Decimal Degrees to DMS Converter

Enter Calculation

Input Format Decimal Degrees (DD) Degrees, Minutes, Seconds (DMS / DMM)

Decimal Degrees (DD) — degrees (°) Used when Input Format = Decimal Degrees. May be negative (S / W).

Degrees (°)

Minutes (′)

Seconds (″)

Seconds decimal places

Formula

Show calculation steps (1)

1. Decimal Degrees to DMS

   

   Split a decimal degree value into whole degrees, minutes and seconds.

Results

DMS — Degrees Minutes Seconds

42° 9′ 6.768″

degrees, arcminutes, arcseconds

DMM — Degrees Decimal Minutes	42° 9.1128′
DD — Decimal Degrees	42.15188°
Total in Minutes	2,529.1128 ′
Total in Seconds	151,746.768 ″

What is the Decimal Degrees to DMS Converter?

This tool converts an angle or GPS coordinate between three common representations: Decimal Degrees (DD), Degrees-Minutes-Seconds (DMS), and Degrees-Decimal-Minutes (DMM). Enter a value in either DD or DMS and the converter instantly returns all three forms plus the total angle expressed purely in minutes and purely in seconds. It works in all six directions (DD to DMS, DMS to DD, and so on) and is universal: it applies to any angle, anywhere.

Coordinates use latitude (N/S) and longitude (E/W), which the converter handles in all six directions.

How to use it

Pick an Input Format. For Decimal Degrees, type a single value such as 42.15188 (negative values represent South latitudes or West longitudes). For Degrees, Minutes, Seconds, fill the three fields; to enter Degrees-Decimal-Minutes simply put the decimal minutes in the Minutes field and leave Seconds at 0. You can also choose how many decimal places to show for the seconds value.

The formula

There are 60 minutes in a degree and 60 seconds in a minute, so 3600 seconds per degree. The core relationships are:

$$\text{DD} = D + \frac{M}{60} + \frac{S}{3600}$$ \(\text{totalMinutes} = \text{DD} \times 60\); \(\text{totalSeconds} = \text{DD} \times 3600\). To split a DD value back into DMS, take the whole-number part as degrees, multiply the fractional part by 60 to get minutes, take its whole part, then multiply the leftover by 60 for seconds. Signs are handled on the magnitude and reapplied at the end so negative coordinates stay correct.

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Decimal degrees are built from whole degrees plus minutes over 60 and seconds over 3600.

Worked example

Convert \(42.15188\degree\): degrees \(= \lfloor 42.15188 \rfloor = 42\); remaining minutes \(= 0.15188 \times 60 = 9.1128\), so minutes \(= 9\); seconds \(= 0.1128 \times 60 = 6.768\). Result: $$42\degree\ 9'\ 6.768''\text{, or } 42\degree\ 9.1128'$$ Total minutes \(= 2529.1128\), total seconds \(= 151746.768\).

FAQ

What is DMM? Degrees-Decimal-Minutes keeps degrees whole but expresses minutes with a decimal (e.g. 42° 9.1128′), common on marine and aviation GPS units.

How do I enter South or West? Use a negative sign on the value; negative latitude = South, negative longitude = West.

What ranges are valid for GPS? Latitude is -90 to 90 and longitude is -180 to 180, though this generic converter accepts any angle.