How to Create a Custom Google Map with Pins in 2026 (Step-by-Step Guide)

Internet search giant Google first released its mapping tool in 2005. Since then, it’s significantly improved the accuracy of the maps and the number of features available. Millions of people around the world now use it for anything from finding their closest grocery store to driving across the country. Google Maps is highly popular with businesses that use the service to show customers where their locations are. Google Maps also offers you a fairly comprehensive service that lets you create custom maps that can display data about customers, employees, or your business. If you want to add extra features like color coding, you’ll need to use a premium map-making tool such as Maptive.

Create a Google Map

To get started with your custom map, simply follow these steps. If you want more customization, we’ve included further details later on in the article. First, you’ll need to go to Google My Maps and make sure that you sign in to your Google account. From here, you’ll need to choose “create map.” Here, you’ll be able to name your map. Once you’ve created your map, you can add custom pins by searching for a place on the map and choosing the “add marker to map” function. After you’ve added your first marker, you can then repeat the process for as many times as you want. When you’ve finished adding locations, you’ll be able to embed the map onto your website. The process is relatively simple and will add the map and its markers onto your business or personal page. Adding your custom map to your site is useful for helping potential customers find your business, especially if you have multiple business locations. However, you’ll first need to make sure your map is public. Choose the “share” option beneath the map name. Here you can click on “who has access” and change it to “public on the web.” This will allow others to see your custom markers on your map once you embed it. Next, click on “embed on my site” in the menu. Google will then provide you with the HTML code for your map. You simply need to copy this and paste it onto your web page. Then all that’s left is for you to update your page.

Adding More Customisation

While this type of Google map can be useful, the customization is still fairly limited. If you want to add more features, you’ll need to use something else. There are lots of free or premium map-making tools available online which give you the option of adding more details to your map. Other features you add to your map can help illustrate points about your business better. A standard map with custom pins can be useful to show customers how to get to your business. However, if you want to get more insights into how your business is running and key areas to focus on, more options are needed. Features such as color-coding and extra marker customization are available. These can give you and your employees essential insights into the business. With color-coding, you can split your map into key areas, providing your employees with different sectors to focus on. Map marker customization gives you more control over your custom map. You can change how it looks, enabling you to differentiate between points more quickly. Make sure you choose a tool that works directly with Google’s mapping technology. This gives your custom maps the accuracy and coverage you need to provide your business and customers with the right details. It will also mean the map is updated regularly, ensuring it stays accurate and relevant for years to come. One other feature of these map-making tools is that they allow you to create a custom Google Map using data you’ve collected from your business. Rather than having to add markers manually, you can upload your data in the form of a spreadsheet or CSV file. This takes a lot of the hassle out of the process and gives you an insightful custom map quickly and efficiently.

How to Create a Custom Google Map with Pins in 2026 — Complete Guide

Google My Maps lets you create fully customised maps with pins, routes, layers, and embedded media. Whether you’re planning a trip, visualising business locations, or sharing a neighbourhood guide, this step-by-step guide covers everything for 2026.

Step 1: Open Google My Maps

1. Go to google.com/mymaps
2. Sign in with your Google account
3. Click + Create a New Map

You can also access Google My Maps from Google Drive — click New → More → Google My Maps.

Step 2: Add Pins to Your Map

1. Use the search bar to find a location and click Add to Map
2. Or click the pin icon (Add marker) in the toolbar and click anywhere on the map to place a pin
3. Enter a name and description for each pin
4. Click Save

Step 3: Customise Pin Icons and Colours

Click any pin on the map, then click the paint bucket icon in the pin info panel. Choose from:

• Colour — pick any colour for the pin marker
• Icon — choose from 100+ icons including restaurants, hotels, parks, shopping, and custom categories

Using different colours and icons for different categories (e.g., blue for hotels, red for restaurants) makes your map much easier to read at a glance.

Step 4: Add Layers to Organise Your Map

Layers let you group pins by category and toggle them on/off. In the left panel:

1. Click Add layer
2. Name the layer (e.g., “Restaurants”, “Hotels”, “Attractions”)
3. Make sure the correct layer is selected (highlighted) before adding new pins
4. Viewers can toggle each layer on/off independently

Step 5: Add Photos, Videos, and Descriptions to Pins

Each pin can have rich content attached:

• Click any pin → click the pencil (edit) icon
• Add a description with text or links
• Click the camera icon to upload a photo or add a YouTube video URL
• Click Save

Step 6: Add a Route or Directions

To add a driving/walking route between pins:

1. Click the Draw a line tool (line icon) in the toolbar
2. Select Add driving route, Add cycling route, or Add walking route
3. Click the start point, then each stop along the route
4. Double-click to end the route

Step 7: Import Locations from a Spreadsheet

For adding many pins at once, import from Google Sheets or CSV:

1. Prepare a Google Sheet or CSV with columns: Name, Address (or Latitude, Longitude), Description
2. In My Maps, click Import on a layer
3. Upload your CSV or select from Google Drive
4. Map the columns to Name and Location fields
5. All locations appear as pins automatically

This is the fastest way to create a map with dozens or hundreds of pins. Businesses use this to map customer locations, store branches, or delivery zones.

Step 8: Change the Base Map Style

Click the base map selector (bottom of the left panel) to switch between map styles:

• Map — standard Google Maps view
• Satellite — aerial photography
• Terrain — topographic relief view
• Light political — minimal, clean borders
• Mono city — greyscale urban map

Step 9: Share or Embed Your Custom Map

To share: Click Share in the top-left panel. Set visibility to “Anyone with the link can view” and copy the link. Share on social media, email, or messaging apps.

To embed on a website: Click the three-dot menu next to the map title → Embed on my site. Copy the iframe code and paste into your website’s HTML. The embedded map is interactive — viewers can zoom, click pins, and toggle layers.

Google My Maps Tips and Tricks for 2026

• Mobile editing — Download the Google Maps app and access My Maps under Saved → Maps. You can add and edit pins from your phone
• Collaboration — Share with “Can edit” permission so multiple people can add pins simultaneously. Great for group travel planning or team projects
• Up to 10 layers — Each map supports up to 10 layers with 2,000 pins per layer (20,000 total)
• KML/KMZ export — Export your map as KML to use in other mapping applications like QGIS or ArcGIS
• Measurement tool — Use the ruler icon to measure distances between points

Frequently Asked Questions