Export a Map to PDF
MapGridder turns your map into a print-ready PDF at true cartographic scale, not just a flat screenshot. Set the page size (A4, A3, or US Letter), choose the print resolution (150, 300, or 600 DPI), and lock a real map scale from 1:10,000 to 1:1,000,000, so a measured distance on paper matches the real world.
What you can do
- Print resolution you control: 150, 300, or 600 DPI
- A4, A3, or US Letter, portrait or landscape
- Lock a real map scale from 1:10,000 to 1:1,000,000
- Keeps your grid, routes, waypoints, and annotations
Pick a scale that fits the paper
The scale decides how much ground lands on the page. An A4 sheet in landscape at 1:50,000 covers roughly 15 km by 10 km, at 1:25,000 about 7 km by 5 km; A3 doubles the area at the same ratio. 1:10,000 and 1:25,000 suit a site plan or a training lane, 1:50,000 matches standard topographic and military maps, 1:250,000 and coarser cover a region. A ratio too fine for the area overflows the paper, so pick a coarser ratio or a larger sheet.
Print at 100 percent
The page is sized in millimeters at the ratio you chose, so it is only true to scale when printed at actual size. In the print dialog turn off fit to page and shrink to printable area and keep the scale at 100 percent. To check a sheet, lay a ruler across the printed scale bar: it must read the ground distance on the label.
What goes into the PDF
Everything visible on the map at export: the MGRS or custom grid with its labels, drawings and text, waypoints, routes and imported tracks, distance measurements, tactical and topographic symbols, and radius rings. Below the map a white footer carries your title, the scale bar and the ratio. The export runs in the browser; the only network traffic is the basemap tiles.
Frequently asked questions
How do I export a map to PDF?
Open the map, choose Export as Map from the File menu, pick the PDF format, then set the page size, DPI, and scale and download.
Can I control the resolution (DPI)?
Yes. Choose 150, 300, or 600 DPI in the export menu. Use 300 or 600 DPI for crisp printed output, or 150 for a smaller file and quick drafts.
Can I export A3?
Yes. The export menu offers A4, A3, and US Letter, in portrait or landscape. A3 is useful when you need a larger planning sheet.
Does the PDF print to a real scale?
Yes. You can lock a map scale from 1:10,000 to 1:1,000,000 and a scale bar is included, so the printed sheet matches a real-world distance. Print at 100 percent with fit to page turned off, or the ratio on paper is no longer the one you picked.
Can I include my grid and annotations?
Yes. The grid, routes, waypoints, and annotations on the map are rendered into the export.
Is it free?
Yes. Export runs in your browser with no watermark, and it does need a quick, free sign-in. Personal and non-commercial use is free; commercial use needs a paid license.
Related: GPX and KML guide · MGRS grid overlay · Export a map to GeoJSON · Open a GeoPDF online · Build an SFAS land nav practice lane