Custom Map Rulers
Design a custom map ruler for any map scale. Your ruler will have scales for measuring latitude, longitude, miles, and kilometers.
Need full control over every edge? Switch to the Advanced Designer to choose any graticule type for each of the four edges.
Ruler Preview
Add to Cart
Adding 1 custom ruler prices them at $8.95 each ($8.95 total). 1
Add 1 more to drop to $7.95 each.
That's our best per-ruler price.
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| Custom rulers in cart | Each |
|---|---|
| 1 | $8.95 |
| 2 | $7.95 |
| 3 | $6.95 |
| 4 | $6.00 |
| 5–6 | $4.95 |
| 7–9 | $4.60 |
| 10–14 | $4.25 |
| 15–24 | $3.95 |
| 25–49 | $3.65 |
| 50+ | $3.45 |
Map Scale
Enter the map scale you want to use this ruler with. It's typically printed somewhere on the map in a ratio format like "1:25,000". For this example you would enter 25000 in the input field.
If you only have a distance equivalence, like 1 inch equals 1 mile, visit our scale calculator to get a scale ratio.
- 1:24,000 - USGS 7.5-minute topographic maps
- 1:25,000 - Standard topographic maps
- 1:50,000 - Hiking and recreation maps
- 1:100,000 - Regional maps
Smallest Tic Mark Increment
Choose the smallest division you want marked on your ruler. Smaller increments provide more precision but can make the ruler harder to read if too fine.
The options shown are automatically calculated based on your map scale to ensure the tic marks are readable and useful.
Ruler Labels
Add custom text to identify your ruler. This text will appear in the center of the ruler side.
Suggestions:
- Your name or organization
- Map name or location
- Date or project name
Keep labels short for best appearance. Long labels may be truncated.
Mile Scale Format
Statute Miles are standard land miles (5,280 feet).
Nautical Miles are used for marine and aviation (6,076 feet).
Decimal format displays distances like: 1.5 miles
Fractional format displays distances like: 1 1/2 miles
Latitude & Longitude Format
Degrees, Minutes, and Seconds (DMS)
Example: W 122° 37' 42.5"
Most precise, traditional format
Degrees and Decimal Minutes (DMM)
Example: W 122° 37.23'
Common in marine navigation
Decimal Degrees (DDD)
Example: W 122.12345°
Simplest format, used in GPS
Grid Spacing
Grid spacing determines how far apart the major tick marks are on the latitude and longitude scales.
Enter the value in the format matching your selected coordinate format:
- DMS: Enter total seconds (e.g., 30 for 30 seconds)
- DMM: Enter decimal minutes (e.g., 0.5 for 30 seconds)
- DDD: Enter decimal degrees (e.g., 0.0083 for 30 seconds)
Hemisphere
Western Hemisphere (W): Longitudes west of the Prime Meridian
Includes North and South America
Eastern Hemisphere (E): Longitudes east of the Prime Meridian
Includes Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia
Latitude for Longitude Scale
Lines of longitude converge at the poles, so the physical distance represented by one degree of longitude varies with latitude.
Enter the latitude where you'll be using the longitude scale. This ensures accurate measurements for your location.
Examples:
- Seattle, WA: 47.6°
- San Francisco, CA: 37.8°
- Denver, CO: 39.7°
- New York, NY: 40.7°