How to Convert Degrees Decimal Minutes to Decimal Degrees in Excel

Calculation for Converting Degrees Decimal Minutes to Decimal Degrees

60 minutes is equal to one degree:

1° = 60′

1/60 degrees equals one minute:

1′ = (1/60)°

In standard notation, we use integer values up to the smallest value, so when switching from degree-minutes to degrees, the degrees turn from integer to decimal.

Let’s see the calculation to convert 20 degrees and 16 minutes to decimal degrees.

20° 16′

= 20° + 16’/60

= 20.27°

Convert Degrees Decimal Minutes to Decimal Degrees in Excel: 2 Methods

We’ll use the following dataset which contains some degrees decimal minutes (DDM) in column B. We will see the conversion in a different column named Decimal Degrees (DD).

Method 1 – Apply a Simple Formula to Convert Degrees Decimal Minutes to Decimal Degrees in Excel

To use formulas, we must remove the degree and minutes symbols.

STEPS:

Select B5 and go into the formula bar.
Copy the degree symbol ‘°’.

Select the range B5:B10.

Go to the Data tab from the ribbon.
Click on the Text to Columns command under the Data Tools group.

You’ll get the Convert Text to Columns Wizard.
Choose the file type Delimited.
Click on Next.

Checkmark the box Other under Delimiters.

Paste the copied degree symbol ‘°’ to the box for Other.
Click on Next.

Select General in the Column data format selection menu.
Click on the Finish button.

You’ll get a confirmation box.
Click on the OK button.

You can see the degrees and minutes are separated and the symbol of the degrees is removed.

Choose any of the minute cells. We chose cell B5. You may also see the value in the formula bar by selecting the cell.
Copy the ‘‘’ sign for minutes.

Choose the C5:C10 range.
Select the Data tab.
Select the Text to Columns command.

The Convert Text to Columns Wizard will display.
Select Delimited as the file type.
Click on the Next button.

Under Delimiters, tick the box Other.
Place the copied minutes symbol ‘‘’ in the box next to Other.
Click Next.

In the Column data format options menu, pick General.
Hit the Finish button.

The degrees and minutes have been split, and the symbols have been eliminated.

Select the first cell where you want to see the conversion. We selected cell E5.
Insert the following:

=B5+C5/60

If you click on the resulting cell, the formula will show in the formula bar.

B5 is the degree and C5 is the minutes. We are using the formula Decimal degrees = Degrees + (Minutes/60).

Drag the Fill Handle over the range E6:E10.

The degrees decimal minutes are converted to decimal degrees.

Method 2 – Excel User-Defined Function to Transpose Degrees Decimal Minutes to Decimal Degrees

We are now creating a user-defined function using the Excel VBA to convert the degrees decimal minutes to decimal degrees. We can use that function as if it were a stock function in Excel.

STEPS:

Go to the Developer tab from the ribbon.
Click on Visual Basic to open the Visual Basic Editor. Another way to open the Visual Basic Editor is to press Alt + F11.

Alternatively, right-click on the sheet name, then select View Code.

Go to Insert and select Module from the drop-down menu.

Copy and paste the VBA code below.

VBA Code:

Function Decimal_Degrees(Degree_d As String) As Double
    Dim degrees As Double
    Dim minutes As Double
    Degree_d = Replace(Degree_d, "~", "°")
    degrees = CDbl(Left(Degree_d, InStr(1, Degree_d, "°") - 1))
    minutes = CDbl(Mid(Degree_d, InStr(1, Degree_d, "°") + 1, _
    InStr(1, Degree_d, "'") - InStr(1, Degree_d, "°") - 1)) / 60
    Decimal_Degrees = degrees + minutes
End Function

Save the code by pressing Ctrl + S.

This will create a function named Decimal_Degrees.
Go back to the workbook and select the cell where we want the converted result to appear. We selected cell E5.
You can see a function is added to our spreadsheet.