MGRS to Lat Long Converter
Convert Military Grid Reference System (MGRS) coordinates to latitude/longitude — and back — instantly, shown on a map. Free, WGS84, runs in your browser.
MGRS → Latitude / Longitude
Latitude / Longitude → MGRS
Got an MGRS grid reference off a military map, a SAR tasking, or a GIS export — something like 18S UJ 23483 06482 — and need normal lat/long? Paste it in and get decimal degrees instantly, pinned on the map. Type a lat/long and it hands back the MGRS string, down to 1 metre. Runs entirely in your browser.
What Is MGRS?
The Military Grid Reference System (MGRS) is the standard geocoordinate system used by NATO forces. It's built on top of UTM, but instead of a long numeric easting and northing it uses letters for the 100 km grid square, giving a short, speakable reference like 18S UJ 23483 06482.
Anatomy of an MGRS coordinate
- 18S — grid-zone designator: UTM zone 18 + latitude band S.
- UJ — the 100 km square (U = column/easting, J = row/northing).
- 23483 06482 — easting and northing within that square, here to 1 m precision.
Precision by digit count
- 2 digits → 10 km · 4 → 1 km · 6 → 100 m · 8 → 10 m · 10 → 1 m
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert MGRS to latitude and longitude?
Paste an MGRS reference like 18S UJ 23483 06482 into the decoder above. It parses the grid zone, 100 km square and numeric easting/northing, runs the inverse UTM projection on the WGS84 ellipsoid, and returns decimal-degree latitude and longitude.
What is MGRS?
MGRS (Military Grid Reference System) is the geocoordinate standard used by NATO militaries. It is built on UTM/UPS: a grid-zone designator (zone number + latitude band), a two-letter 100 km square identifier, and an easting/northing pair. It gives a compact, single-string location like 33UXP0403105672.
How precise is an MGRS coordinate?
Precision depends on the number of digits. 2 digits (1 each for easting/northing) locate a 10 km square, 4 digits a 1 km square, 6 digits 100 m, 8 digits 10 m, and 10 digits a 1 m square. This tool defaults to 10-digit (1 m) precision.
What do the letters in an MGRS coordinate mean?
The first letter after the zone number is the latitude band (C–X, 8° each). The next two letters identify the 100 km grid square within that zone — the first is the column (easting) and the second the row (northing).
Is MGRS the same as UTM?
They share the same underlying projection. UTM gives a full numeric easting and northing; MGRS replaces the leading digits with the 100 km square letters, making it shorter to write and speak. This tool also shows the equivalent UTM values.