ECEF to Geodetic Converter

About this calculator

ECEF (Earth-Centered, Earth-Fixed) coordinates locate a point in space as X, Y, Z Cartesian distances from the Earth's center, the native format used internally by GPS satellites and receivers. Because ECEF coordinates aren't intuitive for humans, they're typically converted to geodetic coordinates — latitude, longitude, and altitude on the WGS84 reference ellipsoid — using Bowring's method, an iterative formula that accounts for the Earth's slight equatorial bulge rather than treating it as a perfect sphere.

This conversion runs constantly inside GPS/GNSS receivers, satellite navigation systems, and geospatial engineering software, translating the raw Cartesian positioning data satellites transmit into the lat/lon/altitude readout that maps, navigation apps, and surveying equipment actually display to users.