Latitude and Longitude Finder
Enter an address, click the map, or share your location to get its latitude and longitude instantly.
Current coordinates
Decimal: 51.505000°, -0.090000°
DMS: 51°30'18.00"N, 0°5'24.00"W
DDM: 51°30.300'N, 0°5.400'W
💡 Tip: Click anywhere on the map to get coordinates for that location!
What Are Latitude and Longitude?
Latitude and longitude are the two numbers that pin down any location on Earth. Latitude tells you how far north or south a place is from the equator, from 0° to 90°. Longitude tells you how far east or west it is from the prime meridian in Greenwich, London, from 0° to 180°. Written together — latitude first, then longitude — they form a coordinate pair such as 48.8584, 2.2945 (the Eiffel Tower).
| Latitude | Longitude | |
|---|---|---|
| Measures | North–south position | East–west position |
| Zero line | Equator (0°) | Prime meridian, Greenwich (0°) |
| Range | −90° to +90° | −180° to +180° |
| Positive / negative | North = +, South = − | East = +, West = − |
| Lines are called | Parallels (run east–west) | Meridians (run pole to pole) |
| Length of 1° | ≈ 111 km (69 mi) everywhere | ≈ 111 km at the equator, shrinking to 0 at the poles |
| Written first? | Yes | No — always second |
How to Find Latitude and Longitude
You can get the coordinates of any place in three ways with this latitude and longitude finder:
- Search an address or place name. Type a full address, a city or a landmark (for example “Big Ben, London”) and press Search. The map centres on the result and the coordinates appear instantly.
- Click the map. Zoom in and click any point — a field, a trailhead, a rooftop. The latitude and longitude of that exact spot are shown and can be copied with one click.
- Use your current location. Press “Use my location” and allow location access. Your device reports its position and the tool shows your latitude and longitude. For a dedicated view with accuracy details, open My Location.
Already have coordinates? Paste them into the search box to see the point on the map and its nearest address, or use Reverse Geocoding to turn lat long into an address.
Latitude vs Longitude: Which Is Which?
The easiest way to remember: latitude lines are flat like the rungs of a ladder (“lat-ladder”), and longitude lines are long, running from pole to pole. In a coordinate pair, latitude always comes first. So in 40.6892, −74.0445 (the Statue of Liberty), 40.6892 is the latitude (north of the equator) and −74.0445 is the longitude (west of Greenwich).
A quick sanity check: latitude can never be larger than 90 or smaller than −90. If the first number is, say, 151.2, the pair has been written longitude-first. See it visually on the latitude and longitude map.
Coordinate Formats: Decimal Degrees, DMS and DDM
The same location can be written in three common formats. This tool shows all three; use the GPS Coordinate Converter to switch between them.
| Format | Example (New York City Hall area) | Where it is used |
|---|---|---|
| Decimal degrees (DD) | 40.7128, −74.0060 | Google Maps, web apps, APIs, spreadsheets |
| Degrees, minutes, seconds (DMS) | 40° 42′ 46.08″ N, 74° 0′ 21.6″ W | Paper maps, surveying, aviation charts |
| Degrees and decimal minutes (DDM) | 40° 42.768′ N, 74° 0.360′ W | Marine GPS, geocaching, handheld GPS units |
To convert DMS to decimal degrees: DD = degrees + minutes ÷ 60 + seconds ÷ 3600, then make the value negative for south or west. Example: 40° 42′ 46.08″ = 40 + 42/60 + 46.08/3600 = 40.7128.
How Precise Are Coordinates? Decimal Places Explained
Each extra decimal place makes a coordinate about ten times more precise. For most uses, 5 decimal places (about 1 m) is plenty; this tool returns 6.
| Decimal places | Example | Precision (at the equator) | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 48.9 | ≈ 11.1 km | Region |
| 2 | 48.86 | ≈ 1.1 km | Town / district |
| 3 | 48.858 | ≈ 111 m | Neighbourhood, large field |
| 4 | 48.8584 | ≈ 11 m | Street, building |
| 5 | 48.85837 | ≈ 1.1 m | Door, tree, parked car |
| 6 | 48.858370 | ≈ 0.11 m | Surveying-grade detail |
What Are GPS Coordinates?
GPS coordinates are simply latitude and longitude values measured by a GPS receiver. Almost all GPS devices, phones and online maps use the WGS84 reference system, so a GPS coordinate from your phone and a latitude/longitude from this tool describe the same point. Some GPS units also show a third value — altitude — which you can check with the Elevation Finder.
Latitude and Longitude of Famous Places
Use these to test the tool or as reference points (decimal degrees, WGS84):
| Place | Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|---|
| Eiffel Tower, Paris | 48.8584 | 2.2945 |
| Statue of Liberty, New York | 40.6892 | −74.0445 |
| Big Ben, London | 51.5007 | −0.1246 |
| Taj Mahal, Agra | 27.1751 | 78.0421 |
| Sydney Opera House | −33.8568 | 151.2153 |
| Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro | −22.9519 | −43.2105 |
| Burj Khalifa, Dubai | 25.1972 | 55.2744 |
| Mount Everest summit | 27.9881 | 86.9250 |
Who Uses a Latitude and Longitude Finder?
- Travellers and hikers — save a trailhead, campsite or parking spot and share it offline.
- Drivers and delivery teams — give a precise drop-off point where addresses are vague.
- Photographers — geotag photos and plan shoots (pair with the Sunrise & Sunset Calculator).
- Developers and analysts — get test coordinates for apps, spreadsheets and GIS.
- Surveyors, farmers and field workers — record exact points for reports and maps.
- Students and teachers — learn how the global coordinate system works.
More Free Coordinate Tools
| Tool | What it does |
|---|---|
| Address to Coordinates | Convert a street address to latitude and longitude |
| Reverse Geocoding | Convert lat long to an address |
| My Location | See your current latitude and longitude |
| GPS Coordinate Converter | Convert DMS ↔ decimal degrees ↔ DDM |
| Elevation Finder | Height above sea level for any point |
| Distance Calculator | Distance between two coordinates |
| Time Zone Finder | Time zone for any coordinates |
| Sunrise & Sunset Calculator | Sun times for any place and date |
Frequently Asked Questions
What are latitude and longitude?
Latitude and longitude are angles that describe a position on Earth. Latitude measures north–south distance from the equator (0° to ±90°); longitude measures east–west distance from the prime meridian (0° to ±180°).
How do I find the latitude and longitude of an address?
Type the address into the search box above and press Search. The coordinates appear in decimal degrees and DMS.
Which comes first, latitude or longitude?
Latitude always comes first, then longitude — for example 51.5007, −0.1246. Google Maps, Apple Maps and most GPS devices use this order.
Can I find my current latitude and longitude?
Yes. Click "Use my location" and allow location access in your browser. Your coordinates are calculated on your device and are not stored.
What is the difference between decimal degrees and DMS?
Decimal degrees write the position as one number per axis (40.7128). DMS splits it into degrees, minutes and seconds (40° 42′ 46.08″). They describe the same point; 1 degree = 60 minutes and 1 minute = 60 seconds.
How accurate are the coordinates?
Map clicks and searches return coordinates to 6 decimal places (about 10 cm). Real-world accuracy depends on the map data for address searches and on your device's GPS signal for current location — typically within a few metres outdoors on a phone.
Why is my longitude negative?
Longitudes west of the prime meridian (the Americas, western Africa, western Europe west of Greenwich) are negative. Latitudes south of the equator are negative. Negative is the same as writing W or S.
Is this latitude and longitude finder free?
Yes. Every tool on LatitudeLongitudeFinder is free to use with no sign-up.