How to Read Latitude and Longitude on a Map

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

Latitude and longitude are measurements of location on the globe. If you know how to read latitude and longitude on a map, you can determine the geographic coordinates of any spot on the map. While online maps make it easy to determine latitude and longitude with the click of a button, sometimes it is helpful to know how to do it on paper. In order to read latitude and longitude correctly, you must first understand the basic concepts behind these measurements. Once you have the basics down, learn how to identify latitude and longitude markers on a map and pinpoint exact locations.

Things You Should Know

  • Locate the evenly-spaced horizontal (latitude) and vertical (longitude) lines on a map. The coordinates are along the edges of the map.
  • Find the location you're measuring on the map. Use a ruler to draw vertical and horizontal lines from the location to the edges of the map.
  • Write down the vertical coordinate, which is latitude, and the horizontal coordinate, which is longitude.
Part 1
Part 1 of 2:

Understanding Latitude and Longitude

PDF download Download Article
  1. Latitude is a measure of distance north or south of the equator, which is an imaginary horizontal line around the exact mid-point of the earth between the 2 poles. The earth is divided up into 180 latitude lines on either side of the equator, called parallels. These parallels run horizontally around the earth, parallel to the equator. 90 of them are north of the equator, while the other 90 are south of it. [1]
  2. Longitude is a measure of distance east or west of an imaginary vertical line that runs down the outside of the globe from the North Pole to the South Pole, called the prime meridian. The prime meridian could have been chosen to be anywhere, but there is an international agreement that the meridian that runs through Greenwich, England, is considered the official prime meridian, with 0° longitude. Longitude lines are a series of vertical lines from North Pole to the South Pole, also called meridians because every place touched by the same meridian have midday at the same time. There are 360 meridians on either side of the prime meridian, with 180 of them located east of the prime meridian, and the other 180 located to the west of it. [2]
    • The meridian on the opposite side of the earth from the prime meridian is called the anti-meridian.
    Advertisement
  3. Examine the units of measurement used for latitude and longitude. The measurements of latitude and longitude are usually expressed in degrees (°), minutes (′), or seconds (″). The entire distance from one parallel to another or one meridian to another is 1°. To produce even more accurate measurements, each degree can be further divided up into 60 minutes, and each minute into 60 seconds (for a total of 3,600 seconds per degree). [3]
    • Latitude and longitude are measured in degrees rather than absolute units of measurement (such as miles or kilometers) because the Earth is spherical. While the distance between degrees of latitude is constant (60 nautical miles or 111.12 km), the Earth’s shape causes the distance between degrees of longitude to decrease as you approach the poles. [4]
  4. When measuring latitude in either direction, the equator is considered the starting point, at 0° latitude. Likewise, the prime meridian is the starting point for measures of longitude, representing 0° longitude. Every measure of latitude or longitude is expressed in terms of how far it is from the origin point in either direction. [5]
    • For example, the North Pole is at 90°N, meaning it is 90° north of the equator.
    • The antimeridian is at 180° either east or west from the prime meridian.
    • The Great Sphinx of Giza in Egypt is located at 29°58′31″N, 31°8′15″E. This means it is just under 30° north of the equator in latitude, and about 31° east of the prime meridian in longitude.
    5. Advertisement
Part 2
Part 2 of 2:

