Every spot on Earth has its own two-number address called Latitude and Longitude. Unlike street addresses—which only exist along named roads—GPS coordinates work everywhere on the planet: in the middle of a forest trail, out on a fishing boat, in a large parking lot, or at your front door.
1. Latitude vs. Longitude: Which One Is Which?
A pair of GPS coordinates is always written with Latitude first and Longitude second:
• Latitude (North / South): Measures how far north or south you are from the Equator (0°). The North Pole is +90° (or 90° N) and the South Pole is -90° (or 90° S). An easy trick to remember: "Lat is flat" like the horizontal rungs of a ladder.
• Longitude (East / West): Measures how far east or west you are from the Prime Meridian (0°), which runs through Greenwich, London. Places in the Americas are West (written with a "W" or a minus sign like -74.0060), while Europe, Asia, and Australia are East (written with an "E" or a positive number).
2. Which Coordinate Format Should You Use?
You will see coordinates written in a few different styles on this page. They all point to the exact same spot—they just format the numbers differently depending on what app or gear you are using:
| Format Name | What It Looks Like | Best Used For |
|---|---|---|
| Decimal Degrees (DD) | 40.712776, -74.005974 | Easiest for everyday use! Paste directly into Google Maps, Apple Maps, or text messages |
| Degrees, Minutes, Seconds (DMS) | 40° 42' 46.0" N, 74° 00' 21.5" W | Printed maps, aviation charts, property surveys, and traditional navigation |
| Degrees, Decimal Minutes (DDM) | 40° 42.7666' N, 74° 00.3584' W | Boating/marine GPS chartplotters, Coast Guard rescues, and geocaching |
| UTM / MGRS Grid | 18T 583960m E, 4507523m N | Hiking topo maps, National Park rangers, and search-and-rescue teams |
| Google Plus Code | 87G8P27V+4J | A short code that works like a digital street address for places without road names |
3. How Many Decimal Places Do You Actually Need?
When copying Decimal Degrees (like 40.712776), you might wonder if all those digits after the dot matter. Here is a quick rule of thumb:
• 2 decimal places (40.71): Pinpoints a general town or neighborhood (about 0.7 miles).
• 4 decimal places (40.7128): Gets you within about 35 feet (11 meters)—plenty close for finding a building or campsite.
• 5 to 6 decimal places (40.712776): Pinpoints a spot within 4 inches to 3 feet—ideal for marking a specific trailhead sign, parked car, or survey marker.