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3D Map Maker

Tilt a world map to show points, raised countries and routes with a sense of depth, and play events over time. Upload a spreadsheet and publish it free.

Create a 3D Map (free)See the gallery

What is a 3D Map?

A 3D map is a flat map seen at an angle, so the picture has depth without becoming a true globe. Each row of your data can be a point with a latitude and a longitude, and a country column can raise regions into blocks whose height follows a value. Lines can join places as routes. A timeline can play the points in order, so events appear on the map as their dates arrive. It is drawn as vector graphics with no map tiles, so it exports as a sharp image and works offline.

When to use a 3D Map

  • You have events with a place and a date

    Earthquakes, launches and sightings play well on a timeline, and the counter shows the running total.

  • You want depth without a globe

    Tilting the camera makes a world map feel three-dimensional while keeping every continent visible.

  • Countries carry a total

    Raise each country by a value, so height and colour tell the same story at a glance.

  • You need a clean export

    There is no tile server, so the image or video you export matches what the browser shows.

When not to use a 3D Map

  • You need street-level detail

    The base map is a simplified world outline. Use a tiled marker map for cities and streets.

  • Readers must compare exact values

    Height is read by eye and perspective hides the far side. A bar chart is more precise.

  • Your data is in a single country

    A world view wastes space. A choropleth of that country's regions zooms in closer.

  • The output is a printed page

    Tilt and extrusion are most useful on screen. Print a flat map instead.

How to make a 3D Map

From a spreadsheet to a published chart, step by step.

  1. 01Open the 3D Map template
  2. 02Add your rows
  3. 03Bind size, colour and time
  4. 04Set the camera
  5. 05Raise the regions
  6. 06Play and publish
Read the full 3D Map guide

The parts of a 3D Map

Base map
The land and water outline that sits under your data.
Points
One mark for each row, placed by latitude and longitude.
Raised regions
Countries drawn as blocks whose height follows a value.
Timeline
A play button and a graph of events over time under the map.
Counter
The running count of events up to the playhead.
Popup
A card with a point's details when you click or hover.

Common 3D Map mistakes

Using too steep a tilt

Past about sixty degrees the far side is squeezed and hard to read. Keep the pitch moderate.

Expecting the map to play

The timeline needs a column of dates. Without one the map stays still.

Matching country names loosely

Use the English name or the ISO code, or the country will not be raised.

Plotting thousands of points at full size

Dense clusters hide each other. Make the points smaller or cluster them.

3D Map: common questions

A map shown at an angle, with points, raised countries and routes drawn with depth.

Make your 3D Map now

Free to start with 300+ templates. No credit card required.

Create a 3D Map (free)All chart types