Determining Latitude and Longitude Coordinates on a Map

PDF download Download Article
  1. Not all maps indicate latitude and longitude . You are most likely to find them on maps of large areas, such as atlas maps, or on smaller maps that are designed to reflect the terrain extremely accurately, such as topographic maps. If you are in the US, detailed topographic maps of most regions are available through the US Geological Survey.
  2. Take look at the map, and locate the feature or area for which you would like to know the coordinates. Mark the exact spot you are interested in with a pin or a pencil mark.
  3. Latitude is indicated on a map by a series of evenly-spaced horizontal lines running from one side of the map to the other, while longitude is indicated by a series of evenly-spaced vertical lines running from top to bottom. Look for numbers along the edges of the map giving coordinates for each line. These numbers are called “graticules.” [6]
    • Latitude graticules are marked along the east and west edges of the map. Longitude graticules are marked on the north and south edges.
    • Depending on the scale of your map , the graticules may mark fractions of degrees rather than whole degrees. For instance, there may be a Graticule marked at every minute within a degree instead of every degree (e.g., 32°0′, 32°1′, and so on).
    • The map should also indicate where the latitude and longitude depicted are relative to the equator and prime meridian, respectively (e.g., North or South, East or West).
    • Take care not to confuse the latitude and longitude lines with UTM lines , another type of grid coordinate system often found on maps. UTM numbers are usually marked in a smaller text (and without degree symbols) along the edges of the map, and UTM gridlines may be marked in a different colour from latitude and longitude lines.
  4. Take a ruler and a pencil and mark a level horizontal line from your point to the nearest east or west edge of the map. Make sure your line is parallel to the nearest latitude line on the map.
  5. Starting from the same point, use the ruler and pencil to draw a straight vertical line to the nearest north or south edge of the map. Make sure your line is parallel to the closest longitude line.
  6. Depending on the scale of the map, you may be able to estimate the coordinates of your point down to the second. Look at where your latitude and longitude lines intersect the coordinate lines on the edge of the map, and estimate the coordinates by their position relative to the closest graticules.
    • If your map shows seconds, find the second closest to where each line intersects the latitude or longitude scale at the edge of the map. For example, if your latitude line falls about 5″ above the 32°20′N line, your point is at a latitude of approximately 32°20′5″N.
    • If your map shows minutes, but not seconds, then you can estimate your latitude or longitude to within 6 seconds by dividing the space between each graticule into 10ths. If your longitude line falls about 2/10 to the left of the 120°14′E line, then the longitude is roughly 120°14′12″E.
  7. Geographic coordinates are the place where the latitude and longitude lines converge on a single point. Look at the numbers you got for the latitude and longitude of your point, and put them together (e.g., 32°20′5″N, 120°14′12″E). [7]
    8. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    How do you read latitude and longitude on a map?
    Drew Hawkins1
    Community Answer
    Use a map with latitude and longitude lines and pinpoint the location you're trying to find coordinates for. Find the latitude and longitude markers, and use a ruler and a pencil to draw a line from your point to the nearest east or west edge of the map. Then, draw a vertical line from your point to the nearest north or south edge of the map. Then, take the numbers you got for the latitude and longitude of your point and put them together. For example, you could end up with 32°20′5″N, 120°14′12″E as your coordinates.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 33 Helpful 27
  • Question
    How do I find my exact coordinates?
    Drew Hawkins1
    Community Answer
    If you've got a smartphone, you can go to Google Maps and find your exact coordinates. If you're using a map with longitude and latitude lines, stick a pin where you're located. Then, draw a straight horizontal line from your point to the east or west edge of the map. Then, draw a vertical line from your location to the north or south edge of the map. Put together the 2 coordinates to find your position.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 22 Helpful 31
  • Question
    Is latitude vertical or horizontal?
    Drew Hawkins1
    Community Answer
    Latitude lines run horizontally across the Earth and are parallel to the equator. They can also be called parallels of latitude. Longitude lines run from north to south and are perpendicular to the equator. An easy way to remember which is which is to think of longitude as "long" like hair that hangs down. Longitude lines hang down over the Earth from north to south and latitude run across it, parallel to the equator.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 12 Helpful 37
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Write Latitude & Longitude in Degrees, Minutes, Seconds, & Decimals
      How to
      Read a Nautical Chart
      How to
      Memorise the Locations of Countries on a World Map
      How to
      Prove the Earth Is Round
      How to
      Memorize the Canadian Territories and Provinces
      How to
      Remember the Five Great Lakes
      How to
      Remember the Seven Continents
      How to
      Learn Geography
      How to
      Learn the Capitals of the World
      How to
      Study for a Geography Exam
      Advertisement

      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about navigation, check out our in-depth interview with Jessie Antonellis-John .

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/latitude/
      2. ↑ https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/longitude/
      3. ↑ https://www.nationalgeographic.org/activity/introduction-latitude-longitude/
      4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEKFRV29Sk4
      5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVFB5G5d2Pc
      6. ↑ https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/sites/www.nrcan.gc.ca/files/earthsciences/pdf/topo101/pdf/mapping_basics_e.pdf
      7. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDRIXoZKEEo

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      Latitude and longitude are measurements of location on the globe. To find latitude on a map, look for a series of evenly-spaced horizontal lines with numbers along the edges. Alternatively, to find longitude, look for a series of vertical lines from the North Pole to the South Pole. When you’re ready to put your knowledge to the test, pick the location you’re interested in. Then, find the latitude and longitude markers that run along the top and side of the map. Use a ruler to make a line going up and another one going to the side of the point to mark the measurements for your location. To learn how to put your measurements together to find the coordinates of your location, keep reading!

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 524,834 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Margaret Albert

        Oct 18, 2021

        "I've never been curious enough to learn about map coordinates, but we just bought some land; it seemed to have ..." more
        Rated this article:
      More reader stories Hide reader stories
      Share your story

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement