Decimal Degrees to DMS Converter
Switch between decimal degrees and degrees-minutes-seconds (DMS). Default direction splits 30.5° into 30° 30' 0". Reverse direction rebuilds a decimal from D, M, and S.
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How to convert decimal degrees and DMS
- Choose decimal degrees to DMS or DMS to decimal degrees in the direction list.
- For decimal to DMS, enter the decimal value. The default 30.5 splits into 30° 30' 0".
- For DMS to decimal, enter degrees, minutes, and seconds. Minutes and seconds must be from 0 up to but not including 60.
- Read the DMS parts or the rebuilt decimal degrees under the form.
- Use the angle converter when you need radians, gradians, or turns instead of DMS sexagesimal parts.
Decimal degrees and DMS
Sexagesimal plane-angle notation
| Decimal degrees | Single real number of degrees, including a fractional part |
|---|---|
| Degrees in DMS | Whole-degree part; carries the sign for negative angles |
| Minutes | 1' = 1/60 of a degree; range [0, 60) |
| Seconds | 1" = 1/3600 of a degree; range [0, 60) |
| Forward formula | Split |decimal| into deg + min/60 + sec/3600 |
| Reverse formula | decimal = degrees + minutes/60 + seconds/3600 |
What DMS notation is
Degrees-minutes-seconds (DMS) writes a plane angle with sixty minutes in a degree and sixty seconds in a minute. Survey notes, nautical charts, and many GPS readouts still print DMS. Decimal degrees pack the same angle into one real number that spreadsheets and most APIs prefer.
How the two notations convert
From decimal: take the absolute value, peel off the whole degrees, multiply the leftover by 60 for minutes, then multiply the next leftover by 60 for seconds. From DMS: decimal = degrees + minutes/60 + seconds/3600. The sign of a negative angle rides on the degrees field; minutes and seconds stay non-negative.
How this page runs the conversion
Direction decimal reads the value field and prints degrees, minutes, and seconds. Direction dms reads the three sexagesimal fields and prints a decimal. Out-of-range minutes or seconds raise an error. Hidden fields for the unused direction stay disabled so they do not leak into the engine.
When DMS conversion helps
Paste a chart bearing into a GIS form that wants decimal degrees, or expand a decimal latitude for a paper log that prints arcminutes. Magnetic declination tables and percent grade are different jobs.
Limits
Plane angles only. No hemisphere letters (N/S/E/W), no radian output on this form, and no automatic wrap into 0-360. Floating-point seconds can show tiny residuals. CZNull does not receive the numbers.