What is the difference between decimal degrees and DMS?

Decimal degrees write a coordinate as a single number, such as -41.2865. DMS splits it into degrees, minutes, and seconds, such as 41 degrees, 17 minutes, 11 seconds south. Both describe the same point, but different apps and maps prefer different formats.

How do I convert decimal degrees to DMS?

The whole number is the degrees. Multiply the decimal part by 60 to get the minutes, take the whole minutes, then multiply that leftover by 60 again for the seconds. The sign tells you the hemisphere, with negative meaning south or west.

Are New Zealand coordinates negative?

Latitudes in New Zealand are negative because the country is in the southern hemisphere, for example about -41 for Wellington. Longitudes are positive because New Zealand is east of the prime meridian, around 174. The converter keeps the sign so the hemisphere stays correct.

Coordinates Converter

Convert latitude and longitude between decimal degrees and degrees, minutes, seconds. Maps and apps use different formats, so this tool turns one into the other instantly. Remember that southern latitudes and western longitudes are negative, which is why New Zealand latitudes carry a minus sign.

Decimal degrees to DMS

Latitude (decimal)

Longitude (decimal)

degrees, minutes, seconds

DMS to decimal degrees

Degrees

Minutes

Seconds

Hemisphere

How the conversion works

A coordinate in decimal degrees is a single number where the part before the point is the degrees and the part after is the fraction of a degree. To split it into minutes and seconds, multiply the fraction by 60 for the minutes, then multiply whatever is left over by 60 again for the seconds. The sign of the number sets the hemisphere.

Worked example

Wellington is about -41.2865 latitude. The degrees are 41. The 0.2865 times 60 is 17.19 minutes, so 17 whole minutes. The 0.19 minutes times 60 is about 11 seconds. With the negative sign, that is 41 degrees, 17 minutes, 11 seconds south.

Related calculators

Distance Calculator: distance between two coordinates.
Unit Converter: convert units of measure.
Trigonometry Calculator: angles and triangles.
Right Angle Triangle Calculator: sides and angles.

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