What is the MGRS Converter?
The Red Grid MGRS Converter is a free online tool that converts coordinates between MGRS (Military Grid Reference System), UTM, latitude/longitude, DMS (degrees-minutes-seconds), and FixPhrase. It runs entirely in your browser (no account, no ads, no tracking) and is DMA TM 8358.1 compliant, using truncation (not rounding) so a grid never reports more precision than it actually has. Whether you're plotting a military grid reference, converting GPS coordinates for land navigation, or checking a UTM zone, paste a coordinate and every format is returned instantly.
How to Convert Coordinates to MGRS
- Paste or type a coordinate: MGRS, UTM, lat/long, or DMS. The tool auto-detects the format.
- Read the results: every other format is computed instantly, including the 10-digit (1-meter) MGRS grid.
- Tap any result to copy it for a report, radio call, or map.
Supported Coordinate Formats
MGRS: a zone, 100,000-meter square ID, and easting/northing (e.g. 18S UJ 23478 06483); used by NATO militaries, SAR, and land-nav courses.
UTM: Universal Transverse Mercator: zone + latitude band + easting/northing in meters (e.g. 18S 323478 4306483). The letter is the MGRS latitude band, not a hemisphere flag; bands C–M are southern, N–X northern.
Lat/Long: decimal degrees (e.g. 38.8895, -77.0353).
DMS: degrees, minutes, seconds.
FixPhrase: an open, word-based location code (a What3Words-style alternative).
Worked Example
Washington, DC at 38.8895, -77.0353 converts to MGRS 18S UJ 23478 06483, UTM 18S 323478 4306483, and DMS 38°53'22"N 077°02'07"W.
How do I convert GPS coordinates to MGRS?
Paste your latitude/longitude into the converter above. The MGRS grid (including the full 10-digit, 1-meter precision reference) is computed instantly.
What's the difference between MGRS and UTM?
Both use the same projection. UTM gives a numeric easting/northing within a zone; MGRS wraps that in a lettered 100km square ID, read as a single grid string, which is faster to call over radio and plot on a military map.
Is this MGRS converter free?
Yes: completely free, no ads, no sign-up, no tracking. For offline use in the field (with maps, mesh, and land-nav tools), the Red Grid MGRS app is free to download.
How accurate is the conversion?
DMA TM 8358.1 compliant to 1 meter, using truncation rather than rounding, so a grid is never reported with more precision than it has.
Can I convert MGRS back to lat/long?
Yes: the converter is bidirectional. Paste an MGRS grid and you'll get latitude/longitude, UTM, and DMS back.
Does it work offline?
The web tool runs in your browser. For true field use with offline maps and no signal, the Red Grid MGRS app keeps everything on-device.