How to get coordinates on Google Maps

Google Maps shows you the latitude and longitude of any location when you right-click on the map (on desktop) or long-press on the map (on mobile). The coordinates appear in a small box at the top of the screen, and you can tap or click them to copy the numbers to your clipboard. This works whether location services are on or off — you are straightforward reading numbers from the map, not sharing your location with anyone.

The latitude comes first (the number between -90 and 90), followed by the longitude (the number between -180 and 180). Latitude measures how far north or south a place is from the equator. Longitude measures how far east or west it is from the prime meridian, an imaginary line that runs through Greenwich, England. Together, these two numbers pinpoint any spot on Earth to within a few feet.

Key Takeaways

  • Right-click any spot on Google Maps on a computer, or long-press on a phone, to see the latitude and longitude in a box at the top of the screen.
  • Tap or click the coordinates themselves to copy them as a single string of numbers that you can paste elsewhere.
  • Latitude is listed first and ranges from -90 (South Pole) to 90 (North Pole); longitude is second and ranges from -180 to 180.
  • You can also search for a place by name and then right-click or long-press to get its exact coordinates.

Finding coordinates on a desktop computer

Open Google Maps in your web browser and navigate to the location you want. You can type a street address, a business name, or a landmark into the search box at the top left, or you can scroll and zoom the map until you find the spot yourself.

Once you can see the location on the map, right-click directly on it. A small menu will appear. At the very top of that menu, you will see two numbers separated by a comma — that is your latitude and longitude. Click on those numbers and they will copy to your clipboard, ready to paste into an email, document, or any other process.

If you need the coordinates for a named place (a restaurant, park, or address), you can also search for it first. Type the name or address into the search box, and when the result appears, click on the name or the location pin. A panel will open on the left side showing details about that place. Scroll down in that panel and you will see the coordinates listed there as well.

Finding coordinates on a phone or tablet

Open the Google Maps app on your phone or tablet. Search for the location by typing an address or name into the search box at the top, or scroll the map until you find the spot you need.

Long-press (hold your finger down) on the exact spot on the map where you want the coordinates. A pin will drop, and a box will appear at the bottom of the screen showing the address and the coordinates. The latitude and longitude are displayed as two numbers separated by a comma. Tap on those numbers to copy them.

On some phones, the coordinates also appear in a small card at the top of the screen. Either location works — tap whichever is easier for you to reach, and the numbers will copy to your clipboard so you can paste them into a message, note, or map process on another device.

Understanding what the numbers mean

Latitude is always listed first. It tells you how far north or south the location is. The equator is 0 degrees. Locations north of the equator (like New York or London) have positive latitude numbers, often shown with a plus sign or the letter N. Locations south of the equator (like Sydney or Cape Town) have negative latitude numbers, often shown with a minus sign or the letter S. The North Pole is 90 degrees north, and the South Pole is 90 degrees south.

Longitude is listed second. It tells you how far east or west the location is from the prime meridian, an imaginary line running through Greenwich, England. Locations east of that line (like Tokyo or Mumbai) have positive longitude numbers, often shown with a plus sign or the letter E. Locations west of that line (like New York or Los Angeles) have negative longitude numbers, often shown with a minus sign or the letter W. The numbers range from -180 to 180 degrees.

When you see coordinates written as "40.7128, -74.0060", that is New York City: 40.7128 degrees north latitude, 74.0060 degrees west longitude. The format is always latitude first, then longitude. Some systems add letters (N, S, E, W) instead of plus and minus signs, but the meaning is the same.

Copying and using coordinates elsewhere

Once you have copied the coordinates from Google Maps, you can paste them into any process that accepts location data. Common uses include sharing a meeting location with someone, entering coordinates into a GPS device, plotting points on a different mapping service, or recording a location for research or documentation.

If you are pasting coordinates into a different map service (like Apple Maps, Bing Maps, or a specialized navigation app), paste them into the search box the same way you would type an address. Most map services recognize latitude and longitude in the standard format and will show you the location when ready.

You can also store coordinates in a spreadsheet, document, or note-taking app for later reference. This is useful if you are tracking multiple locations or need to return to the same spot in the future. The coordinates will work the same way months or years later — they do not expire or change unless the location itself moves, which is rare.

Why coordinates matter

Coordinates are more precise than addresses. An address might refer to a building, but coordinates can point to a specific entrance, parking lot, or outdoor landmark within that building. This matters when you are meeting someone at a large venue, navigating to a trailhead in a remote area, or sharing a location where a street address does not exist.

Coordinates also work across languages and spelling variations. If you are traveling to a country where you do not speak the language, coordinates will work in any GPS device or mapping app, whereas typing an address in the local language might fail if you misspell it. Emergency services in some regions also use coordinates to locate callers more quickly than addresses alone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I search Google Maps using coordinates instead of an address?

Yes. Open Google Maps, click the search box, and paste or type the coordinates in the format "latitude, longitude" — for example, "40.7128, -74.0060". Google Maps will recognize the numbers and show you that location on the map.

Do the coordinates change if I zoom in or out on the map?

No. The coordinates for a specific spot on Earth never change, no matter how close or far away you zoom. Zooming only changes what area of the map you see, not the numbers themselves.

What if I see coordinates with more decimal places than Google Maps shows?

More decimal places mean greater precision. Google Maps typically shows five or six decimal places, which is accurate to within a few feet. If you see eight or ten decimal places elsewhere, that is just a more detailed version of the same location. Both will work in any mapping app.

Can I get coordinates for a route or a whole area, not just a single point?

Google Maps gives you coordinates for a single point where you click or long-press. To save a route or area, use Google Maps' "Save" feature to bookmark the location, or take a screenshot of the map. You cannot copy coordinates for an entire route as a single set of numbers.

Do I need location services turned on to see coordinates on Google Maps?

No. Coordinates are just numbers on the map — they do not require your location services to be active. You can right-click or long-press any spot on the map and get the coordinates whether location services are on or off.