Getting coordinates from Google Maps on desktop and mobile

Google Maps shows you latitude and longitude coordinates in two ways: you can right-click any spot on the map to see the numbers pop up, or you can search for a specific address and find its coordinates in the URL or in a dedicated section. On a phone, long-press the location instead of right-clicking. The coordinates appear as two numbers separated by a comma — the first is latitude (north-south position), the second is longitude (east-west position).

The exact steps differ slightly between a computer browser and a phone app, but both methods take less than a minute. Once you have the coordinates, you can copy them, share them with someone else, or paste them into another app or website that accepts location data.

Key Takeaways

  • Right-click any point on Google Maps in a browser to see its latitude and longitude coordinates appear instantly.
  • On a phone, open Google Maps, long-press the location you want, and the coordinates will show at the bottom of the screen.
  • You can also search for an address in Google Maps and find the coordinates in the URL bar or by tapping the address card.
  • Coordinates are formatted as latitude first, then longitude, separated by a comma (for example: 40.7128, -74.0060).

Right-clicking to reveal coordinates on a computer

Open Google Maps in any web browser on your computer and find the location you want. You can search for an address, a business name, or simply navigate the map by scrolling and zooming. Once you can see the spot on the map, right-click directly on it.

A small menu will appear with several options. At the top, you will see the coordinates displayed as a clickable link — they look like two numbers with a decimal point each, separated by a comma. Click on those coordinates and they will copy to your clipboard automatically. You can then paste them into an email, a document, or any other app that accepts text.

If you do not see the coordinates in the menu, make sure you right-clicked on the map itself, not on a marker or label. Clicking on a business name or address label will open that location's information card instead.

Finding coordinates on your phone

Open the Google Maps app on your phone (iPhone or Android). Search for the address or location you need, or navigate to it by scrolling and zooming. Once you can see the spot, press and hold your finger on that exact location for about two seconds.

A card will appear at the bottom of your screen showing the location name and the coordinates. The coordinates are displayed as two numbers separated by a comma. Tap on the coordinates to copy them to your phone's clipboard. You can then paste them into a text message, email, or another app.

On some phones, the coordinates may appear in a slightly different location on the card — look for a row of numbers with decimals. If you tapped on a business or landmark instead of an empty spot on the map, you may need to scroll down on the information card to find the coordinates section.

Reading coordinates from the Google Maps URL

When you search for a location in Google Maps on a computer, the web address in your browser's URL bar contains the coordinates. Look at the URL after you have searched for or navigated to a location. You will see a string of characters that includes @ followed by two numbers with decimals and a comma between them.

For example, a URL might look like this: google.com/maps/place/.../@40.7128,-74.0060,15z. The numbers after the @ symbol (40.7128,-74.0060) are the latitude and longitude. You can copy these directly from the URL bar without needing to right-click the map. This method is useful if you prefer to grab the coordinates without interacting with the map itself.

Understanding what the coordinates mean

Latitude is the first number and measures how far north or south a location is from the equator. Positive numbers are north of the equator, negative numbers are south. Longitude is the second number and measures how far east or west a location is from the Prime Meridian (a line running through Greenwich, England). Positive numbers are east, negative numbers are west.

Most locations in the United States have negative longitude because the country is west of the Prime Meridian. For example, New York City's coordinates are approximately 40.7128, -74.0060. The negative sign on the longitude is important — if you drop the negative sign, you will end up on the opposite side of the world. When you copy coordinates from Google Maps, the signs are included automatically.

Sharing coordinates with someone else

Once you have copied the coordinates, you can paste them into a text message, email, or any messaging app. The person receiving them can paste those same coordinates into Google Maps' search bar, and the map will jump directly to that location. This is faster and more precise than describing a location in words, especially for places without a street address or for spots in the middle of a park or wilderness area.

You can also share a Google Maps link directly instead of just the coordinates. When you right-click a location and see the coordinates, look for a "Share" option or button on the location card. This creates a shareable link that opens Google Maps to that exact spot when someone clicks it. Both methods work — coordinates are simpler to copy and paste, while a shareable link is more user-friendly for people who may not know how to search by coordinates.

Coordinates for addresses versus landmarks

When you search for a street address in Google Maps, the coordinates point to that specific address. When you search for a business or landmark (like a restaurant or museum), the coordinates point to the building's entrance or the marked location on the map, not necessarily the exact center of the building. If you need coordinates for a specific room or entrance, you may need to adjust slightly by right-clicking the exact spot you want.

For large areas like parks or forests, the coordinates will point to wherever you right-click or long-press, so you can get coordinates for any specific trail, parking area, or feature within that area. This flexibility makes Google Maps coordinates useful for outdoor activities, delivery instructions, or any situation where you need to mark a precise spot.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes. Open Google Maps and click the search bar. Paste or type the coordinates in the format "latitude, longitude" (for example: 40.7128, -74.0060). Press Enter and the map will jump to that location. You can use this to navigate to a spot someone else shared with you, or to revisit a location you saved coordinates for earlier.

Why do my coordinates have a negative sign?

The negative sign indicates direction. A negative latitude means the location is south of the equator. A negative longitude means the location is west of the Prime Meridian. Most of North America has negative longitude. Do not remove the negative sign — it changes where the coordinates point to.

Do coordinates work the same way in other map apps?

Yes, latitude and longitude coordinates are a universal standard. You can copy coordinates from Google Maps and paste them into Apple Maps, Waze, or any other mapping app, and they will show the same location. The format is always the same: latitude first, then longitude, separated by a comma.

What if the coordinates I copied do not seem accurate?

Make sure you right-clicked or long-pressed on the exact spot you wanted, not on a nearby marker or label. Also check that you copied the full coordinates including both numbers and the negative signs if present. If you pasted them into another app, try pasting them back into Google Maps to verify they point to the right location.