Print Google Maps
Need to print a map or directions to take with you? You can print Google Maps from nearly any browser. You can also choose to print turn-by-turn directions, and even include maps for each turn. If you're having difficulty printing, you can use the screenshot function on your computer to print the map.
Contents
Steps
Printing a Map
- Center the map on whatever you'd like to print. You will only be able to print what is displayed in the browser, so make sure that the map is centered, zoomed correctly, and showing everything important.
- Open your browser's Print menu. You can usually press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Command + P (Mac), or select "Print" from the browser's File or Settings menu.
- If you are using Classic Maps, click the "Print" button in the sidebar to add notes to your map before printing.
- Note: When trying to print a map in Google Chrome using the New Maps interface, the page will be blank. To print a map in Google Chrome, you will need to use Classic Maps. If you cannot use Classic Maps or another browser, you can either Print-Google-Maps with a map, or you can Print-Google-Maps.
- Switch the page to "Landscape" mode. This will usually allow you to capture more of the map on the page.
- Select between color and grayscale. Google Maps use a lot of color, so you may want to switch to grayscale to save your ink unless you really need the colors. Grayscale usually prints a little faster as well.
- Print the map. Once you are satisfied with your settings, you can send the map to your printer.
Printing Directions (New Google Maps)
- Create a set of directions. Enter in a starting and ending location and choose your mode of transportation. Google will create a route and set of directions for your trip. You will be able to print the map with the route on it as well as turn-by-turn directions.
- Click the "List all steps" link. This can be found in the card beneath your starting and ending points in the upper-left corner. A new page will appear with turn-by-turn directions and a map of the route.
- If you don't see this link, you are likely using Classic Maps. Print-Google-Maps.
- Click the "Print" button and select your choice. This is located above the map of your route. Clicking the Print button will give you two different options. Selecting either option will open the print settings window.
- Print including maps - Small map previews of all the turns on your route will be displayed alongside the text directions. Your entire route will be shown on a map at the top.
- Print text only - This will only print your turn-by-turn directions. No maps will be included.
- Set your print settings. Choose your page orientation and color preferences from the print settings menu. You may find it easier to read the directions if the page is set to the "Portrait" orientation. You'll see that scaled down versions of the map will be shown if you selected "Print including maps", so you may want to switch it to grayscale.
- Print the directions. Once your settings are correct, you can send the directions to your printer.
Printing Directions (Classic Maps)
- Create a set of directions. Enter in a starting and ending location and choose your mode of transportation. Google will create a route and set of directions for your trip. You will be able to print the map with the route on it as well as turn-by-turn directions.
- Click the "Print" button at the top of the sidebar. This is located above the buttons for modes of transportation.
- Add notes to your directions if you'd like. You can use the box at the top of the directions list to add notes to the page.
- Add maps for individual turns. You can hover over each entry in the directions list and choose to enable a small map for that turn. You can also choose to add a Street View picture to any of the steps.
- Check the "Include large map" box to add a map of the entire route. The box is located at the top of the window. If you include the large map, it will be added to the top of the list. You can pan and zoom the map to get the optimal picture.
- Print the directions. Once you are satisfied with your directions and maps, click the "Print" button in the upper-right corner. If you don't see a "Print" button, press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Command + P (Mac), or select "Print" from the browser's File or Settings menu.
- Set your print settings. Choose your page orientation and color preferences from the print settings menu. You may find it easier to read the directions if the page is set to the "Portrait" orientation. If you added the large map and lots of turn maps, you may want to switch it to grayscale.
- Print the directions. Once your settings are correct, you can send the directions to your printer.
Taking a Screenshot
- Center the map on what you want to print. If you can't print using the built-in printing methods above, you can take a screenshot of the map in your browser and print it using an image editing program.
- Take a screenshot of your browser window. The method varies depending on whether you're using Windows or Mac.
- Windows - Make sure your browser window is selected and press Alt + PrtScn. This will save a screenshot of the active window to the clipboard.
- Mac - Hold Command + Shift + 4 and press Space. Your cursor will change to a camera. Click the browser window with the map that you want to print. The image will be created and placed on your desktop.
- Paste the screenshot in Paint (Windows only). When you take a screenshot in Windows, it is copied to the clipboard and will need to be pasted in another program before you can see it. You can use the free Paint program that comes with every copy of Windows.
- Click the Start menu or button, type "paint", and press Enter.
- Press Ctrl + V or click Edit → Paste to paste the screenshot onto the canvas.
- Print the screenshot. If you are using a Mac, open the image that was created on your desktop when you took the screenshot. If you are using Windows, use the print function in paint to print. Click File → Print and set your printing options. Send it to your printer when you're satisfied.
- You'll likely want to make the map grayscale to save your color ink.
- Landscape orientation may make the map easier to read.
