Free Online Map Layout Tool – Create Professional GIS Maps with UTM Grid and PDF Export
Creating professional GIS maps usually requires complex software like ArcGIS or QGIS.
But with this free online map layout tool, you can easily design and export professional maps directly from your browser.
This tool allows you to add UTM grids, latitude and longitude grids, scale bars, legends, custom basemaps, logos, and export high-resolution PDF maps — making it perfect for surveyors, GIS analysts, students, planners, and researchers.
Open the Free Map Layout Tool
Use the tool directly in your browser to create professional GIS map layouts.
Main Features of the Map Layout Tool
- Interactive GIS map viewer
- Multiple basemap options (OpenStreetMap, Satellite, Terrain)
- UTM grid overlay
- Latitude and longitude grid
- Professional map layout frame
- True scale bar and scale display
- Custom map title
- North arrow
- Logo upload
- Drawing tools (points, lines, polygons)
- High resolution PDF export
- DPI selector for print quality
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Use the Map Tool
1. Choose a Basemap
At the top of the tool, select a basemap from the dropdown menu. Available basemaps include:
- OpenStreetMap
- Satellite imagery
- Terrain maps
- Cartographic basemaps
This allows you to choose the best background map for your project.
2. Navigate to Your Map Location
Use the zoom controls and drag the map to navigate to the area you want to map.
You can zoom in to see detailed information such as roads, buildings, or terrain features.
3. Add Drawing Features
The drawing tools allow you to add spatial features to the map such as:
- Points
- Lines
- Polygons
These can represent things like property boundaries, study areas, infrastructure, or survey locations.
4. Add Grid Overlays
The tool supports two important grid systems:
Latitude / Longitude Grid
This grid displays geographic coordinates based on the WGS84 coordinate system.
UTM Grid
The Universal Transverse Mercator grid divides the Earth into zones and is commonly used for surveying, engineering, and mapping applications.
Turning on the UTM grid helps align your map with professional GIS coordinate systems.
5. Set the Map Scale
You can select predefined map scales such as:
- 1:5000
- 1:10000
- 1:25000
Or enter your own custom scale to match specific cartographic requirements.
6. Add a Map Title
Enter a title for your map in the title field located in the layout footer. This appears in the final exported map.
7. Upload a Logo
If you are creating maps for reports or professional presentations, you can upload a company or organization logo that will appear on the map layout.
8. Export the Map to PDF
Once your map layout is ready, click the Export PDF button.
You can select export quality using the DPI selector:
- 72 DPI – quick previews
- 150 DPI – standard printing
- 300 DPI – high-quality print maps
The tool will generate a professional map layout that can be used in reports, presentations, or GIS documentation.
Who Can Use This Tool?
This GIS map tool is useful for:
- GIS analysts
- Surveyors
- Urban planners
- Researchers
- Students learning GIS
- Environmental consultants
- Infrastructure planners
- Mapping hobbyists
Why Use an Online GIS Map Tool?
Traditional GIS software can be expensive and complicated. This browser-based mapping tool provides many of the same capabilities without requiring installation.
You can create professional map layouts in seconds and export them for reports or field work.
Final Thoughts
If you need a fast and simple way to create professional GIS map layouts, this free map tool is an excellent solution.
With support for UTM grids, latitude/longitude grids, scale bars, map titles, logos, and high-resolution PDF export, it provides the essential cartographic tools needed for professional mapping.