My Location

Latitude/longitude to MGRS converter

Paste a latitude and longitude and get its MGRS (Military Grid Reference System) string — zone, 100 km square and easting/northing — at 1 m precision, with a live map. Reverse it to turn any MGRS or USNG grid reference back into decimal degrees. Everything runs in your browser on the WGS84 datum.

Type a lat/long in decimal degrees or DMS to get its MGRS grid reference.

MGRS / USNG
18T WL 83959 07350
Zone + 100 km square + easting/northing at 1 m precision.
MGRS (no spaces)
18TWL8395907350
Decimal degrees (DD)
40.712800, -74.006000
Degrees, minutes, seconds (DMS)
40°42'46.1"N 74°00'21.6"W

All coordinates use the WGS84 datum.

Drag the marker to adjust — or tap the map to move it.

Reverse: MGRS → latitude / longitude

Latitude, longitude
40.714354, -74.005964
Centre of the addressed grid square.
Degrees, minutes, seconds (DMS)
40°42'51.7"N 74°00'21.5"W

MGRS/USNG conversions here use the WGS84 datum. Decoding returns the centre of the addressed grid square.

What is MGRS?

MGRS (Military Grid Reference System) is a grid-based way to write a location, used by NATO militaries and emergency services. It names the UTM zone and latitude band, a 100 km square, then easting and northing digits — for example 18T WL 83960 07523. USNG (US National Grid) is the same system. It builds on UTM coordinates.

How to convert lat/long to MGRS

  1. Type or paste a latitude and longitude into the box above, or tap “Use my location”.
  2. Read the MGRS / USNG grid reference instantly — it updates as you type and shows on the map.
  3. Tap the copy button to grab the result, or use the reverse section to turn an MGRS string back into latitude and longitude.

MGRS precision by digit count

Digits per axisExamplePrecision
10 (5+5)18T WL 83960 075231 metre
8 (4+4)18T WL 8396 075210 metres
6 (3+3)18T WL 839 075100 metres
4 (2+2)18T WL 83 071 kilometre
2 (1+1)18T WL 8 010 kilometres

MGRS, USNG and accuracy

This converter outputs MGRS at 1 m precision (five digits per axis); USNG uses the identical format, so the same string works for both. MGRS is defined for latitudes from 80°S to 84°N — the poles use the UPS grid instead. Need other notations? Try the all-in-one coordinate converter or lat/long to UTM.

Is it accurate and private?

Yes. The conversion is an exact transform on the WGS84 ellipsoid (the same model used worldwide) and runs entirely in your browser — your coordinates are never uploaded. Decoding an MGRS string returns the geographic centre of the addressed grid square.

See all tools →

Frequently asked questions

What is an MGRS coordinate?
An MGRS coordinate names a spot using a UTM grid zone and latitude band (e.g. 18T), a 100 km square (WL), then easting and northing digits — 18T WL 83960 07523. The more digits, the finer the precision: ten digits per axis pinpoints to one metre.

Is MGRS the same as USNG?
Effectively, yes. USNG (US National Grid) uses the identical format and the WGS84 datum, so an MGRS string and a USNG string for the same point are the same text. This tool’s output works for both.

How do I convert MGRS back to latitude and longitude?
Use the reverse section on this page: paste an MGRS or USNG string like 18T WL 83960 07523 and you’ll get decimal degrees and DMS plus a map. Decoding returns the centre of the addressed grid square.

What datum does MGRS use?
Modern MGRS and USNG use the WGS84 datum, the same as GPS, which is what this converter uses. Older maps printed with NAD27 or other datums can differ by tens of metres, so check your source map’s datum for survey-grade work.

Does MGRS cover the whole world?
Almost. MGRS is defined for latitudes from 80°S to 84°N. The polar regions beyond that use the related UPS (Universal Polar Stereographic) grid instead, which this tool doesn’t output.

Is this MGRS converter free?
Yes — it’s completely free, needs no account, and runs entirely in your browser. Your coordinates are never sent to a server. For more formats see the coordinate converter.