Use cases

Create a service area map with radius or polygon zones

Direct answer

What does this map workflow help you build?

Show an approximate straight-line radius or a custom polygon, explain what each zone means, and publish the result on your website. MapsMaker does not calculate drive-time areas or automatically confirm address eligibility.

Create a service area map Try the radius tool

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Illustrative service-area polygon around Atlanta; not a real business boundary.

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Visual map building

CSV + Sheets

Spreadsheet workflows

Website-ready

Share links and embeds

Overview

Choose radius or polygon based on the promise

A service area map explains where a business intends to work. Use an approximate radius for a simple straight-line range and a verified polygon when roads, postcodes, franchise territories, or exclusions make a circle misleading.

Radius: one center plus a distance in miles or kilometers

Polygon: a custom boundary drawn or imported from supported geodata

Multiple shapes: useful for named tiers, territories, or discontinuous coverage in the full editor

Key features

Example: an HVAC business around Atlanta

The business might show a 25-mile straight-line circle as its standard callout zone, then explain that tolls, traffic, property type, and technician availability can still affect acceptance.

Give the zone a customer-facing name and state the distance unit

Add the office as a location record with phone, hours, and a quote CTA

Provide a contact path for addresses close to the boundary

How to set up

Create and publish the coverage map

Use the free service-area or radius helper to generate one circle as GeoJSON, or create and import shapes in the MapsMaker editor for a saved map.

Verify the center address and inspect the generated viewport

Review the boundary against the business rule it is meant to communicate

Add a legend, plain-language caption, exclusions, and contact CTA

Publish a share link or embed the full map on an eligible plan

Next steps

Do not turn a visual into an eligibility promise

The free helper draws a geometric circle. It does not calculate road distance, drive time, postcode membership, dispatch capacity, or whether a particular customer can be served.

Say straight-line radius when that is what the map shows

Use an authoritative territory source for contractual or regulated boundaries

Keep an address-check or manual confirmation process outside the map when eligibility matters

Part 5

Maintain every zone and explanation together

When coverage changes, update the geometry, legend, surrounding copy, and contact workflow at the same time. Display a review date when the boundary is operationally important.

Retest the public map and mobile embed after shape changes

Confirm overlapping tiers remain distinguishable and accessible

Archive superseded source files so the published boundary can be traced

Radius, polygon, and road-aware areas are different

Choose the geometry that matches the promise you can honestly make to a customer.

Radius, polygon, and road-aware areas are different
Method	Useful for	Does not prove
Straight-line radius	A simple distance ring from one center	Drive time, postcode membership, or service eligibility
Custom polygon	A manually defined territory or irregular boundary	That the boundary follows roads or official administrative lines
Road-aware isochrone	Travel-time coverage calculated by a routing provider	Not currently generated by MapsMaker's radius helper

Frequently asked questions

Is a radius based on driving distance?

No. The radius helpers draw a straight-line circle around the geocoded center. They do not follow roads or calculate travel time.

Can the free service-area tool check a customer's address?

No. It creates one visual radius and a GeoJSON download; it does not determine whether another address is eligible.

Can I show custom or multiple service zones?

The full editor supports shapes for richer maps. Draw or import verified boundaries and explain each zone; the free service-area helper itself outputs one circle.

Can I import GeoJSON, KML, or GPX boundaries?

Yes. The editor supports those geodata formats within its current file, feature, and geometry-complexity limits.

Can I embed the result directly from the free tool?

No. Download the GeoJSON or recreate the service-area project in MapsMaker. Interactive website embeds are available on paid plans.

Does MapsMaker guarantee that an address is covered?

No. MapsMaker visualizes the rule and data you provide. Use your own eligibility, dispatch, or contractual process for final decisions.

Is MapsMaker free to use?

MapsMaker has a Free plan with 1 map and 10 markers. The Free share link uses a static map with a searchable location list; interactive website embeds are included on paid plans. See the pricing page for current plan limits and prices.

How long does it take to set up?

Setup time depends on the number and cleanliness of your records, the fields you include, and how much styling or review the map needs. Start with a small sample, verify the locations and links, then publish when the result is accurate.

Build with MapsMaker

Create your map in minutes

Start with a template, import locations if you have a spreadsheet, and publish a link or embed.