How to Draw a Radius on Google Maps

Drawing a radius on a map can help you visualize the spatial relationships between a central point and its surroundings. This has many applications: for instance, a business can use radius maps to target demographics within a certain distance of a store or business location. If you’re wondering how to draw a radius on Google Maps, read on.

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Drawing a Radius in Google Maps with Google My Maps

Unfortunately, Google Maps doesn’t have a built-in feature that allows you to draw a radius. You can only measure the distance between two points, but sometimes a radius is more suitable. If you really need to use this option, it will involve a workaround with Google My Maps: a service that you can access within Google Maps. It allows you to create custom maps for free.

Note that you can use the following method to create a radius circle using Google My Maps on PC. You won’t be able to access Google My Maps from the Google Maps app itself on your mobile, but you can access My Maps via your mobile browser., then follow the same steps.

Open Google Maps in your PC browser, and click Saved. Switch to the Maps tab, then click on Open My Maps.

Tap on the Create a New Map button at the top. Zoom in on the map, and find the desired point for the center of your radius. If it’s already marked on the app, click on it, and select Add to map.

Take note of the coordinates that appear underneath as you do so.

If you need a custom location to be the center point of your radius, first add a pin. Click the Marker button at the top. Name it, add some details (optional), then press OK to display the location’s coordinates.

Open a new browser tab, and navigate to the KLM4Earth’s Circle Generator tool. We are using this tool to create a KML (Keyhole markup language) file by inputting the coordinates shown earlier.

Copy the latitude and longitude from Google My Maps, and paste them into KLM Circle Generator. Set the Circle radius and Circle color, then press the Generate circle button to create the radius.

The KLM file will be downloaded to your PC.

Return to Google My Maps, and click on Add layer -> Import. Upload the KLM file that was downloaded to your PC.

Wait a few seconds for the circle to appear on your map.

If you would like, click the circle to view the radius length or change its color. If you’d rather view your map without the radius, uncheck the layer you previously added from the left side of the screen.

The custom map will automatically be saved to your Google My Maps inventory.

FYI: you can also save a route on Google Maps.

Sharing Your Radius Map

Once the radius is visible, you can share your new map with others by pressing the Share button.

Enable the Anyone with link can view option, and copy-paste to your preferred messaging or email app. You can also turn on the second option if you want to allow people to search for and find this map on the Internet.

Viewing the Radius Map in Google Maps

You can view the radius map you’ve created using Google My Maps in Google Maps on PC and mobile, as follows:

PC

Open Google Maps in your browser, and click on Saved -> Maps.

Click on the radius map from the list of custom maps, and the map will load in your browser.

Unfortunately, it’s not possible to search for locations within the radius or to add any additional alternations. You can, however, perform some edits in Google My Maps, such as measuring distances, adding directions or drawing lines.

Mobile

Open the Google Maps app (Android | iOS) on your mobile device. Tap on Saved at the bottom. Select Maps to view your custom maps.

Find your radius map, tap on it, and the map will load.

Tip: want to exit the Google ecosystem but still need a maps app? Check out the best Google Maps alternatives.

Alternatively, use an online tool, such as FreeMapTools, to create your radius, then import the map to Google Maps.

Access FreeMapTools in your browser and scroll under the map.

Use the Latitude and Longitude boxes to input the coordinates of the center point. You can use Google Maps to identify them. Click on a point on the map, then right-click. The coordinates should appear in the context menu.

Also make sure to set the Radius Size as well as Line Color or Fill.

Once you’ve set all these parameters, click the Draw Radius button.

A pin indicating the location of your radius will appear on the map. Zoom in for a closeup view. You can share the generated map by copying and pasting the link in the URL to last radius section.

If you want to get this map into Google Maps, scroll down to the bottom of the display on FreeMapTools, and press the Generate KLM button to download the radius map in KLM format.

Once you have the KLM file on your device, use the tutorial above to upload it into a new map via Google My Maps and make it viewable.

Tip: learn how to activate dark mode in Google Maps.

Using Google Maps to Its Full Potential

Google Maps is one of the most popular maps services around – and for good reason – as it comes packed with tons of useful features. For instance, you can show the speed limit on Google Maps. If you want to take Maps to the next level, check out our list of sites and extensions that can make Google Maps even better.

Image credit: Pexels. All screenshots by Alexandra Arici.