Map Drawer
Click to draw directly on the map. Lines report live length, polygons report area and perimeter using geodesic math — then export everything as GeoJSON.
Quick answer: Draw markers, lines, polygons and labels on a live map with real measurements. Coverage: Worldwide. No account is required.
Worked examples
- Small pin map — A handful of labelled pins is usually clearer than dozens of unstyled markers. Use categories or colours only when they carry meaning.
- Shareable state — When a tool stores settings in the URL, recipients can reopen the same configuration without an account.
- Export choice — PNG is useful for presentation; GeoJSON or CSV is better when the data needs to remain editable.
Limits & appropriate use
Custom maps inherit two honest limits: the basemap's and the message's. The basemap is OpenStreetMap's current picture with its ODbL attribution ask, and its gaps — new roads, thin rural detail — travel into every export that includes tiles. The message limit is design's classic one: a map can carry one argument well, and beyond a few dozen symbols the right instrument changes to data-driven mapping with clustering and categories. Both limits are stated where they matter, because the alternative is a beautiful figure that misleads its own author.
Within those bounds the workflow is complete and durable: pins, labels, colours, tight framing, pixel-ratio PNG for the slide, GeoJSON/CSV for the record, URL-state for the living version. Escalation is gentle by design — choropleths and territory shading belong to GIS with real boundaries (the blank-map library and GeoJSON exports feed it), cartographic print production wants vector pipelines, and brand-strict design systems want tokens this tool deliberately doesn't fake.
- Data-dense maps → CSV-to-map with clustering and category colour.
- Boundary shading/choropleth → GIS with census or OSM boundaries.
- Print cartography → vector exports into a design pipeline.
Data & methodology
Map imagery derives from OpenStreetMap via OpenFreeMap (ODbL attribution applies to reused basemap images); your pins and labels live only in the share URL.
For source details, licences and model limitations, see Data Sources and Methodology.
Related tools
Category: Map Creation. Results are intended for everyday analysis and planning unless a page explicitly states otherwise.
How to use
- 1Pick a draw mode: marker, line, polygon or label.
- 2Click the map to place points. For lines and polygons, double-click or press Finish shape when done.
- 3Read live measurements under Drawn shapes.
- 4Press Export GeoJSON to download your drawing.
Frequently asked questions
How accurate are the measurements?
Distances and areas use WGS84 geodesic math (haversine and spherical polygon area), accurate to about 0.3% versus survey-grade geodesics — plenty for planning and illustration.
Can I export what I draw?
Yes. The Export GeoJSON button downloads every shape as a standard GeoJSON file you can open in QGIS, Google Earth or any GIS tool.
Is there a limit on shapes?
No hard limit, but very large drawings (hundreds of shapes) may slow older devices. Use Clear all to start over.
Does the map remember my drawing?
No. Drawings live only in your browser tab and are cleared on reload. Export GeoJSON if you want to keep them.
Can I measure a route with multiple segments?
Yes — choose Line mode and click along each turn. The total length updates live as you add points.