Grid reference finder vs coordinate converter: what’s the difference?
A grid reference finder and a coordinate converter can both help with location data, but they solve slightly different problems.
A grid reference finder usually helps you identify or look up a grid reference for a location. A coordinate converter helps you change a location from one coordinate format into another.
If you already have a British National Grid reference, OS Grid Reference, UTM coordinate or latitude and longitude, and you need it in another format, a coordinate converter is the better fit.
When a grid reference finder is useful
A grid reference finder can be useful when you need to identify a grid reference from a map location. For example, someone might use one to find a reference for a walking route, site boundary, field entrance or rural location.
When a coordinate converter is useful
A coordinate converter is useful when you already have location data, but it is not in the format you need. For example, you may need to:
- convert British National Grid to latitude and longitude
- convert OS Grid References to WGS 84 coordinates
- convert UTM coordinates into another format
- convert a list of coordinates in a spreadsheet
- convert technical coordinates into what3words addresses
The what3words Coordinate Converter supports both single and batch coordinate conversion, so you can convert one coordinate or paste up to 100 at a time.
It supports formats including British National Grid, OS Grid References, UTM, MGRS, USNG, Web Mercator, WGS 84 formats, Plus Codes, Geohashes and what3words addresses.