Abstract It is essential to estimating positions of multiple robots in order to perform cooperative task in common workspace. Accordingly, we propose a new approach of cooperative localization for multiple robots utilizing correlation among GPS errors in common workspace. Assuming that GPS data of individual robot are correlated strongly as the distance among robots are close, it is confirmed that the proposed method provides improved localization accuracy. In addition, we define two operational parameters to apply proposed method in multiple robot system. With mentioned two parameters, we present a practical solution to accumulated position error in traveling long distance.