How to get the coordinates of your location
- Tap “Show my exact location” and accept the location prompt.
- Latitude and longitude appear at the top in decimal format, which every maps app understands.
- The other formats are in the list below. Tap “Copy” next to the one you need.
The coordinates are calculated on your device. For an error of just a few meters, use a phone outdoors or by a window and wait until the “Accuracy” value drops below 20 meters.
Coordinates of an address or a point on the map
Besides your own position, you can get the coordinates of any other place. Type an address or place name into the search box, or zoom in on the map and tap the exact point: an intersection, the entrance to a property, a meeting point. The values in the list change instantly, and you can copy them or share them as a link.
The four formats and what they are good for
| Format | Example (Empire State Building) | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Decimal degrees | 40.748817, -73.985428 | Google Maps, Waze, WhatsApp, spreadsheets |
| Degrees, minutes, seconds (DMS) | 40°44′55.7″N 73°59′07.5″W | Navigation, nautical charts, documents |
| UTM | 18T 585651 E 4511369 N | Surveying, construction, topographic maps |
| Plus Code | 87G8P2X7+GR | Short address for places without a street name or number |
All four describe the same point. In decimal degrees, south and west are written as negative numbers; in degrees, minutes and seconds they are shown with the letters S and W.
How to read latitude and longitude
Latitude tells you how far north or south of the equator you are. Longitude tells you how far east or west of the prime meridian at Greenwich. In decimal format the sign replaces the letters: positive means north or east, negative means south or west. New York is at about 40.71 (north) and -74.01 (west), London at 51.51 and -0.13, New Delhi at 28.61 and 77.21, Sydney at -33.87 and 151.21.
Each decimal place adds precision:
- 3 decimals: about 110 meters, enough for a neighborhood.
- 4 decimals: about 11 meters, a house or an entrance.
- 5 decimals: about 1 meter.
- 6 decimals: about 10 centimeters, finer than a phone's GPS can measure.
What coordinates are useful for
- Emergencies on highways, trails or at sea. Where there is no address, responders can find you by latitude and longitude. Read them out to the dispatcher digit by digit.
- Land and construction. To mark boundary points or place a structure on a plan, surveyors usually work with UTM.
- Deliveries and visits. A pair of coordinates leads to the right gate when house numbers are confusing or missing.
- Photos, hikes, fishing spots. Save the coordinates of a place and any GPS device or maps app can take you back there.
Prefer an address with street and house number? See what is my address. The ground elevation at the point is on what is my elevation.
Questions about coordinates
How do I find my coordinates?
Tap “Show my exact location” and allow location access. The latitude and longitude of your position appear in four formats, each with a button to copy it.
How do I get the latitude and longitude of an address?
Type the address into “Or look up another place” and tap “Search”. The page puts the point on the map and shows its latitude and longitude. You can also tap any point on the map.
Which comes first, latitude or longitude?
Latitude comes first, then longitude. Latitude describes the position north or south and ranges from -90 to 90. Longitude describes the position east or west and ranges from -180 to 180.
What does a negative coordinate mean?
In decimal format, a negative latitude is south of the equator and a negative longitude is west of Greenwich. That is why longitude is negative everywhere in the United States and Canada, while in India both values are positive.
How do I enter coordinates in Google Maps?
Copy the latitude and longitude in decimal format, paste them into the Google Maps search box and confirm. Or use the “Open in Google Maps” button on this page.
Which coordinate format should I use?
Decimal degrees for maps apps and messages. Degrees, minutes and seconds are common in navigation and documents. UTM is used in surveying and on topographic maps. The Plus Code works as a short address where streets have no name.
How accurate are my GPS coordinates?
A phone outdoors is usually accurate to 3 to 10 meters; indoors or on a computer the error can be much larger. The “Accuracy” row shows the margin of error of each reading, and the circle on the map shows the same area.