Map Scales
Map scale is the ratio between distance on the map and distance on the ground. This page is a scale lookup; map type choice, availability, and storage are covered in Map Types and Scales.
Scale Ratios
| Scale | 1 cm on the map represents | 1 mm on the map represents | Useful meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1:10,000 | 100 m on the ground | 10 m on the ground | A very detailed ratio for urban or local detail where a source provides it. |
| 1:25,000 | 250 m on the ground | 25 m on the ground | Detailed outdoor navigation scale. |
| 1:50,000 | 500 m on the ground | 50 m on the ground | Wider-area planning scale. |
| 1:100,000 | 1 km on the ground | 100 m on the ground | Regional overview scale. |
These are ratio examples, not a statement that every map type or subscription includes every scale.
Large Scale And Small Scale
Large-scale maps show a smaller ground area with more detail. 1:10,000 is larger scale than 1:25,000, and 1:25,000 is larger scale than 1:50,000.
Small-scale maps show a larger ground area with less local detail. 1:100,000 is smaller scale than 1:50,000.
Print To Scale
When printing to scale, the selected print scale controls the physical ratio on paper. A printed 1:25,000 map means 1 cm on the print represents 250 m on the ground, regardless of the zoom level you used while preparing the page.
Zooming the on-screen map is different from printing to a fixed scale. Use the Printing pages for page setup and layout choices.