Best Paper for Map Printing

So You Want to Print Your Own Maps

Half the fun of printing a map is finding one worth putting on paper. Fortunately, museums, libraries, government agencies, and mapmaking communities have placed an extraordinary variety of downloadable maps online. You can find everything from centuries-old city plans and authentic topographic surveys to national park maps and imaginary fantasy worlds—and many of them are free.

Before downloading, look for the largest or highest-resolution file available. PDF and SVG files are especially useful because they can often be enlarged without losing sharpness. A high-resolution JPEG or TIFF can also produce an excellent print. Check the individual map’s rights statement, even when using it only for a personal project, and preserve any required attribution.

Six Free Places to Find Printable Maps

1. Library of Congress Geography and Map Collections
   Start here for historical maps, antique city plans, exploration charts, railroad maps, military maps, and other fascinating pieces of cartographic history. The collection is enormous, so try searching by location, date, or subject. The Library’s “Free to Use and Reuse” collections are particularly helpful when you want material with clearly stated usage rights.
   
2. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection
   The United States Geological Survey is the natural choice for authentic U.S. topographic maps. Its collection includes more than 185,000 historical maps, along with current US Topo maps. Downloads are free and available in formats that include GeoPDF, GeoTIFF, JPEG, and KMZ. Use topoView to search by location and compare maps from different years.
   
3. National Park Service Map Finder
   Looking for a favorite national park, monument, battlefield, or historic site? The National Park Service offers more than 1,000 maps created by its professional cartographers. Many are available as printable PDFs or JPEGs, and some can even be downloaded as editable Adobe files. Maps created by the NPS Harpers Ferry Center are in the public domain.
   
4. David Rumsey Map Collection
   This remarkable collection is made for anyone who loves the artistry of old maps. It contains more than 150,000 maps and related images covering locations around the world and centuries of cartographic design. Many can be downloaded as exceptionally detailed scans. Personal use is free, but check the record for any rights restrictions and include the requested collection credit.
   
5. OpenStreetMap
   OpenStreetMap is useful when you want a present-day map of a particular city, neighborhood, road, or region. Select the area you need and export it in a printable format. Depending on the export method, options can include PDF, SVG, PNG, and JPEG. OpenStreetMap content is freely licensed, but printed maps must include the required attribution.
   
6. Azgaar’s Fantasy Map Generator
   Real geography is optional. Azgaar’s free browser-based generator lets you create an entire fantasy world complete with coastlines, terrain, rivers, roads, settlements, and political boundaries. Customize the design, then export it as an SVG, PNG, JPEG, or a set of image tiles. SVG is an excellent choice when you want to make a large print while keeping lines and labels sharp.
   

A Few Tips Before You Print

Download the best-quality file you can find and inspect it at the size you plan to print. Fine labels and boundary lines should remain sharp, not fuzzy or pixelated. Smooth matte inkjet paper is a practical choice for detailed reference, street, and topographic maps because it offers excellent readability with little glare. For antique, illustrated, or fantasy maps, an artistic paper can add warmth and texture that makes the map feel like a finished piece of art. Whichever style you choose, begin with the correct printer setting and a test print before committing to the final size.