Maps in APA are classified as figures and use the format descriptor [Map] in the reference entry. The citation format depends on the map's source — a thematic map from a government agency, a satellite image from Google Earth, a historical map from an archive, and a custom map from a GIS platform each follow different templates. The underlying rule is consistent: identify the cartographer or organization, describe the map, and provide access information.
Reference Format by Source Type
Map From a Government Agency or Organization
Organization. (Year). Title of map [Map]. URL
Example:
U.S. Geological Survey. (2022). Topographic map of Yellowstone National Park [Map]. https://www.usgs.gov/maps/example
Map From a Website
Author(s) or Organization. (Year, Month Day). Title of map [Map]. Site Name. URL
Example:
National Weather Service. (2024, July 10). Heat advisory zones for the southwestern United States [Map]. https://www.weather.gov/example
Google Maps
Google Maps content is dynamic, so include a retrieval date and describe the view in brackets:
Google Maps. (n.d.). [Map of downtown Chicago, Illinois]. Retrieved January 15, 2025, from https://www.google.com/maps/place/Chicago
- Use "n.d." because the map has no fixed publication date.
- Place the description in square brackets (not italicized) when there's no formal title.
- Include "Retrieved [date]" because the map content may change.
Google Earth
Google Earth. (n.d.). [Satellite view of the Nile Delta, Egypt]. Retrieved March 1, 2025, from https://earth.google.com/example
Map From an Atlas
Cite as a chapter in a book:
Cartographer Last Name, First Initial. (Year). Title of map [Map]. In A. Editor (Ed.), Title of atlas (p. Page or Plate number). Publisher.
Example:
Rand McNally. (2023). United States political map [Map]. In Rand McNally road atlas 2023 (pp. 4–5). Rand McNally.
Map From a Database or GIS Platform
Author(s) or Organization. (Year). Title of map [Map]. Platform Name. URL
Example:
Esri. (2024). Global earthquake risk zones [Map]. ArcGIS Online. https://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=example
Historical Map From an Archive
Cartographer Last Name, First Initial. (Year). Title of map [Map]. Archive Name, Location. URL (if available)
Example:
Mercator, G. (1569). Nova et aucta orbis terrae descriptio [Map]. Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris. https://gallica.bnf.fr/example
Map With No Author
Title of map [Map]. (Year). Source. URL
Example:
Soil types of the Mississippi River Basin [Map]. (2020). U.S. Department of Agriculture. https://www.usda.gov/example
In-Text Citations
| Scenario | Parenthetical | Narrative |
|---|---|---|
| Organization author | (U.S. Geological Survey, 2022) | U.S. Geological Survey (2022) |
| Google Maps | (Google Maps, n.d.) | Google Maps (n.d.) |
| Individual cartographer | (Mercator, 1569) | Mercator (1569) |
| No author | ("Soil Types," 2020) | "Soil Types" (2020) |
Embedding a Map as a Figure
When you include a map in your paper, format it as an APA figure:
Figure 3
Heat Advisory Zones for the Southwestern United States, July 2024
Note. From Heat advisory zones for the southwestern United States, by National Weather Service, 2024 (https://www.weather.gov/example). In the public domain.
For Google Maps:
Figure 4
Location of Study Sites in Downtown Chicago
Note. From Google Maps, n.d. (https://www.google.com/maps). Retrieved January 15, 2025. Copyright 2025 by Google. Reprinted with permission.
Copyright Notes
Government Maps (Usually Public Domain)
Note. From Title of map, by Organization, Year (URL). In the public domain.
Copyrighted Maps
Note. From Title of map, by A. Author/Organization, Year (URL). Copyright Year by Copyright Holder. Reprinted with permission.
Adapted (Annotated, Cropped, Overlaid)
Note. Adapted from Title of map, by A. Author/Organization, Year (URL). Copyright Year by Copyright Holder.
Common Map Citation Mistakes
- Forgetting the retrieval date for dynamic maps. Google Maps, GIS platforms, and other interactive maps change over time — include "Retrieved [date]."
- Using a screenshot URL instead of a shareable link. When possible, use the map's sharing URL or permalink.
- Omitting [Map] from the reference. The format descriptor is required.
- Citing Google Maps for a government map. If a government agency created the map and you accessed it through Google Maps, cite the original agency when possible.
- Not describing the map view. For dynamic maps with no fixed title, use a bracketed description: [Map of downtown Chicago, Illinois].
What's Next
- How to Cite an Image in APA — broader rules for citing visual sources
- APA Figures — complete figure formatting rules
- How to Cite a Chart in APA — citing data visualizations
- APA Tables — formatting rules for data presented in rows and columns
Archivero helps you focus on your research while keeping the formatting consistent — so you can cite geographic and spatial sources correctly without navigating conflicting reference templates.
