Degrees to Arcminutes Converter

To convert a measurement in degrees to arcminutes, multiply the value by 60. The conversion factor comes from the relationship between both units and the radian.

For example, to convert 5 ° to arcminutes: 5 × 60 = 300 ′.

A degree is a unit of plane angle equal to 1/360 of a full turn, so a full circle contains exactly 360 degrees. The 360-degree circle traces back to ancient Babylonian astronomers, whose base-60 (sexagesimal) number system made 360 a convenient, highly divisible count for tracking the roughly 365-day solar year. It remains the most widely used angle unit in everyday life.

Common uses of degrees include: Geometry, trigonometry, and school mathematics; Compass bearings and navigation headings; Latitude and longitude coordinates; Camera field of view and lens specifications.

An arcminute is a unit of angle equal to 1/60 of a degree, or 1/21,600 of a full turn. It is written with a prime symbol (′). Like the degree, the arcminute comes from the Babylonian sexagesimal system, which subdivided the degree into 60 parts. It remains standard for expressing small angles in astronomy and precise navigation.

Common uses of arcminutes include: Astronomy — apparent size and position of stars; GPS and latitude/longitude fractions; Vision measurement (visual acuity, minutes of arc); Firearms and optics (minute of angle, MOA).

Astronomers and navigators subdivide degrees into arcminutes for precision. The Moon spans about 30 arcminutes in the sky, and GPS coordinates are often given in degrees and decimal minutes, so converting between them is a daily task in these fields.

Here are some common values converted:

1 ° = 60 ′ 5 ° = 300 ′ 10 ° = 600 ′ 50 ° = 3,000 ′ 100 ° = 6,000 ′