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Radius Canvas

Radius on Google Maps — 3 Ways That Actually Work

Google Maps still has no built-in radius tool — you can't draw a “5 mile circle around this address” in the app or on the web. Here are the three workarounds that actually work, from fastest to most integrated.

The shortcut: draw it here in 10 seconds

Our radius map tool draws the circle directly — search the address, set the radius, done. No import needed. But if you specifically need the circle inside Google's ecosystem (My Maps layers, Earth, shared Google maps), the three methods below are for you.

Method 1: Draw here → import the KML into Google My Maps

The most flexible route. My Maps accepts KML imports natively, so your circle becomes a real Google-owned layer you can share, edit and embed.

  1. Draw the circle in the radius map tool above and press KML to download the file.
  2. Open Google My Maps → Create a new map → the layer panel → Import → choose the KML file.
  3. The circle appears as a polygon layer. Style it, add pins, and share via My Maps' own sharing dialog.

Why this works: KML is the native interchange format for Google's geo stack — polygons, colors and names all survive the import.

Method 2: Open the KML in Google Earth

For presentations and 3D flythroughs: download the KML and double-click it — Google Earth (desktop or web) renders the circle instantly. Earth's terrain view makes elevation-aware radius work possible too, which flat map views can't show.

Method 3: Embed a live map instead of using Google

If the goal is just “a radius map on my website” — skip the Google import entirely. Our radius tool has an Embed button that copies a ready-made iframe: paste it into any website, blog or CMS and the live, interactive circle appears with a small attribution link. No Google account, no My Maps project, no API key.

Works everywhere iframes work: WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, Shopify pages, Notion (via embed block) and plain HTML.

Why doesn't Google Maps have a radius tool?

Google Maps focuses on navigation and place discovery; measuring circles is a niche measurement task they've never shipped. Third-party tools fill the gap — and because Google Maps' own ecosystem (My Maps, Earth) speaks KML, the draw-elsewhere-import-here workflow above has been the community standard for years.

Frequently asked questions

Can I draw a radius directly in Google Maps?

No — Google Maps (app and web) has no radius or circle drawing feature. The standard workaround is to draw the circle in a dedicated tool and import it via KML into Google My Maps or Google Earth.

How do I import a radius circle into Google My Maps?

Export the circle as KML from the radius tool above, then in Google My Maps create a new map, open the layer panel and use Import to load the KML. The circle appears as a styled polygon layer you can share.

Does Google Earth support radius circles?

Yes — Google Earth opens KML files directly. Export the circle as KML here and open it in Earth (desktop or web) to see the radius rendered on 3D terrain.

What about the Circle tool in Google My Maps?

My Maps can add a circle via the 'Draw a line' tool's shape menu, but you must manually estimate the radius — there's no measurement feedback. Drawing here first gives you an exact radius with area and circumference labels.

Can I embed a radius map without Google at all?

Yes — the Embed button on the radius tool copies an iframe snippet showing the live, interactive circle. Paste it into any website or CMS. No Google account or API key required.

Page last updated . Data sources and methodology are described in the sections above and in About.

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