.

Why do smartphone photos store GPS data in DMS format?

Camera EXIF metadata traditionally stores location data in DMS format, so you often need to convert it to decimal degrees before using it in mapping tools.

How much decimal precision do I actually need?

Four decimal places (about 11 meters of precision) is usually enough for most everyday uses, while six or more decimal places distinguishes locations down to a few centimeters.