EPSG:900913 · World
Google Maps Global Mercator to KML & KMZ
Google Maps Global Mercator (EPSG:900913) is a merc coordinate system on the Google Maps Global Mercator datum, with coordinates in metres.
- Converter already set to EPSG:900913
- Latitude and longitude on WGS 84, as Google Earth uses
- Download the point as KML
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Good to know
- Datum: Treated as WGS 84, no shift (the datums agree to about a metre or better).
Convert a whole spreadsheet
- Open the web app or the Windows app, and paste your rows from Excel or open a CSV file.
- Under Coordinate system, search for “900913” and pick Google Maps Global Mercator.
- Check one point you know on the map, then press Save KML or Save KMZ and open it in Google Earth.
Check points for EPSG:900913
Five points inside the area of use of Google Maps Global Mercator, with their latitude and longitude on WGS 84 and their easting and northing in this grid (metres). Enter an easting and northing in the converter above: you should get the latitude and longitude shown, to a few centimetres.
| Point | Latitude | Longitude | Easting | Northing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middle of the area of use | 0.00000° N | 0.00000° E | 0.00 | -0.00 |
| Towards the north-west | 0.00000° N | 0.00000° E | 0.00 | -0.00 |
| Towards the north-east | 0.00000° N | 0.00000° E | 0.00 | -0.00 |
| Towards the south-west | 0.00000° N | 0.00000° E | 0.00 | -0.00 |
| Towards the south-east | 0.00000° N | 0.00000° E | 0.00 | -0.00 |
Common mistakes with Google Maps Global Mercator
- Which column is which. In Google Maps Global Mercator eastings and northings near the middle of the grid are of similar size (about 0.00 and -0.00), so a swap won't be obvious from the numbers. Check that the first point lands where you expect it before converting the rest.
- Feet entered as metres. Google Maps Global Mercator is in metres. Coordinates copied from a drawing in feet must be converted first, or every point moves outwards from the grid's origin.
- Forgetting the datum. Google Maps Global Mercator is not on WGS 84: treated as WGS 84, no shift (the datums agree to about a metre or better). Picking a WGS 84 grid with the same projection instead leaves the points off by that amount.
- Points outside the grid's area. Points far outside Google Maps Global Mercator's area of use convert with growing error; the converter flags them so you can choose the right grid.
- A local site grid. If every point is off by the same distance and direction, the drawing may be on a local site grid. Calibrate on three or more known control points instead.
New to this? Read how to convert easting and northing to latitude and longitude.