Coordinates are useful when you need to identify an exact location, map field points, prepare GIS data, or transfer locations into another application. Google Earth Pro makes it possible to view latitude and longitude directly and also save multiple locations for later extraction.
If you only need one location, you can read its coordinates directly from Google Earth. If you need many coordinates, you can create placemarks, save them as a KML or KMZ file, and convert the data into a table for use in Excel or other software. This workflow is based on the supplied tutorial material.
Once you have completed this process, you may also want to learn How to Change Coordinates from Decimal Degrees to Degrees Minutes Seconds in Google Earth Pro, if you need to coordinate system of WGS84.
How to Find Coordinates Directly in Google Earth Pro
The easiest method is to move your mouse over the location you want to identify.
As you move across the map, Google Earth displays the latitude and longitude in the lower-right corner. Google also allows you to choose how coordinates are displayed, including Decimal Degrees, Degrees Minutes Seconds, Degrees Decimal Minutes, and UTM.
To change the coordinate format in Google Earth Pro on Windows:
- Open Tools → Options.
- Select 3D View.
- Find Show Lat/Long.
- Select your preferred coordinate format.
- Click OK.
This is the quickest approach when you only need one or a few coordinates.
How to Create a Placemark for a Coordinate
If you need to collect several locations, using placemarks is more convenient.
Navigate to your area of interest and select the Add Placemark tool. Place the marker at the required location and give it a meaningful name.
For example, you could create:
- Point 01
- Point 02
- Water Source 01
- Survey Point 01
- Farm Boundary Point
Google Earth allows coordinates to be used with placemarks, and the coordinates can be entered in several formats, including decimal degrees and degrees-minutes-seconds.
How to Extract Multiple Coordinates
If you have many points, collecting them manually from the bottom-right corner can become time-consuming. A better approach is to save your placemarks as a KML or KMZ file.
First, place all the required points in a folder under My Places. Then right-click the folder and select Save Place As.
You can save the data as a KML or KMZ file. Google Earth Pro supports saving locations in these formats, while KMZ is essentially a compressed version of KML.
For coordinate extraction, KML can be particularly useful because it contains the geographic information associated with the saved features.
Once you have completed this process, you may also want to learn How to Import CSV Coordinates into Google Earth Pro, if you need to view points in Google Earth Canvas.
Convert KML or KMZ Coordinates to a Table
After saving your locations, you can use a suitable coordinate or GPS conversion service to turn the KML/KMZ data into a table.
The supplied tutorial demonstrates using GPS Visualizer to upload the saved file and select a plain-text table output. The resulting table can contain fields such as latitude and longitude, which can then be copied or downloaded for further processing.
This can be useful when you need to move a large number of Google Earth coordinates into Microsoft Excel.
How to Use the Coordinates in Excel
Once the coordinates have been converted into a table, open the downloaded file or copied data in Excel.
You can organise the information into columns such as:
| Point | Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|---|
| Point 01 | Latitude value | Longitude value |
| Point 02 | Latitude value | Longitude value |
| Point 03 | Latitude value | Longitude value |
You can then use the spreadsheet for data cleaning, reporting, mapping, or importing the coordinates into GIS software.
Always check that latitude and longitude have not been reversed. Google specifies that when coordinates are entered without directional letters, latitude comes before longitude.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Confusing Latitude and Longitude
Remember that latitude describes the north-south position, while longitude describes the east-west position. When entering standard coordinate pairs, Google uses latitude first and longitude second.
Using the Wrong Coordinate Format
Decimal Degrees and Degrees Minutes Seconds are different formats. Make sure the format matches the software or GPS device where you plan to use the coordinates.
Collecting Points Without Naming Them
When extracting many coordinates, use clear names such as Point 01, Point 02, or Source 01. This makes the final spreadsheet much easier to understand.
Assuming Coordinates Are Survey-Grade
Google Earth is useful for mapping and preliminary location work, but its coordinates should not automatically be treated as professional survey coordinates. For cadastral, engineering, or legal surveying, use appropriate professional surveying equipment and methods.
For additional information and the latest guidance, see the official Google Earth Help documentation on Create and manage placemarks and coordinates.
Conclusion
Extracting coordinates from Google Earth Pro can be simple when you choose the right method. For a single location, move the mouse over the map and read the latitude and longitude displayed in the lower-right corner. For multiple locations, create named placemarks, organise them in a folder, and save the folder as KML or KMZ.
If you need the coordinates in a spreadsheet, a suitable conversion tool can turn the saved geographic data into a table containing latitude and longitude. This makes the workflow useful for Excel, GIS mapping, field planning, and geographic data management.
For accurate professional surveying, however, Google Earth should be treated as a convenient mapping source rather than a substitute for specialised survey methods.
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