How to Find GPS Coordinates of Any Location
Every spot on Earth has a pair of numbers — latitude and longitude — that pinpoints it exactly. Here's how to read them off the tools you already have, in every format, and what each number means.
Method 1: Google Maps (right-click on desktop)
- Open Google Maps on a computer.
- Right-click (or long-press on mobile) the exact spot.
- The coordinates appear at the top of the pop-up — click them to copy (format: decimal degrees, e.g.
39.3155, -84.3440).
The first number is latitude (north–south, −90 to 90); the second is longitude (east–west, −180 to 180). Negative = south / west. Drop a pin first when the spot is precise — right-clicking open terrain gives the tapped point, not a building.
Method 2: Your phone (iPhone & Android)
iPhone: the built-in Compass app shows your current latitude and longitude at the bottom. Or in Apple Maps: press-and-hold the location → drag the pin → the coordinates show in the place card.
Android: Google Maps long-press works the same as on desktop. For live readings, free apps like GPS Status or the built-in compass widget display current coordinates continuously.
The shortcut: our free Coordinates Finder
Skip the right-click dance: the Coordinates Finder shows a live map — click anywhere and the coordinates appear instantly in both DD and DMS, with one-click copy. Search an address or use your device GPS. Free, no signup, works on mobile.
The two coordinate formats (DD vs DMS)
| Format | Example (Statue of Liberty) | Used by |
|---|---|---|
| DD — decimal degrees | 40.6892, -74.0445 | Google Maps, most apps & APIs |
| DMS — degrees, minutes, seconds | 40°41'21"N 74°2'40"W | Aviation, marine, older GPS units |
Conversion: minutes = (decimal − whole degrees) × 60; seconds = the remainder × 60 again. To go back: degrees + minutes/60 + seconds/3600. When pasting coordinates into any tool, decimal degrees (DD) are the safest — DMS needs the hemisphere letter (N/S/E/W) or signed values.
Using coordinates in a map tool
Once you have coordinates, paste them into the distance calculator to measure between points, or into the radius map tool to draw a circle around them. Our tools read decimal degrees with or without the negative sign for west/south — just use a minus sign for west longitudes and south latitudes.
Frequently asked questions
Which number is latitude and which is longitude?
Latitude comes first (north–south, −90 to 90); longitude second (east–west, −180 to 180). A quick check: New York City is 40.7 N, −74.0 W — the ~40 number is latitude, the ~−74 is longitude.
Why are some coordinates negative?
Signs replace direction letters: negative latitude = southern hemisphere; negative longitude = western hemisphere (the Americas). Europe, Asia and Africa have positive longitudes.
How precise are GPS coordinates?
Six decimal places ≈ 0.1 m precision — more than GPS itself delivers (±5 m horizontal under open sky). Four decimals ≈ 11 m is plenty for most uses; the digits after that are noise unless you use survey-grade equipment.
What coordinate format does Google Maps use?
Decimal degrees (DD) — e.g. 40.6892, -74.0445. It also accepts DMS input like 40°41'21"N 74°2'40"W if you paste it into the search box.
How do I enter coordinates into Google Maps?
Paste the DD pair directly into the search box — '40.6892, -74.0445' — and it drops a pin exactly there. Order matters: latitude first, then longitude, separated by a comma.
Page last updated . Data sources and methodology are described in the sections above and in About.
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Start with the coordinate tools above — free, no signup, no usage caps.