How to draw a radius
A radius is the distance from the center of a circle to its edge. If you draw a five-mile radius around your home, everything inside the circle is within five miles as the crow flies.
- Choose a place. Search for an address, city, or postal code and select a result. You can also enter coordinates or click the map.
- Set your distance. Enter a radius in miles, kilometers, meters, or feet. Use the slider for a quick adjustment.
- Adjust and save. Add circles to compare places, give them labels, and use Share or Export to keep your work.
For a longer walkthrough, read how to draw a radius on a map.
What can you use it for?
A radius map is useful when you want a quick picture of an area: a delivery zone around a shop, homes near a workplace, or the reach of several branch locations.
Each circle can have its own distance, color, and label. Select one from the menu to edit it, or choose “Fit all circles” to see the whole map. The measurements show its diameter, area, circumference, and center coordinates.
Keep in mind that a circle measures straight-line distance. A place inside a ten-mile radius might be much farther away by road, especially across a river or around a mountain.
How much area does a radius cover?
For a small circle, area is approximately π × radius². Doubling the radius gives you four times the area.
| Radius | Approx. area | A useful scale for |
|---|---|---|
| 1 mile | 3.14 sq mi | A neighborhood |
| 5 miles | 78.54 sq mi | Local deliveries |
| 10 miles | 314.16 sq mi | A service area |
| 25 miles | 1,963.50 sq mi | A metro region |
| 50 miles | 7,853.98 sq mi | Several nearby towns |
| 100 miles | 31,415.93 sq mi | A wider region |
These are approximate areas using the flat-circle formula.
Saving and sharing your map
Share creates a link that opens your circles with their labels and colors. Anyone with the link can view the map, so only include information you are happy to share.
Use GeoJSON for GIS software, KML for Google Earth or Google My Maps, and CSV for a spreadsheet. The export includes every circle on your map.
Frequently asked questions
How do I draw a radius on a map?
Search for an address, city, postal code, landmark, or coordinates, then set your distance and unit. You can also click anywhere on the map to place a new circle.
Can I draw more than one radius circle?
Yes. Add as many circles as you need. Every circle can have its own center, radius, unit, color, and label, which makes comparing coverage areas easy.
Can I draw a radius on Google Maps?
Google Maps does not include a built-in radius tool. You can draw your circle here, export it as KML, and import that file into Google My Maps or Google Earth.
Is the radius geographically accurate?
Yes. The map uses meter-based geodesic circles, so distances are measured over the Earth rather than as flat screen pixels. Map projections can make very large circles look distorted near the poles.
Can I share or export my map?
Yes. Share creates a URL containing your circle data. Anyone with the link can view your circles and labels. Export downloads every circle as GeoJSON, KML, or CSV for use in GIS software, Google Earth, or spreadsheets.
Is Radius Map Tool free?
Yes. The tool is free, requires no account, and has no limit on the number of circles you can draw.