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Draw a circle around the place you choose

Mark a search area or set an exact radius in kilometers or miles. Use Draw on a Map to create the circle and share a free map link.

Draw your circle Read the guide

Free to draw and share. No account needed.

A purple circle marks an approximate area around Annecy and the north end of the lake.
A purple circle marks an approximate area around Annecy and the north end of the lake.

Make the map you need.

Find your location

Search for the town or place you want to mark. Move the map until the area is in view.

Choose the circle size

Draw a freeform circle for an approximate area. Use Exact radius when you need a set distance from a center point.

Send the map link

Copy a share link and send it with your instructions. Drawing and sharing are free.

Use a circle to show where to search for accommodation, meet a group, or check places near an address. This example marks an accommodation search area in Annecy. Follow the same steps for your own location.

A purple circle around Annecy and the north end of Lake Annecy

This circle marks an approximate search area. It does not show a measured radius or a walking distance.

Draw your search area

Open the circle drawing tool, then follow these steps:

  1. Search for Annecy, or choose your own location.
  2. With Circle selected, choose Freeform.
  3. Choose a color that stands out against the map.
  4. Drag from one edge of your intended circle to the opposite edge.
  5. Release to finish the circle.

Circle tool panel with Freeform selected, color choices, stroke width, and opacity

The drag sets the diameter, across the full circle. Start at the edge, not the center. If the circle covers the wrong area, select Undo and draw it again.

In the Annecy example, part of the circle falls on water. Check the area before you share it. A circle does not follow streets or the shoreline.

Need exactly 1 km from a place?

Use Exact radius when the distance matters. A radius runs from the center to the edge of the circle.

  1. In the Circle panel, select Exact radius.
  2. Enter 1 and select km. For miles, select mi.
  3. Click the map where you want the center of the circle.

On a phone, move the map to set the center, then tap Add circle.

Exact radius dialog with a radius of 1 kilometer

This gives you a 1 km straight-line radius. A route along roads or around the lake can be longer. Use the route planner when you need a route distance.

Share the finished map

Select Share and send the copied link. Your friend can open it without an account. For the accommodation example, add a short message such as: “Look for places inside this circle. Check the walking route before you book.”

A link shared from an unsaved map is a fixed copy, so if you move the circle later, you need to send a new link. If you select Save to account before you share, the link always shows your latest saved version.

Drawing and sharing are free. PNG and PDF downloads are free with a watermark.

Draw your own circle, or open the map radius tool to start with an exact distance.

map drawingradiuscirclezonesdelivery area

Written by

Sergio Garcia & Emilia Hansson

Software engineers. They built Draw on a Map to draw the directions that routing apps get wrong. It runs on OpenStreetMap.

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Search for a place, draw what people need to see, and send a link. No account needed.

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