Map Citation Generator
Cite Google Maps, an atlas map, or a historical map in seconds. Enter the cartographer, title, publisher, and year — or a URL and access date for an online map — and get a complete, formatted citation in APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, and 10,832 styles. Free, no sign-up.
Language
How to Cite a Map
- 1. Enter the map details. Type the cartographer or issuing organization (Google for Google Maps, USGS for a survey map), the map's title, the publisher, and the year. For an online map, paste the URL and add the date you accessed it — Google Maps is a dynamic map, so the retrieval date matters.
- 2. Pick a style. Choose APA, MLA, Chicago, or any of the 10,832 styles. APA adds a [Map] descriptor after the title; MLA names the container — the atlas, website, or database the map appears in.
- 3. Generate. We build a full map reference. Edit any field, then copy it or export to BibTeX, RIS, CSV, or Word.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I generate a citation for a map?
- Enter the cartographer or issuing organization, the map's title, the publisher, and the year, then pick your citation style and click Generate Citation. The source type is already set to 'Map', so the fields land in the right CSL map record, and you can copy or export the finished reference.
- How do I cite Google Maps?
- Treat Google as the author, use a descriptive title for the location or route (e.g. 'Directions from Boston to Salem'), paste the shareable URL, and add the date you accessed it. Because Google Maps is a dynamically generated map with no fixed publication date, styles like APA use 'n.d.' for the year and include a retrieval date — the generator's accessed-date field handles this for you.
- How do I cite a map in APA vs MLA?
- In APA 7th the cartographer or organization goes in the author position, followed by the year, the italicized map title with a '[Map]' descriptor, and the publisher or URL. In MLA 9th you list the cartographer, the map title in quotation marks (or italics for a standalone map), then the container — the atlas, website, or database — with the publisher and date. Pick a style above and the generator applies the right format automatically.
- How do I cite a map inside an atlas or book?
- Enter the map's own title as the title and the atlas as the container or publisher, along with the page or plate number if there is one. Historical maps from library or archive collections work the same way — name the collection and add the URL if you viewed a digitized copy online.
- Which citation styles does the map generator support?
- All 10,832 styles in our library, including APA 7th, MLA 9th, Chicago, Harvard, IEEE, Vancouver, and AMA. Choose your style before or after entering the map details and the reference reformats instantly.
- Is the map citation generator free?
- Yes. It is 100% free with no sign-up, no ads, and no limits. Your citations are saved locally in your browser and can be exported to BibTeX, RIS, CSV, or Word.