Decimal to sexagesimal (base 60) converter
Type a decimal number to see it in base 60, where each place is a number from 0 to 59. It is the same logic that turns seconds into hours, minutes and seconds.
Loading the tool…
Processing and privacy: The result is calculated inside your browser and your data is not sent to any server.
How to use it
- Enter decimal number.
- The result appears straight away and updates as you edit.
- Copy the result, or copy a link that keeps the same values to share it.
How it is calculated
Repeated division: n = q × 60 + r, where the remainder r (0 to 59) is the next place from the right. Example: 3661 = 1×3600 + 1×60 + 1, written 1:01:01.
Example
Inputs: Decimal number = 3661. Result: Result in base 60: 1:01:01; Number of base 60 places: 3.
3661
1:01:01
Limits and caveats
- Whole numbers only; it does not write sexagesimal fractions.
- The colon format is for reading only; the first place can exceed 24 because it is not a clock hour.
Questions about this tool
Why is base 60 tied to time and angles?
Counting in sixties comes from ancient Mesopotamia, which is why an hour has 60 minutes, a minute 60 seconds, and a degree splits into minutes and seconds. Sixty also has twelve divisors, including 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.
Can I turn seconds into hours and minutes with it?
Yes. Enter the seconds and read the places from the right: seconds, then minutes, then hours. For example 3661 seconds is 1:01:01, one hour, one minute and one second.
Why are there no letters for base 60 digits?
There is no common letter scheme for sixty symbols, so each place is written as a decimal number from 0 to 59, separated by colons or commas.