How to Find the Coordinate System of an Excel File (XLSX with XY Columns)

Q: How do I import Excel coordinates into QGIS?

Save your Excel file as CSV, then use Layer → Add Delimited Text Layer in QGIS. Select your X and Y columns, and critically, set the correct CRS. If you don't know the CRS, use Projection Finder to identify it first by uploading the XLSX file directly.

Q: Can I import XLSX directly into GIS software?

QGIS can open XLSX files directly using the 'Add Vector Layer' dialog. ArcGIS Pro supports Excel through the 'Excel To Table' tool. However, you still need to know the coordinate system—Excel has no way to store CRS metadata.

Q: My Excel coordinates are in meters, not degrees. What projection are they?

Coordinates in meters (large numbers like 500000, 4000000) are projected coordinates, likely UTM or a local national grid. The specific projection depends on the region. Use Projection Finder to identify it by analyzing the coordinate ranges and previewing on a map.

Q: How do I convert Excel coordinates to lat/lon?

First identify the source CRS of your Excel data using Projection Finder. Then import into GIS software (QGIS/ArcGIS) with the correct source CRS and reproject to WGS84 (EPSG:4326). Export the result as CSV to get lat/lon values.

Published: January 2025 Read time: 6 minutes

Your colleague sent you an Excel spreadsheet with site locations. You've got columns for X and Y (or Latitude and Longitude), but when you import it into QGIS or ArcGIS, the points are either scattered across the ocean or nowhere to be found.

The problem: Excel has no way to store coordinate system metadata. It's just numbers in cells. Your GIS software needs to know what those numbers mean—and it can't read minds.

This guide shows you how to identify the coordinate system of Excel data, so you can import it correctly.

Quick Solution: Use Projection Finder
Why Excel + GIS Is Tricky
How to Identify the CRS
Common Scenarios
Step-by-Step Import Guide
FAQ

Quick Solution: Use Projection Finder

Projection Finder supports XLSX files directly:

Drag and drop your Excel file — No need to convert to CSV first
Auto-detects coordinate columns — Finds lat/lon, X/Y, easting/northing
Analyzes coordinate ranges — Identifies geographic vs. projected CRS
Previews on a map — Visually verify points appear where expected

Everything runs in your browser. Your files never leave your computer.

Upload Your Excel File

Drag and drop your XLSX and see where your coordinates land on the map.

Open Projection Finder

Why Excel + GIS Is Tricky

Excel was designed for spreadsheets, not spatial data. Unlike GIS formats (Shapefile, GeoPackage, GeoJSON), Excel cannot store:

Coordinate system information — No EPSG code, no WKT, nothing
Geometry type — Are these points, centroids, or something else?
Units — Are the numbers in degrees, meters, or feet?

So when you import Excel into GIS, the software has to guess. And if it guesses wrong (or you tell it wrong), your data appears in the wrong place.

The Most Common Mistake

Importing projected coordinates as lat/lon. If your Excel has UTM values like 552474.23, 4182938.15 but you import them as WGS84 latitude/longitude, your points will appear at coordinates 552474°, 4182938°—which doesn't exist, so QGIS might just show nothing.

How to Identify the CRS

Step 1: Check Your Column Headers

Column names are your first clue:

Column Names	Likely CRS
`Latitude, Longitude`	WGS84 (EPSG:4326) — GPS coordinates
`Lat, Lon` or `Lat, Long`	WGS84 (EPSG:4326)
`Y, X` (note the order)	Usually geographic (Y=lat, X=lon)
`Easting, Northing`	Projected (UTM, State Plane, etc.)
`X_Coord, Y_Coord`	Could be anything—check values

Step 2: Look at the Numbers

The coordinate values themselves tell you the most:

Geographic (Lat/Lon) — Small Numbers

Site	Latitude	Longitude
HQ	37.7749	-122.4194
Office 2	40.7128	-74.0060

Latitude: -90 to +90 | Longitude: -180 to +180

This is WGS84 (EPSG:4326)—standard GPS/Google Maps coordinates.

