diff --git a/vtkm/io/reader/VTKRectilinearGridReader.h b/vtkm/io/reader/VTKRectilinearGridReader.h
index 64389901e..c03163ba2 100644
--- a/vtkm/io/reader/VTKRectilinearGridReader.h
+++ b/vtkm/io/reader/VTKRectilinearGridReader.h
@@ -61,21 +61,25 @@ private:
     std::string dataType;
     std::size_t numPoints[3];
     vtkm::cont::DynamicArrayHandle X,Y,Z;
+
+    // Always read coordinates as vtkm::FloatDefault
+    std::string readDataType =
+      vtkm::io::internal::DataTypeName<vtkm::FloatDefault>::Name();
     
     this->DataFile->Stream >> tag >> numPoints[0] >> dataType >> std::ws;
     if (tag != "X_COORDINATES")
       throw vtkm::io::ErrorIO("X_COORDINATES tag not found");
-    this->DoReadDynamicArray(dataType, numPoints[0], 1, X);
+    this->DoReadDynamicArray(readDataType, numPoints[0], 1, X);
     
     this->DataFile->Stream >> tag >> numPoints[1] >> dataType >> std::ws;
     if (tag != "Y_COORDINATES")
       throw vtkm::io::ErrorIO("Y_COORDINATES tag not found");
-    this->DoReadDynamicArray(dataType, numPoints[1], 1, Y);
+    this->DoReadDynamicArray(readDataType, numPoints[1], 1, Y);
     
     this->DataFile->Stream >> tag >> numPoints[2] >> dataType >> std::ws;
     if (tag != "Z_COORDINATES")
       throw vtkm::io::ErrorIO("Z_COORDINATES tag not found");
-    this->DoReadDynamicArray(dataType, numPoints[2], 1, Z);
+    this->DoReadDynamicArray(readDataType, numPoints[2], 1, Z);
 
     if (dim != vtkm::Id3(static_cast<vtkm::Id>(numPoints[0]),
                          static_cast<vtkm::Id>(numPoints[1]),