Degrees to Minutes Converter (Arcminutes & Arcseconds)
Convert any angle in decimal degrees to arcminutes (′), arcseconds (″), radians and gradians — plus the full degrees–minutes–seconds (DMS) breakdown. One degree equals exactly 60 arcminutes and 3600 arcseconds.
°
1 degree = 60 arcminutes (′)
- 1
Conversion factor
60By definition: one degree contains exactly 60 arcminutes. - 2
Arcminutes
1.5 × 60 = 90
How does this calculator work?
Multiply decimal degrees by 60 to get arcminutes, or by 3600 to get arcseconds. To convert to radians multiply by π/180; to gradians multiply by 400/360. One nautical mile of latitude = 1 arcminute. One parsec = distance at which 1 AU subtends 1 arcsecond.
Formula
How this is calculated
The arcminute (′) is a unit of angular measurement equal to 1/60 of a degree. One arcminute is further divided into 60 arcseconds (″), so one degree equals 3600 arcseconds. These units trace back to ancient Babylonian astronomy, which used base-60 counting, and they remain essential in modern GPS coordinates, telescope alignment, cartography and celestial navigation.
Converting decimal degrees to arcminutes is straightforward: multiply by 60. For example, 0.5° = 30′ and 1.25° = 75′. To get arcseconds, multiply the full decimal-degree value by 3600, or take the arcminute decimal part and multiply that by 60. The DMS notation separates the integer degrees, the integer arcminutes of the remainder, and the remaining arcseconds.
At the surface of the Earth, 1 arcminute of latitude corresponds to exactly 1 nautical mile (1852 m), which is why nautical charts use DMS extensively. For astronomical purposes 1 arcsecond ≈ 725 km on the solar surface and ≈ 1 AU at a distance of 1 parsec (the parsec is literally defined as the distance at which Earth's orbital radius subtends 1 arcsecond).
Frequently asked questions
Exactly 60 arcminutes (′) are in one degree, following the sexagesimal (base-60) system inherited from ancient Babylonian astronomy. So 1° = 60′ = 3600″.
0.5° × 60 = 30 arcminutes (30′), which is equivalent to 1800 arcseconds (1800″). In DMS notation: 0° 30′ 0″.
Modern digital systems (GPS receivers, GIS software, mapping APIs) almost universally use decimal degrees because they are easier to compute with. DMS is traditional in printed charts, nautical instruments and some surveying formats. Both are mathematically equivalent; this converter switches between them.
Also known as
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team. (2026). Degrees to Minutes Converter (Arcminutes & Arcseconds) [Online calculator]. TG we-Calculate. https://we-calculate.com/calculator/degrees-to-minutes-calculator
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team. "Degrees to Minutes Converter (Arcminutes & Arcseconds)." TG we-Calculate. 2026. https://we-calculate.com/calculator/degrees-to-minutes-calculator.
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team, "Degrees to Minutes Converter (Arcminutes & Arcseconds)," TG we-Calculate, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://we-calculate.com/calculator/degrees-to-minutes-calculator
@misc{wecalculate_degrees_to_minutes_calculator, title = {Degrees to Minutes Converter (Arcminutes & Arcseconds)}, author = {{TG we-Calculate Editorial Team}}, howpublished = {\url{https://we-calculate.com/calculator/degrees-to-minutes-calculator}}, year = {2026}, note = {TG we-Calculate} }
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