Lat/Long Decimal to DMS Converter and Distance Calculator
Convert latitude and longitude between decimal degrees, degrees-minutes-seconds and degrees-decimal-minutes. Enter a second point to get the great-circle distance (km, miles, nautical miles), bearing and midpoint with the Haversine formula. No map is loaded, so nothing leaves your browser. For other units, see the Unit Converter.
🔒 Runs in your browser · Your data is never sent to a server
Accepts decimal degrees, DMS (35°40′52″ or 35 40 52) and values with N/S/E/W. Use a minus sign or S/W for south latitude and west longitude.
Converted
Distance and bearing
Notes
- Distance is the great-circle (shortest) distance from the Haversine formula, treating the Earth as a sphere of radius 6,371.0088 km. It can differ from an ellipsoidal (geodesic) calculation by up to about 0.5%, so use dedicated tools for surveying, aviation or navigation.
- It is the straight-line shortest path over the surface, not the length of a road or rail route, and elevation is ignored.
- Bearings are measured clockwise from north (0 degrees). Along a great circle the heading keeps changing, so the initial bearing and the bearing on arrival usually differ.
- No datum conversion is applied (for example Tokyo Datum to WGS84). GPS and map apps normally use WGS84.
- Even for sensitive locations such as your home, input is processed in your browser only and is neither sent nor stored. No map tiles are loaded, so there is no external request.
Glossary
DMS (degrees, minutes, seconds)
A way to write an angle in degrees, minutes and seconds. One degree is 60 minutes and one minute is 60 seconds, so 35°40′52″ equals 35 + 40/60 + 52/3600, about 35.6811 degrees.
Haversine formula
A formula for the great-circle distance between two points on a sphere given their latitudes and longitudes. It stays numerically stable even for short distances.
Initial bearing
The compass direction, measured clockwise from north, in which you start travelling along the great circle from the origin toward the destination.
FAQ
How do I convert DMS to decimal degrees?
Use degrees + minutes/60 + seconds/3600. For example 35°40′52″ is 35 + 40/60 + 52/3600, about 35.6811 degrees. South latitude and west longitude are negative. This tool also converts the other way, from decimal degrees to DMS.
How accurate is the distance?
The Haversine formula treats the Earth as a sphere, so it can differ from an ellipsoidal geodesic distance by up to about 0.5% (a few kilometers over several hundred). That is fine for everyday estimates but not for surveying or navigation.
Which coordinate formats can it read?
Formats such as 35.6812, -33.87, 35°40′52″ N, 35 40 52 and N 35 40 52. A direction letter must match the axis (N/S for latitude, E/W for longitude) or you get an error. A fractional degree followed by minutes or seconds (35.5 10 10) is rejected as ambiguous.
Why do the initial and final bearings differ?
The shortest path on a sphere (a great circle) crosses each meridian at a different angle as you go. The initial bearing is the heading at the start and the final bearing is the heading when you arrive; the longer the east-west leg, the bigger the gap.
Are the coordinates I enter sent anywhere?
No. Everything is calculated in your browser and no map tiles are loaded, so the coordinates never leave your device. They are not stored either.
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