In this lesson, we will discuss the USGS Store and how it can be used to access the US Topo and historical USGS Topographic maps. Specifically, this lesson will talk about the USGS Store, both where it’s accessed and what’s available at the store, as well as how you can locate and download free topographic maps through the store.
How do I get a full-scale plot of a USGS topographic map?
There are three ways to get full-scale plots of USGS topographic quadrangle maps, including Historical Topographic maps (produced 1884-2006), US Topo maps (produced 2009-present) or customized OnDemand Topos.
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Order a paper map from the USGS Store. Use the Store’s Map Locator to find the desired map.*
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Download a free map file and send it to a local printing business. USGS topographic maps are not copyrighted.
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Download a free digital map file and print it on your own large-format equipment.
Unlike our Historical topographic maps, US Topo maps contain more data layers than can be clearly printed at the same time (for example, users probably don't want to print contours and the orthoimage together). To take full advantage of the map customization allowed by the US Topo layers, options 2 and 3 are recommended. The US Topo’s orthoimage layer is NOT included on printed maps ordered through the USGS Store, so their printed US Topo maps very closely resemble Historical topographic maps.
The size of printed topographic maps distributed by the USGS can vary slightly depending on scale, publication date, and latitude. On average:
- US Topo maps (published after 2008) are 24" wide x 29" high
- Historical 7.5 Minute topographic maps (published before 2008) are 22" wide x 27" high
- OnDemand Topo
- 7.5 Minute are 24" wide x 29" high
- 1:100,000 scale maps are 35" wide to 48” wide x 30" high
Those measurements include the map collar (the white margin around the map and the wealth of information in it). Other map scales come in different sizes.
*OnDemand Topos are currently not available for print through the USGS Store.
Learn more:
Related Content
Do you offer teacher discounts for your maps and other cost products?
Yes. Educational institutions qualify for discounts on purchases made through the online USGS Store . To receive any discounts you must first be set up in their system. Please fax your request on school letterhead (or on a purchase order) to 303-202-4693 and include your Federal Tax ID number ( not to be confused with your Federal Tax Exempt Number). For questions, call 1-888-MAP-DEAL (1-888-627...
How do I find, download, or order topographic maps?
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has been the primary civilian mapping agency of the United States since 1879. Some of the most well-known USGS maps are the 1:24,000-scale topographic maps, also called 7.5-minute quadrangles . In 2009, the USGS transitioned from our hand scribed historical topographic maps to US Topos , which are computer-generated on a regular schedule using national databases...
Are USGS topographic maps copyrighted?
All topographic maps produced by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) are in the public domain and are not copyrighted except for the following three cases that apply only to US Topo maps (produced 2009-present): Most maps in the period 2010-2016 contain commercially licensed road data (see note below). Orthoimages in Alaska are commercially licensed. Orthoimages in Hawaii were commercially licensed...
Can I still get the older topographic maps?
Yes. Topographic maps originally published as paper documents between 1884-2006 have been scanned and published as the USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection . Download our historical topographic maps and our more current US Topo maps (published 2009-present) free of charge using TopoView (GeoPDF, GeoTIFF, JPEG, and KMZ formats) or using the USGS Store’s Map Locator (GeoPDF format). Order...
Can I get a bulk order of USGS topographic maps in PDF format for a state or the entire country?
Bulk delivery is available for US Topo maps (produced 2009-present) and the Historical Topographic Map Collection (produced 1884-2006). Only current US Topo maps (not superseded maps) are available for bulk distribution (use topoView to download individual superseded maps). Bulk delivery options are currently only available for maps in GeoPDF file format. Options for bulk delivery: 1. Batch...
There are multiple copies of the same map in your Historical Topographic Map Collection that all have the same date. Is there a difference between those maps?
Two or more historical topographic maps with the same date typically result from revisions and reprints. The differences are often minor. The date used to identify a map is in the lower right corner. If there are multiple editions with the same compilation date, look for additional dates in the lower right portion of the map collar that might differentiate them: Date on Map -- The year of base...
How current are US Topo maps?
US Topo maps are updated on a three-year production cycle (maps covering one third of the country are updated each year). The US Topo production schedule follows the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Imagery Program (NAIP) collection schedule. This does not include US Topos for Alaska, which are on a different schedule . The linework features shown on the maps are generated...
Are US Topo products available for Alaska?
Yes, US Topo products are available for all of Alaska. Publication of 1:25,000-scale US Topo maps in Alaska began in 2013. The production schedule is determined by availability of IFSAR elevation data and SPOT imagery provided by the Alaska Statewide Digital Mapping Initiative . To see an index map of publication dates for US Topos in Alaska, go to the National Map Downloader . Put a checkmark...
How do US Topo maps differ from historical USGS topographic maps?
Historically, USGS topographic maps were made using data from primary sources including direct field observations. Those maps were compiled, drawn, and edited by hand. By today's standards, those traditional methods are very expensive and time-consuming, and the USGS no longer has funding to make maps that way. A new USGS topographic map series was launched in 2009 and branded " US Topo ." Though...
What is a GeoPDF®?
A GeoPDF is a georeferenced PDF file, meaning that it is a Portable Document Format (PDF) file with added information that relates the image to coordinates on a map. GeoPDF files can be used as plain PDF files but have the added capability of some limited mapping functions (turn any map layers on and off, obtain XY coordinates for a location, measure length, and more). The USGS currently produces...
Lesson 9a: Accessing US Topo and Historical USGS Topographic Maps
In this lesson, we will discuss the USGS Store and how it can be used to access the US Topo and historical USGS Topographic maps. Specifically, this lesson will talk about the USGS Store, both where it’s accessed and what’s available at the store, as well as how you can locate and download free topographic maps through the store.
