Address Latitude and Longitude

Guide to Address Latitude and Longitude

You probably wouldn’t think to give a friend the latitude and longitude of your address so that they can find your house for dinner. Yet, technically, you could. And if they used it, they would have an extremely low chance of ringing the wrong doorbell.

While address coordinates might seem excessive for everyday tasks, they are incredibly valuable for businesses that rely on precise address data. Industries such as logistics, delivery services, and mapping depend heavily on accurate coordinates.

And it’s not just the more obvious sectors. Any business that uses customer addresses (even for something as simple as sending monthly bills) can benefit from knowing the exact latitude and longitude of each location.

What is address latitude and longitude?

Address latitude and longitude are numerical values (also called coordinates) that represent a precise location on the Earth’s surface. Each address is unique, so each has a unique latitude and longitude combination.

The Earth’s surface is mapped using a grid system. These are imaginary lines that divide the planet and help us pinpoint each address on the map as accurately as possible.

The horizontal lines define latitude, while the vertical lines define longitude. These values are often expressed in degrees. Here is a more detailed overview of how these are calculated:

• Latitude measures how far north or south a point is from the Equator, which is assigned a value of 0°. Lines of latitude, also called parallels, run horizontally around the globe. They are measured in degrees, ranging from 0° at the Equator to 90° at the poles. Locations north of the Equator are denoted with an “N” (north), while those south of the Equator are marked with an “S” (south).
• Longitude measures how far east or west a point is from the Prime Meridian, which passes through Greenwich, England, and is assigned a value of 0°. Lines of longitude, or meridians, run vertically from pole to pole. Longitude values range from 0° to 180°, with east of the Prime Meridian denoted as “E” and west as “W.”

Together, latitude and longitude form a coordinate pair that uniquely identifies every point on Earth. For example, the coordinates 51°30′26″N, 0°7′39″W indicate a specific location in London. You may also see coordinates expressed in decimal degrees, such as 51.5072°N, -0.1275°W, which is a format commonly used in GPS devices and mapping software.

Why do you need an address’s latitude and longitude? Key use cases:

Knowing the exact latitude and longitude of a location can be surprisingly helpful, and not just for mapping projects or research. Any company that relies on customer address data will benefit from advanced address verification. Here are some key use cases:

1. Accurate delivery and logistics

Courier and delivery companies don’t want their drivers going around in circles because of ambiguous street addresses, and they certainly don’t want parcels delivered to the wrong address. Latitude and longitude coordinates help drivers and autonomous systems reach the correct location the first time, reducing failed deliveries, saving fuel and time, and improving customer satisfaction. The coordinates also allow routing software or delivery systems to calculate the most efficient paths between multiple addresses.

2. E-Commerce and retail operations

Another sector that heavily depends on smooth deliveries is e-commerce, as delivery delays or errors directly impact customer satisfaction and revenue. Latitude and longitude coordinates help verify and enrich customer addresses, reducing the risk of failed deliveries and returned parcels, avoiding extra fees, and maintaining customer satisfaction - an especially important benefit during peak periods like Christmas.

3. Location-based services and mapping

Businesses offering mapping, navigation, or location-based services use latitude and longitude coordinates to accurately plot points on digital maps. This enables features such as “find the nearest store,” real-time in-app navigation, geofencing, and location-based alerts. By leveraging these coordinates, services can improve user experience, provide more reliable directions, and deliver accurate location-specific content or notifications.

4. Financial and utility services

By law, banks, insurance companies, and other financial institutions must verify customer identities and review the legitimacy of each account opened, as well as its activity. Detailed address data is crucial to this review process, as it can quickly help determine whether an address is genuine or if it truly belongs to the person in question.

5. Planning and analytics

Companies that analyze customer distribution, plan expansions, or optimize service areas can greatly benefit from precise geographic data. Latitude and longitude enable companies to pinpoint customer locations, identify areas of high demand, and observe patterns that street addresses alone cannot reveal. This level of insight helps teams make better, more informed decisions and plan resources more effectively.

How to find an address's latitude and longitude manually

If you want to find the latitude and longitude of an address with minimal technology or none at all, you’ll need a bit of detective work. There are some methods available, each with a varying degree of manual work and previous knowledge required:

1. Using a map

One of the simplest methods is to use a detailed topographic or city map that shows latitude and longitude lines. Start by finding the address on the map, then note which latitude and longitude lines it falls between. If the location lies halfway between two lines, you can estimate its coordinates by taking the midpoint. You can then record the coordinates in either degrees, minutes, and seconds or in decimal degrees. For instance, if a point is halfway between 37°30′N and 37°31′N, and halfway between 122°00′W and 122°01′W, the approximate coordinates would be 37°30.5′N, 122°00.5′W.

2. Using GPS

Another practical option is to use a GPS device or a smartphone with GPS capabilities, but you will need to visit the location you want the coordinates of in person. Once you’re there, turn on your GPS device, and allow it a few moments to sync with satellites. You’ll then be able to see the coordinates directly on the screen. Most modern smartphones provide the option to display coordinates in decimal degrees, which can then be recorded for later use.

3. Using online apps

If you prefer a semi-manual method using online apps, maps like Google Earth allow you to turn on latitude and longitude grids. All you need to do is zoom into the location, position your cursor, and read the coordinates displayed. You can cross-check with the grid lines to verify accuracy.

4. Using triangulation

A much more technical but very reliable method is triangulation, typically used in surveying, mapping, and geodesy. It involves identifying two or more nearby landmarks with known coordinates, measuring the angles from those landmarks to your target location, and using triangulation formulas to calculate the precise latitude and longitude. While it is accurate, it does require specialized tools and some mathematical knowledge (now is the time we can all regret skipping maths classes).

Why not make address accuracy easier?

You could pull out a map and squint through your reading glasses, or even fly to the other side of the world just to figure out the latitude and longitude of a particular location. Technically, all of these methods are possible, but in reality, no busy professional has the time to do this, and certainly not a business leader.

Thankfully, you don’t need to. Tools like Loqate handle it all literally in the blink of an eye, thanks to a real-time API. Loqate is a global address verification solution that analyzes, cleanses, standardizes, and verifies address data. It supports international addresses across more than 250 countries and regions, matching them to official, region-specific databases and utilizing enrichment features to enhance address accuracy further.

One such enrichment feature is geocoding, which instantly converts any verified address into its precise latitude and longitude. When a customer enters their address on your website, Loqate can immediately append the exact coordinates, providing an accurate, machine-readable representation of the location. Premise-level geocoding is available in 120 countries, rooftop-level precision in 60, and city-center positions in over 240 countries.

Loqate also offers reverse geocoding, which converts coordinates back into verified addresses, and can be invaluable for tracking, mobile applications, and other location-based services. Altogether, these capabilities save time, reduce errors, and give businesses confidence that their address data is both accurate and actionable. Request a demo or free trial to get started.