To convert degrees and decimal minutes to decimal degrees, enter the latitude and longitude as they are written, for example 25° 22.5' N and 77° 12.6' W. The converter divides the minutes by 60, adds the degrees, applies the hemisphere sign and returns decimal degrees, one pair or a whole list at once. Nothing leaves your browser.
- Free, no signup
- N/S/E/W letters or signs
- Batch: paste a whole list
- Runs in your browser
Convert many at once
One point per line, latitude first. Separate the two coordinates with a comma, semicolon, tab or space, or use N/S/E/W letters. For example 25° 22.5' N, 77° 12.6' W or 40 41.358 N 74 2.670 W.
How to convert DDM to decimal degrees
- Enter the latitude. Type the degrees, then the minutes with their decimal part, then N or S. Symbols are optional:
25° 22.5' N,25 22.5 NandN 25 22.5all work. A leading minus sign also works. - Enter the longitude. Use E or W the same way. West and south become negative in the result.
- Click Convert. The latitude and longitude appear in decimal degrees, with a button to copy each and a link to open the point in Google Maps.
- Or convert a list. Paste many, one per line, and download the results as a CSV.
The formula
Degrees and decimal minutes (DDM, sometimes written DM or GPS format) keeps whole degrees and expresses the rest as minutes with a decimal part. There are 60 minutes in a degree, so:
decimal degrees = degrees + minutes / 60
For south latitudes and west longitudes the result is negative. A minus sign in front of the degrees has the same effect. The minutes must be less than 60; a value such as 25° 75.0' is an error, not a carry into the next degree.
Worked example
Convert 25° 22.5' N, 77° 12.6' W. The minutes divided by 60 are 22.5 / 60 = 0.375 and 12.6 / 60 = 0.21, so:
latitude = 25 + 22.5 / 60 = 25.375 longitude = -(77 + 12.6 / 60) = -77.21
A second example, from a handheld GPS: 40° 41.358' N, 74° 2.670' W is 40.689300, -74.044500, which is the Statue of Liberty in New York harbour.
Formats this converter understands
| You type | Read as |
|---|---|
25° 22.5' N, 77° 12.6' W | 25.375, -77.21 |
25 22.5 N 77 12.6 W | Same, without symbols |
N 25 22.5 W 77 12.6 | Same, letters first |
-33 52.128, 151 12.558 | -33.8688, 151.2093 (minus sign for south) |
25.375, -77.21 | Already decimal; returned unchanged |
If a value cannot be read or is out of range, the tool says which line and why instead of guessing.
Common mistakes
- Treating decimal minutes as seconds.
22.5'is 22.5 minutes, not 22 minutes 30 seconds. If your value has three parts, degrees, minutes and seconds, use DMS to decimal degrees. - Losing the hemisphere. 77° 12.6' with no letter or sign is read as positive, which puts a point in the Americas in Asia. Keep the W.
- Zero degrees west or south. For a point just west of Greenwich such as
0° 30.0' Wkeep the W or a leading minus sign. The degrees alone are 0 and carry no sign. - Latitude and longitude swapped. Latitude comes first and cannot exceed 90. A first value above 90 is rejected with a message.
What this converter does and does not do
- Format only. It changes how the angle is written. It does not change datum, so a coordinate on NAD27 or another datum stays on that datum. Use the CRS Converter to change datum.
- Precision. The arithmetic is exact in double precision. The number of decimal places you choose only sets how the result is rounded for display.
- Runs in your browser. No coordinates are sent to a server.
Related converters
To go the other way, use decimal degrees to DDM. For degrees, minutes and seconds see DMS to decimal degrees. To turn decimal degrees into a grid reference, try lat long to UTM or lat long to MGRS.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert degrees and decimal minutes to decimal degrees?
Divide the minutes by 60 and add the result to the degrees. For 25° 22.5' N that is 25 + 22.5 / 60 = 25.375. For south and west, make the result negative.
What is DDM format?
Degrees and decimal minutes writes a coordinate as whole degrees plus minutes with a decimal part, for example 25° 22.5' N. Many handheld GPS units and marine charts use it.
What is the difference between DDM and DMS?
DMS splits the fraction of a degree into minutes and seconds (25° 22' 30"). DDM keeps it as decimal minutes (25° 22.5'). They describe the same position.
How do I handle west longitudes and south latitudes?
Use the letters W and S, or put a minus sign in front. Both give a negative decimal value.
Why was my value rejected?
Common reasons are minutes of 60 or more, a latitude above 90, a longitude above 180, or letters the converter cannot read. The error names the line and the reason.
How many decimal places do I need?
Six decimal places is about 0.1 m on the ground, which is finer than consumer GPS. Four places is about 11 m. You can choose from 2 to 8.
Can I paste both coordinates in one line?
Yes. Separate latitude and longitude with a comma, semicolon, tab or space, or use N/S/E/W letters to mark where each begins.
Does the order latitude, longitude matter?
Yes. Latitude is always first here. If your data is longitude first, swap the columns before pasting.
Does it change the datum?
No. It only changes the notation. If your numbers are on NAD27 or another datum, they stay on that datum.
Can I convert a list at once?
Yes. Paste one entry per line into the batch box, click Convert list, then copy the results or download them as a CSV. Lines that cannot be read are flagged with the reason instead of being skipped silently.
Does it send my coordinates to a server?
No. The conversion runs in your browser, and once the page has loaded it needs no connection.
Related tools and guides
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Request a consultationLast updated 2026-10-15. Published by Sagarmekhla GIS Consultancy.