Projected (UTM/State Plane) — Large Numbers

Site	Easting	Northing
Well A	552474.23	4182938.15
Well B	553102.87	4183456.22

Values: Typically 100,000 to 10,000,000+

This is a projected CRS—likely UTM or State Plane. Use context (location, data source) to narrow it down.

Step 3: Ask About the Data Source

GPS device/phone app? → Almost certainly WGS84
Survey company? → Likely State Plane or local projection
Government GIS department? → Check their metadata standards
Google Maps/Earth copy-paste? → WGS84
CAD export? → Often local coordinates with arbitrary origin

Common Scenarios

Scenario 1: Field GPS Data

Someone collected points with a handheld GPS or phone app and typed them into Excel.

CRS: WGS84 (EPSG:4326)
Format: Decimal degrees (e.g., 37.7749, -122.4194)
Watch for: Coordinates in DMS format (37°46'29.6"N) need conversion

Scenario 2: Survey Data Export

A surveyor exported their data to Excel from total station or CAD software.

CRS: Usually State Plane (US) or local national grid
Units: Often feet (US) or meters
Watch for: Local coordinates with arbitrary origin—these may need transformation

Scenario 3: Copy-Paste from Another System

Coordinates were copied from another GIS, CAD, or database system.

CRS: Whatever the source system used
Action: Find the source system's documentation

Step-by-Step Import Guide

Method 1: Use Projection Finder First (Recommended)

Go to projectionfinder.com
Drag and drop your XLSX file
Tool auto-detects coordinate columns and analyzes values
Preview on map—if points are in the right place, you've found the CRS
Note the EPSG code, then import to your GIS with that CRS

Method 2: Import Directly to QGIS

Go to Layer → Add Layer → Add Delimited Text Layer
For "File format", you can also drag XLSX directly in newer QGIS versions
Select your X (longitude) and Y (latitude) fields
Critical: Set the correct CRS before clicking "Add"
Add a basemap (QuickMapServices plugin) to verify location

Method 3: Import to ArcGIS Pro

Use the XY Table To Point tool
Select your Excel file and sheet
Specify X and Y fields
Set the coordinate system parameter to the correct CRS
Run and verify on a basemap

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I import Excel coordinates into QGIS?

Use Layer → Add Delimited Text Layer. Select your file, choose the X and Y columns, and set the correct CRS. If unsure of the CRS, use Projection Finder first to identify it.

Can I import XLSX directly into GIS software?

QGIS 3.x can read XLSX directly. ArcGIS uses the Excel To Table or XY Table To Point tools. However, you still need to specify the coordinate system manually—Excel has no way to store CRS metadata.

My Excel coordinates are in meters, not degrees. What projection?

Large numbers (100,000+) indicate projected coordinates—likely UTM or a local grid. The specific EPSG code depends on the region. Use Projection Finder to identify it by analyzing values and previewing on a map.

How do I convert Excel coordinates to lat/lon?

First identify the source CRS. Then import to GIS software with that CRS, reproject to WGS84 (EPSG:4326), and export as CSV. The result will have lat/lon values.

My coordinates are in degrees-minutes-seconds format. How do I convert?

DMS format like 37°46'29.6"N needs to be converted to decimal degrees. Formula: Degrees + (Minutes/60) + (Seconds/3600). Many online converters exist, or use Excel formulas.

Skip the Guesswork

Projection Finder reads your Excel file and shows exactly where your coordinates land on the map.

Try Projection Finder Free

Summary

To find the coordinate system of an Excel file:

Check column headers — "Lat/Lon" = WGS84, "Easting/Northing" = projected
Examine values — Small numbers (-180 to 180, -90 to 90) = geographic; large numbers = projected
Ask about the source — GPS = WGS84, Survey = local projected system
Preview on a map — The only way to be certain is to see where points appear

Or use Projection Finder to upload your XLSX and get instant visual verification.

Related Guides

Related Resources

EPSG.io — Search and lookup EPSG codes
spatialreference.org — CRS definitions in multiple formats
I Hate Coordinate Systems — Troubleshooting guide for projection problems