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DD MGRS

Convert Decimal Degrees to Military Grid Reference System

To convert DD to MGRS: first convert to UTM, then determine the 100km square letters from the UTM zone and easting/northing values, then format as GZDDQ+easting+northing.

DD to MGRS Converter

DD Decimal Degrees

DMS Deg. Min. Sec.

DDM Deg. Decimal Min.

UTM Univ. Trans. Mercator

MGRS Military Grid

Geohash Base32

Plus Code Open Location Code

How to Convert DD to MGRS: Step by Step

  1. 1 Convert latitude/longitude to UTM (zone number, zone letter, easting, northing).
  2. 2 Find the column set for the zone number: (zone - 1) % 3.
  3. 3 Column letter = column set[(floor(easting/100000) - 1)].
  4. 4 Row letter = row set[(floor(northing/100000) % 20)], where the row set depends on odd/even zone.
  5. 5 Combine: zone number + zone letter + column letter + row letter + (easting % 100000) + (northing % 100000).

Worked Example

Input 48.858400, 2.294500

Latitude conversion:

UTM: 31U 448251 5411943

Longitude conversion:

31U → set 0 | col D | row Q → 31UDQ + 48251 + 11943

Result:

31UDQ4825111943

Why Convert DD to MGRS?

Needed when briefing military units, entering coordinates in Blue Force Tracker, working with NATO STANAG mapping, or filing reports using military grid references.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Using the wrong column set (depends on zone mod 3)
  • Wrong row set (depends on zone odd/even)
  • Not padding easting/northing to 5 digits