By Kelvin O'Donahue, Updated Mar 24, 2022
Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) coordinates offer a straightforward way to pinpoint any location on Earth. Unlike latitude and longitude, UTM coordinates are expressed in meters, allowing for simple arithmetic calculations of distances between points.
While a topographic map, ruler, and calculator can theoretically provide UTM coordinates, online tools now make the process quick and accurate.
Open Google Maps and type the full address, including the postal code—for example, 200 East Colfax Ave., Denver, CO 80203. A red marker labeled “A” will appear at the specified location.
Right‑click the marker and select “What’s Here?” from the context menu. The latitude and longitude will populate the search bar (for this example, 39.740414, –104.984411). Copy these values to a note or write them down.
Navigate to the Geographic Coordinates to UTM conversion page. Paste the longitude (second number) into the top field and the latitude (first number) into the bottom field, making sure to keep any negative signs. Click the double‑arrow button to perform the conversion.
The resulting UTM coordinates appear on the right: X = 501 335.7 and Y = 4 398 946.5 (rounded). Include the zone number—here it’s 13—and the hemisphere, which is North. Together, the full coordinate set is: UTM 13 N 501 335.7 4 398 946.5.
