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GPS accuracy test

Hit Start test and let the readings roll in: the live ± metre margin your device is reporting, the best and worst it has managed, the running average across every sample, and a marker that drifts inside its accuracy circle as the fix tightens.

Tap Start and allow location access when your browser asks. Readings are computed on your device and never sent to a server.

Improve your accuracy

  • Step outside with a clear view of the sky — walls, roofs and tall buildings block satellites.
  • Wait 30–60 seconds. The first fix is rough; accuracy improves as more satellites lock in.
  • On a phone, turn on “High accuracy” / “Precise location” and make sure Wi-Fi is on (it helps positioning).
  • A laptop or desktop usually has no GPS chip, so it falls back to Wi-Fi or IP — expect tens to hundreds of metres.

Runs in your browser — your location is never stored.

What this GPS accuracy test measures

Every fix the browser returns carries an accuracy estimate — a radius, in metres, that the device believes contains your true position. This test samples that estimate continuously and plots it live, so you can read how tight the current fix is and watch it close in as more satellites lock. It is the device’s own estimate, not a guarantee, but it is the clearest signal you have for how far to trust a coordinate.

How to test your GPS accuracy

  1. Tap Start test and allow location access when your browser prompts you.
  2. Wait while your device takes its first fix — outdoors this takes a few seconds, indoors it can take longer or stay coarse.
  3. Watch the current ± metre reading update live, along with your best, worst and average across all samples.
  4. Check the accuracy circle on the map: a tight circle means a precise fix, a large circle means your device is unsure.
  5. Tap Stop test when you’re done — this clears the location watch immediately.

What the accuracy number means

Reported accuracyTypical sourceWhat it’s good for
Under 10 mPhone GPS outdoors, clear skyPinning an exact spot, navigation, surveying a point
10–50 mPhone GPS in town or near buildingsGeneral navigation, sharing roughly where you are
50–500 mWi-Fi positioning, weak GPSKnowing the right neighbourhood or street
Over 500 mIP-based location, indoorsCity-level only — not a precise coordinate

Why accuracy changes

GPS accuracy is not a constant. It tracks how many satellites the device can see, whether buildings or tree cover block the sky, and whether the phone is also drawing on Wi-Fi and cell towers to assist. The first sample after you tap Start is usually the loosest — give it half a minute and watch the running average pull in. A laptop with no GPS chip falls back to Wi-Fi or your IP, which is why its radius reads so much wider. Once a fix settles where you want it, read the full set of values on what are my coordinates, or place a point by hand with drop a pin.

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Frequently asked questions

How accurate is phone GPS?
Outdoors with a clear view of the sky, a modern phone is typically accurate to within about 3–10 metres. Near tall buildings, under trees or indoors the accuracy drops to tens or even hundreds of metres because fewer satellite signals reach the device. This test shows your phone’s own estimate live so you can see exactly where you stand.

What is a good GPS accuracy reading?
Under 10 metres is excellent and good enough to pin an exact spot. 10–50 metres is normal for a phone in a town and fine for navigation. Above 50 metres your device is probably using Wi-Fi positioning, and above 500 metres it is likely falling back to IP-based location, which is only city-accurate.

Why is my GPS so inaccurate?
The usual causes are being indoors, surrounded by tall buildings, under dense tree cover, or using a device with no GPS chip (most laptops and desktops). Cold starts are also rough — the first fix is the least accurate. Step outside, wait 30–60 seconds and keep Wi-Fi on; the reading in this test should tighten as more satellites lock in.

Does this test use any data or upload my location?
No. The test reads your position entirely in your browser using the standard geolocation API and shows the accuracy your device reports. Nothing about your location is sent to a server or stored. When you tap Stop, the location watch is cleared straight away.

Why does a laptop show a much larger accuracy than my phone?
Most laptops and desktops have no GPS receiver, so the browser estimates your position from nearby Wi-Fi networks or your IP address. That is far less precise than satellite GPS, so the reported accuracy is often hundreds of metres or more. For a tight fix, use a phone outdoors.

Can I improve my GPS accuracy?
Yes. Go outside with a clear sky view, wait for the fix to settle, enable High accuracy / Precise location in your settings, and keep Wi-Fi switched on so the device can use it for positioning. You can watch the effect in real time here as the average accuracy drops.