To convert latitude and longitude to MGRS, enter the coordinates and choose a precision. The converter returns the grid reference, for example 18T WL 80735 04706, built on the WGS84 datum, and converts whole lists at once. Results were checked against an independent MGRS library on 3,000 points worldwide. Your coordinates never leave your browser.
- Free, no signup
- 1 m to 10 km precision
- Batch: paste a whole list
- Runs in your browser
Convert many at once
One point per line, latitude first. Separate the values with a comma, tab or space. The precision chosen above applies to every line.
How to convert latitude and longitude to MGRS
- Enter the latitude and longitude. Use decimal degrees or DMS. West and south are negative, or use W and S.
- Choose a precision. 1 m uses five digits for easting and five for northing. Fewer digits describe a larger square: 10 m, 100 m, 1 km or 10 km.
- Click Convert. The MGRS reference appears in compact and spaced form, with the grid zone, the 100 km square and the matching UTM coordinates.
- Or convert a list. Paste many, one per line, and download the results as a CSV.
How an MGRS reference is built
MGRS (Military Grid Reference System) is a way of writing UTM coordinates as a short alphanumeric string. A reference has up to four parts:
| Part | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Grid zone designator | 18T | UTM zone 18 and latitude band T |
| 100 km square | WL | Column letter W and row letter L inside that zone |
| Easting digits | 80735 | Metres east of the square's western edge |
| Northing digits | 04706 | Metres north of the square's southern edge |
The easting and northing always have the same number of digits, from one to five each. Together they give the position inside the 100 km square at the stated precision.
Precision
| Digits each | Square size | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 1 m | 18TWL8073504706 |
| 4 | 10 m | 18TWL80730470 |
| 3 | 100 m | 18TWL807047 |
| 2 | 1 km | 18TWL8004 |
| 1 | 10 km | 18TWL80 |
MGRS truncates; it does not round. A shorter reference names the square that contains the point, and the point can be anywhere inside it. That is why 18TWL807047 is not the same as the rounded 1 m coordinate.
Worked example
Convert 40.689306° N, 74.044500° W (the Statue of Liberty). The point is in UTM zone 18, band T, at easting 580735 m and northing 4504706 m. The easting of 580735 is in the fifth 100 km column of the zone, which is lettered W; the northing falls in row L. The remaining digits are the metres inside that square:
18T WL 80735 04706 (18TWL8073504706)
Other points: the Eiffel Tower (48.8584° N, 2.2945° E) is 31U DQ 48252 11954 and Sydney (33.8688° S, 151.2093° E) is 56H LH 34368 50948.
Common mistakes
- Rounding instead of truncating. When you shorten an MGRS reference, drop digits; do not round them.
- Mixing up the letters. The 100 km square letters repeat every few zones, so
WLalone does not locate a point. Always keep the zone number and band. - Using spaces inconsistently.
18TWL8073504706and18T WL 80735 04706are the same reference. Software may require one form. - Datum. This page treats the input as WGS84, which is what current MGRS use assumes. Older maps on NAD27 or another datum give different squares; convert the datum first with the CRS Converter.
What this converter does and does not do
- WGS84 only. It uses the modern MGRS letter scheme on the WGS84 ellipsoid. The older Bessel-ellipsoid lettering used on some historic maps is not supported.
- 80° S to 84° N. Points closer to the poles use the polar UPS grid, which this page does not cover.
- Accuracy. The underlying UTM maths agrees with PROJ to far better than a millimetre. We compared 3,000 points worldwide, including Norway and Svalbard, with the open-source
mgrslibrary and got identical references. - Runs in your browser. No coordinates are sent to a server.
Related converters
To go the other way, use MGRS to lat long. For the underlying UTM values see lat long to UTM, and to find a zone see the UTM zone finder.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert latitude and longitude to MGRS?
Enter the latitude and longitude, choose the precision and click Convert. The page returns the grid zone, the 100 km square and the easting and northing digits.
What is MGRS?
The Military Grid Reference System writes UTM positions as a compact string such as 18T WL 80735 04706. It is used by NATO militaries, search and rescue and emergency services.
What precision should I use?
Five digits each (1 m) for an exact point. Use fewer digits to describe a square on purpose, for example four for a 10 m square or two for a 1 km square.
Is MGRS rounded or truncated?
Truncated. Dropping digits names the square that contains the point, so the shorter reference is not the rounded longer one.
What is the difference between MGRS and UTM?
MGRS is a different way of writing the same grid. UTM gives zone, easting and northing numbers; MGRS replaces most of the digits with two 100 km square letters.
Which datum does it use?
WGS84. For input on another datum such as NAD27, convert the datum first, because the squares and digits will differ.
Why does it reject points near the poles?
Beyond 80° S and 84° N, MGRS uses the polar UPS grid with different rules. This page covers the UTM part only.
Does it handle the Norway and Svalbard zone exceptions?
Yes. The zone is chosen with those exceptions, so Bergen gets zone 32V and Svalbard points get the widened zones.
Can I write the reference with or without spaces?
Both are the same reference. The page shows both forms.
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.