How to Convert PLSS to Lat/Long

This guide walks you through converting a PLSS (Public Land Survey System) description to latitude and longitude coordinates. Whether you have one description or a thousand, Township America returns precise GPS coordinates calculated from official survey data.

What Is PLSS, and Why Convert It?

The PLSS is the survey grid system used across 30 US states to divide land into townships, sections, and quarter sections. The format is Quarter Section-Township-Range-Principal Meridian — for example, NE 14-5N-3W Sixth Principal Meridian.

PLSS descriptions are the standard way land is referenced on property deeds, well licenses, surface lease agreements, crop insurance documents, and rural property titles across the western and midwestern United States. But a PLSS description alone doesn't tell you where to drive, what to pin on a map, or how to import the location into GIS software. For that, you need latitude and longitude.

Common situations where PLSS-to-lat/long conversion is needed:

• Field crews planning routes to well sites or pipeline inspection points
• Claims adjusters confirming the location of a rural property before a site visit
• Land agents verifying that a deed's quarter section matches the property on a satellite image
• GIS analysts importing hundreds of well locations into ArcGIS or QGIS

Step-by-Step: Convert a Single PLSS Description

Step 1: Go to Township America

Open Township America in your browser. The search bar accepts PLSS input directly.

Step 2: Enter the PLSS Description

Type the description in any common format. Township America recognizes:

• NE 14-5N-3W Sixth Principal Meridian (full format)
• NE 14 5N 3W Sixth PM (abbreviated)
• NE Sec 14 T5N R3W Sixth Principal Meridian (long-form)

Step 3: Get Your Coordinates

The converter returns the latitude and longitude for the center of that parcel. For NE 14-5N-3W Sixth Principal Meridian, you'd get approximately 39.74°N, 104.99°W — a location in the Denver metropolitan area of Colorado.

You'll also see the quarter section outlined on the map with the survey grid overlay, so you can visually confirm it's the right spot.

Step 4: Use the Coordinates

Once you have the lat/long, you can:

• Copy the coordinates to paste into Google Maps, GPS devices, or field apps
• Get turn-by-turn directions directly from Township America
• Export as PDF, CSV, KML, Shapefile, or GeoJSON for use in GIS and CAD software (see export options)

Converting Multiple PLSS Descriptions at Once

If you have a list of PLSS descriptions — say from a regulatory filing or a pipeline route plan — you don't need to convert them one at a time.

1. Prepare a CSV file with your PLSS descriptions in one column
2. Upload it to Township America's batch converter
3. Get lat/long coordinates for every row, returned as a downloadable file

The batch converter handles thousands of records in a single upload. This feature is available on the Business plan.

Example Conversion

Input: SW 22-12S-7E Black Hills Meridian

This is the Southwest quarter of Section 22, Township 12 South, Range 7 East, Black Hills Meridian.

Output: approximately 43.50°N, 103.10°W

That places this parcel in western South Dakota — an area with rangeland and agricultural activity. If you were a landman verifying well site locations for a new drilling program, this conversion tells you exactly where to go.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Confusing quarter section with quarter-quarter section: A quarter section is 160 acres (1/4 of a section). A quarter-quarter section is 40 acres (1/16 of a section). Make sure your input matches the precision level you need.
• Mixing up principal meridians: The principal meridian determines which reference line your township-range grid is measured from. The Sixth Principal Meridian covers Colorado and Kansas. The Fifth Principal Meridian covers North Dakota. A wrong meridian puts you in the wrong state.
• Reversed section and township: The correct order is Quarter-Section-Township-Range-Meridian. Switching section and township gives you a valid-looking but completely wrong location.

For a broader overview of finding PLSS locations on a map, see our quarter section finder guide. If you need a full overview of PLSS conversions, check out the PLSS to GPS converter.

Try It Now

Enter NE 14-5N-3W Sixth Principal Meridian into the Township America converter to see the lat/long result instantly. Or paste in any PLSS description from your own records and get GPS coordinates in seconds.