How many arcseconds are in one degree?

Exactly 3,600 arcseconds. One degree equals 60 arcminutes, and each arcminute equals 60 arcseconds, so 60 × 60 = 3,600.

What is an arcsecond?

An arcsecond (symbol ″) is 1/3,600 of a degree. It is used in astronomy, geodesy, and optics to express very small angles — for example, the angular diameter of Venus at closest approach is about 66 arcseconds.

How do I convert degrees, arcminutes, and arcseconds to total arcseconds?

Convert to decimal degrees first: DD + MM/60 + SS/3600. Then multiply by 3,600. The DMS tab in this tool does that automatically.

Can I convert negative angles?

Yes. A negative degree value gives a negative arcsecond result. This is valid for directions below a reference line or for southern declinations in astronomy.

What is the difference between arcminutes and arcseconds?

One arcminute (′) = 60 arcseconds (″). One degree = 60 arcminutes = 3,600 arcseconds.

Degrees to Arcseconds Converter

Convert angle values from degrees to arcseconds with the step-by-step formula.

Input

Degrees (decimal)

Result

Enter a value and click Convert.

Quick reference

Degrees (°)	Arcseconds (″)	Notes
0.001°	3.6″	~resolution of good consumer GPS
0.01°	36″	~1 arcminute
0.1°	360″	6 arcminutes
1°	3,600″	60 arcminutes
15°	54,000″	1 hour of RA (astronomy)
90°	324,000″	right angle
360°	1,296,000″	full circle

Summary

One degree equals exactly 3,600 arcseconds (1° = 60 arcminutes × 60 arcseconds/arcminute). This converter multiplies your degree value by 3,600 to give you the arcsecond equivalent, and shows every step of the math. Use it for astronomy, geodesy, optics, or any field where fine angular resolution matters.

How it works

Enter an angle in decimal degrees (e.g. 1.5) or degrees, arcminutes, and arcseconds separately.
The tool multiplies decimal degrees by 3,600 to get total arcseconds.
For DMS input it first converts to decimal degrees: DD + MM/60 + SS/3600.
The result is displayed with the full formula and each arithmetic step.
Copy the result with one click for use in other applications.

Use cases

Astronomy: express telescope resolution or celestial coordinates in arcseconds.
Geodesy and surveying: convert field angle readings to arcseconds for precision calculations.
Optics: compute angular separation or beam divergence in arcseconds.
Navigation: break down course bearings into finer arc-second units.
Education: verify angle-unit conversions in physics or earth-science coursework.
GIS: prepare coordinate offsets that expect arcsecond values.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-06-19 · Reviewed by Nham Vu