Convert Degrees to Arcminutes
Degrees to arcminutes is the conversion you need when a single degree is too coarse and you want to split it into finer steps — the way astronomers and navigators do. One degree is exactly 60 arcminutes, so the number gets 60 times larger when you switch from degrees to arcminutes.
Degrees to Arcminutes conversion table
| Degrees (°) | Arcminutes (′) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 60 |
| 2 | 120 |
| 3 | 180 |
| 5 | 300 |
| 10 | 600 |
| 20 | 1,200 |
| 50 | 3,000 |
| 100 | 6,000 |
| 500 | 30,000 |
| 1,000 | 60,000 |
The formula
To convert degrees to arcminutes, multiply the number of degrees by 60:
arcminutes = degrees × 60
A worked example
Say you have 1.5 degrees and want it in arcminutes:
1.5 × 60 = 90 arcminutes
So 1.5 degrees is exactly 90 arcminutes.
Why the number is exact
The arcminute is defined as one 60th of a degree — a degree is simply cut into 60 equal slices, each one an arcminute. That's the same idea as an hour splitting into 60 minutes, which is where the name comes from. Because 60 is a fixed count and not a measured ratio, converting is an exact multiply by 60, with nothing approximated. Split an arcminute again by 60 and you get an arcsecond, for even finer angles.
When you'll use it
Reading star positions and telescope pointing in astronomy, working out latitude and longitude in navigation, where a minute of arc closely tracks a nautical mile, and specifying small, precise angles that a whole degree can't capture.
Frequently asked questions
How many arcminutes are in a degree?
Exactly 60 arcminutes. It's a fixed, exact number — a degree is divided into 60 equal parts, each one an arcminute, the same way an hour splits into 60 minutes.
What is 1.5 degrees in arcminutes?
Exactly 90 arcminutes. One degree is 60 arcminutes, so one and a half degrees is 60 plus 30, which comes to 90.
Is the degrees to arcminutes conversion exact?
Yes. There are exactly 60 arcminutes in a degree, so the conversion is a clean multiply by 60 with nothing rounded away.