DMS to Decimal Degrees Converter
Convert Degrees, Minutes, and Seconds to Decimal format. Required for digitizing historic deed descriptions and survey records.
Quick Reference
DMS Formula: Decimal = Degrees + (Minutes ÷ 60) + (Seconds ÷ 3600)
Example: 4026'47"N = 40 + (26/60) + (47/3600) = 40.446944N
Pro Tip: Always verify hemisphere direction (N/S, E/W)—sign errors cause 180 positional mistakes.
DMS to Decimal Degrees, Conversion Table
Common DMS values and their decimal equivalents. Use this table for quick reference or verify your conversion results.
| DMS Input | Decimal Degrees | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0 0' 1" | 0.000278 | One arc-second (~31 meters at equator) |
| 0 1' 0" | 0.016667 | One arc-minute (~1.85 km at equator) |
| 0 30' 0" | 0.500000 | Half a degree (~55.5 km at equator) |
| 1 0' 0" | 1.000000 | One degree (~111 km at equator) |
| 33 51' 54" | 33.865000 | Los Angeles, CA (latitude) |
| 35 41' 22.4" | 35.689556 | Tokyo, Japan (latitude) |
| 40 44' 55.7" | 40.748806 | Empire State Building, NYC (latitude) |
| 48 51' 24" | 48.856667 | Eiffel Tower, Paris (latitude) |
| 51 28' 38" | 51.477222 | Greenwich Observatory, London (latitude) |
| 90 0' 0" | 90.000000 | North Pole |
Related Coordinate Conversion Tools
Frequently Asked Questions
What is DMS format and why is it used?
DMS (Degrees, Minutes, Seconds) is the traditional format for expressing coordinates, inherited from maritime navigation. 1 degree = 60 minutes; 1 minute = 60 seconds. Professional surveyors and historical deed descriptions use DMS because it's human-readable and represents historical measurements from surveying instruments (theodolites, transits).
How many decimal places do I need for accuracy?
6 decimal places: 0.11m precision (professional standard). 5 decimal places: 1.1m precision (acceptable for GIS). 4 decimal places: 11m precision (land survey only with caution). Less than 4: Not acceptable for professional use.
What does N/S and E/W mean, and why is it critical?
N = North (positive latitude), S = South (negative). E = East (positive longitude), W = West (negative). Misinterpreting hemisphere causes a sign flip, placing coordinates 180 away. A fence built using the wrong hemisphere notation could end up on the opposite side of the Earth.
DDM vs DMS, what's the difference?
DDM (Decimal Degrees Minutes) is 4026.7867', while DMS is 4026'47.04". DDM is a hybrid format used by some GPS receivers. This tool converts DMS to pure decimal degrees (DD), the standard for GIS and professional mapping systems.
The Cumulative Boundary & Engineering Rework Exposure: NAD83 vs WGS84
Because the North American Plate moves ~2cm/year, NAD83(2011) and WGS84(G1762) currently diverge by over 2.2 meters. Using a "standard" GPS WGS84 coordinate for a high-precision NAD83 cadastral staking has triggered Boundary Dispute Geodetic Offset claims for foundational rework and utility misplacement.