Latitude and Longitude are the two numbers that describe your exact position on the planet. Latitude tells you how far north or south you are from the Equator, and Longitude tells you how far east or west you are from the Prime Meridian in Greenwich, England.
Find My Coordinates Right Now
Tap the button below to detect your current GPS position using your device's built-in location sensor.
Understanding Latitude
Latitude lines run horizontally around the Earth, like the rungs of a ladder. The Equator is 0 degrees. The North Pole is 90 degrees North, and the South Pole is 90 degrees South. If your latitude is a positive number, you are in the Northern Hemisphere. If negative, you are in the Southern Hemisphere.
Understanding Longitude
Longitude lines run vertically from pole to pole. The Prime Meridian (0 degrees longitude) passes through Greenwich, England. Moving east, longitude increases up to 180 degrees. Moving west, it decreases to -180 degrees. Together, latitude and longitude form a grid that covers the entire planet.
How Accurate Are My Coordinates?
On a modern smartphone, GPS accuracy typically falls between 3 and 5 meters under open sky. Indoors or in dense urban areas, the signal can bounce off buildings and accuracy may drop to 10-20 meters. For professional survey work, specialized equipment can achieve accuracy down to a few centimeters.
Decimal Places and Precision
- 4 decimal places (e.g., 40.6892) = accurate to about 11 meters
- 5 decimal places (e.g., 40.68920) = accurate to about 1.1 meters
- 6 decimal places (e.g., 40.689200) = accurate to about 11 centimeters
Related Guides
What are GPS Coordinates? A Beginner's Guide
How to Read GPS Coordinates
Convert Lat Long to Other Formats
GPS Accuracy Explained
Frequently Asked Questions
Can websites see my GPS coordinates without permission?
No. All modern browsers require your explicit permission before sharing your location with a website. When you tap "Show My Coordinates" on this page, your browser will prompt you to allow or deny access. We never store or transmit your location data.
Why does my GPS show a slightly different location each time?
GPS signals travel from satellites orbiting 20,000 km above Earth. Tiny fluctuations in atmospheric conditions, satellite geometry, and signal reflections off nearby buildings cause small variations in each reading. This is completely normal and usually within a few meters.
How do I share my coordinates with someone?
After finding your coordinates above, click "Copy Coordinates" to copy them to your clipboard. You can then paste them into a text message, email, or social media post. The recipient can paste them into Google Maps to see your exact location.