Lesson 8b: Printing US Topos
In this lesson we will demonstrate three options for printing US Topos.
In this lesson we will demonstrate three options for printing US Topos.
US Topo
US Topo is the next generation of topographic maps from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Arranged in the familiar 7.5-minute quadrangle format, digital US Topo maps are designed to look and feel (and perform) like the traditional paper topographic maps for which the USGS is so well known.
US Topo is the next generation of topographic maps from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Arranged in the familiar 7.5-minute quadrangle format, digital US Topo maps are designed to look and feel (and perform) like the traditional paper topographic maps for which the USGS is so well known.
Related Content
Do you offer teacher discounts for your maps and other cost products?
Yes. Educational institutions qualify for discounts on purchases made through the online USGS Store . To receive any discounts you must first be set up in their system. Please fax your request on school letterhead (or on a purchase order) to 303-202-4693 and include your Federal Tax ID number ( not to be confused with your Federal Tax Exempt Number). For questions, call 1-888-MAP-DEAL (1-888-627...
How do I find, download, or order topographic maps?
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has been the primary civilian mapping agency of the United States since 1879. Some of the most well-known USGS maps are the 1:24,000-scale topographic maps, also called 7.5-minute quadrangles . In 2009, the USGS transitioned from our hand scribed historical topographic maps to US Topos , which are computer-generated on a regular schedule using national databases...
Are USGS topographic maps copyrighted?
All topographic maps produced by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) are in the public domain and are not copyrighted except for the following three cases that apply only to US Topo maps (produced 2009-present): Most maps in the period 2010-2016 contain commercially licensed road data (see note below). Orthoimages in Alaska are commercially licensed. Orthoimages in Hawaii were commercially licensed...
Can I still get the older topographic maps?
Yes. Topographic maps originally published as paper documents between 1884-2006 have been scanned and published as the USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection . Download our historical topographic maps and our more current US Topo maps (published 2009-present) free of charge using TopoView (GeoPDF, GeoTIFF, JPEG, and KMZ formats) or using the USGS Store’s Map Locator (GeoPDF format). Order...
Can I get a bulk order of USGS topographic maps in PDF format for a state or the entire country?
Bulk delivery is available for US Topo maps (produced 2009-present) and the Historical Topographic Map Collection (produced 1884-2006). Only current US Topo maps (not superseded maps) are available for bulk distribution (use topoView to download individual superseded maps). Bulk delivery options are currently only available for maps in GeoPDF file format. Options for bulk delivery: 1. Batch...
There are multiple copies of the same map in your Historical Topographic Map Collection that all have the same date. Is there a difference between those maps?
Two or more historical topographic maps with the same date typically result from revisions and reprints. The differences are often minor. The date used to identify a map is in the lower right corner. If there are multiple editions with the same compilation date, look for additional dates in the lower right portion of the map collar that might differentiate them: Date on Map -- The year of base...
How current are US Topo maps?
US Topo maps are updated on a three-year production cycle (maps covering one third of the country are updated each year). The US Topo production schedule follows the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Imagery Program (NAIP) collection schedule. This does not include US Topos for Alaska, which are on a different schedule . The linework features shown on the maps are generated...
Are US Topo products available for Alaska?
Yes, US Topo products are available for all of Alaska. Publication of 1:25,000-scale US Topo maps in Alaska began in 2013. The production schedule is determined by availability of IFSAR elevation data and SPOT imagery provided by the Alaska Statewide Digital Mapping Initiative . To see an index map of publication dates for US Topos in Alaska, go to the National Map Downloader . Put a checkmark...
How do US Topo maps differ from historical USGS topographic maps?
Historically, USGS topographic maps were made using data from primary sources including direct field observations. Those maps were compiled, drawn, and edited by hand. By today's standards, those traditional methods are very expensive and time-consuming, and the USGS no longer has funding to make maps that way. A new USGS topographic map series was launched in 2009 and branded " US Topo ." Though...
What is a GeoPDF®?
A GeoPDF is a georeferenced PDF file, meaning that it is a Portable Document Format (PDF) file with added information that relates the image to coordinates on a map. GeoPDF files can be used as plain PDF files but have the added capability of some limited mapping functions (turn any map layers on and off, obtain XY coordinates for a location, measure length, and more). The USGS currently produces...
Lesson 9a: Accessing US Topo and Historical USGS Topographic Maps
In this lesson, we will discuss the USGS Store and how it can be used to access the US Topo and historical USGS Topographic maps. Specifically, this lesson will talk about the USGS Store, both where it’s accessed and what’s available at the store, as well as how you can locate and download free topographic maps through the store.
In this lesson, we will discuss the USGS Store and how it can be used to access the US Topo and historical USGS Topographic maps. Specifically, this lesson will talk about the USGS Store, both where it’s accessed and what’s available at the store, as well as how you can locate and download free topographic maps through the store.
Lesson 8b: Printing US Topos
In this lesson we will demonstrate three options for printing US Topos.
In this lesson we will demonstrate three options for printing US Topos.
US Topo
US Topo is the next generation of topographic maps from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Arranged in the familiar 7.5-minute quadrangle format, digital US Topo maps are designed to look and feel (and perform) like the traditional paper topographic maps for which the USGS is so well known.
US Topo is the next generation of topographic maps from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Arranged in the familiar 7.5-minute quadrangle format, digital US Topo maps are designed to look and feel (and perform) like the traditional paper topographic maps for which the USGS is so well known.