How to convert addresses to latitude and longitude for free

Quick answer

For U.S. addresses, upload a CSV to the U.S. Census Bureau's free Census Geocoder using its batch option: up to 10,000 addresses and 5 MB per file. It returns each address with a match status and a coordinate pair. Split that pair into separate longitude and latitude columns, fix the rows that didn't match, and import the list into your mapping tool. Outside the U.S., use a geocoding service whose terms allow batch use and storing results.

What geocoding does

Geocoding turns address text into latitude and longitude. Results come at different levels of precision:

• Rooftop or parcel: the building itself. Commercial geocoders often offer this.
• Interpolated street address: an estimated position along the street segment, based on the segment's address range. This is how the Census Geocoder places addresses.
• Postal code or city centroid: one point for a whole area. Useful when the street address is missing; see ZIP code territory maps.

For territory planning, interpolated street positions are usually more than precise enough, because territories are far larger than the error.

Option 1: The free Census Geocoder (U.S. addresses)

1. Prepare the batch file

   Create a CSV with no header row and exactly five columns in this order: unique ID, street address, city, state, ZIP. Use your account ID as the unique ID so you can join results back later. Split lists over 10,000 rows into several files.

2. Upload it

   Open the Census Geocoder, choose the address batch option under Find Locations Using…, pick the current benchmark (Public_AR_Current), upload the file and submit. The results download as a CSV.

3. Read the results

   Each row returns the ID, the input address, a match status (Match, No_Match or Tie), a match type (Exact or Non_Exact), the matched address, a coordinate pair, a street segment ID and the side of the street.

4. Split the coordinates

   The coordinate column holds longitude first, then latitude, for example -77.035,38.898. In Excel, use Data → Text to Columns with a comma delimiter, or =TEXTBEFORE(F2,",") for longitude and =TEXTAFTER(F2,",") for latitude. Name the new columns longitude and latitude.

5. Fix what didn't match

   Filter for No_Match and Tie. Typical causes are typos, missing ZIPs, PO boxes, suite numbers inside the street field, and brand-new streets. Correct them and run only those rows again.

6. Join the coordinates back

   Look up the coordinates by ID into your master list. If you split them into new columns I (longitude) and J (latitude) of the results sheet, use =XLOOKUP(A2,Results!A:A,Results!J:J,"") for latitude and the same formula with Results!I:I for longitude. Column H of the Census output is the side of the street, not a coordinate.

Option 2: Commercial geocoders and spreadsheet add-ons

For addresses outside the U.S., rooftop precision, or very large lists, use a commercial geocoding API or a spreadsheet add-on built on one. Before you choose, check:

• Terms of use. Some services don't allow storing results or using them on another provider's map.
• Volume limits and price per thousand addresses.
• Match quality fields, so you can find low-confidence results.
• Coordinate order in the output, for the reason above.

Option 3: A handful of addresses by hand

For a few locations, look up each address in an online map and copy the coordinates. In Google Maps on a computer, right-click the location and select the latitude and longitude shown at the top of the menu to copy them. TerritoryKit's address search moves the map to an address or place, but it doesn't add points to your data.

Check your coordinates before mapping

Import the geocoded list into TerritoryKit

Open the map builder, choose Import and drop in the CSV or Excel file. Columns named latitude, lat, longitude, lng, lon or long are detected automatically. The import preview shows valid, repaired, skipped and invalid rows, with the reason for the first rejected rows; signed-in users can download every rejected row with its reason, which counts as one export. Then draw or import territories and count your locations in each.

Next steps: create sales territories from Excel or fix CSV and Excel import errors.

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