Convert Lat/Long and UTM to Maidenhead

Paste a decimal latitude and longitude or a UTM reference to get the Maidenhead grid locator, or switch tabs to decode a locator back to coordinates. The Maidenhead Locator System packs a position into a few characters (like JN58td), which is why amateur radio operators use it to swap locations on the air.

Enter coordinates above to see the Maidenhead locator.

How to use it

  1. Pick a direction: coordinates to a locator, or a locator to coordinates.
  2. Paste a decimal lat/long such as 48.14, 11.60, a UTM reference such as 32N 691000 5336000, or a locator such as JN58td.
  3. Read the locator at subsquare, square, and field precision, or the cell center in decimal degrees and UTM.
  4. Copy the result with the Copy button.

Frequently asked questions

What is a Maidenhead locator?

A Maidenhead locator is a short code like JN58td that names a rectangle on the map. Amateur radio operators use it to exchange positions quickly. For a full walkthrough, read what the Maidenhead grid is and how to read it.

What can I paste into this converter?

Decimal latitude and longitude (for example 48.14, 11.60) or a UTM reference (for example 32N 691000 5336000). Degrees, minutes, seconds are not supported; convert to decimal degrees first. Switch tabs and the field accepts a locator instead.

Can I convert a Maidenhead locator back to coordinates?

Yes. Switch to the Maidenhead to Lat/Long and UTM tab and paste a 2, 4, or 6 character locator. Because a locator names a rectangle rather than a point, the converter returns the center of that cell in decimal degrees and in UTM.

How precise is a 6-character locator?

A 6-character subsquare locator names a rectangle about 5 arcminutes of longitude by 2.5 arcminutes of latitude, a few kilometers across. It is fine for radio and planning; use full lat/long or MGRS when you need meter-level precision.

Where can I see a Maidenhead grid on a map?

Open the live map, choose the Grid tool, and set the grid type to Maidenhead. The map draws fields, squares, and subsquares and labels each cell with its locator.

Want the full explanation? Read what the Maidenhead grid is and how to read it. New to grid references? See the map grid references guide.