50 Map Projections Types: A Visual Guide

50 Map Projections Types
If you’re in need of a visual reference guide to the various map projection types… Then, look no further.
Because we’ve pumped out a goldmine of the top 50 global map projections used by cartographers today.
From Aitoff to Winkel, these map projections are your blueprint for designing cartographic masterpieces.
Because it’s all about the audience… Let’s map with authority and dig right into the BIG LIST of map projections.
A Visual Reference Guide
Scroll down to see all 50 map projection examples. What’s your favorite? Which ones have you used in your maps?
1. Aitoff

2. Azimuthal Equidistant

3. Behrmann

4. Berghaus Star AAG

5. Bonne

6. Cassini

7. Compact Miller

8. Craster Parabolic

9. Cube

10. Cylindrical Equal Area

11. Eckert-1

12. Eckert-2

13. Eckert-3

14. Equidistant Conic

15. Equidistant Cylindrical

16. Equidistant Cylindrical ARC System

17. Flat Polar Quartic

18. Fuller

19. Gall Stereographic

20. Goode Homolosine Land

21. Goode Homolosine Ocean

22. Hammer Aitoff

23. Hotine

24. Loximuthal

25. Mercator

26. Miller Cylindrical

27. Mollweide

28. Natural Earth

29. North Pole Gnomonic

30. North Pole Lambert Azimuthal Equal Area

31. North Pole Orthographic

32. NSIDC EASE Grid Global

33. Patterson

34. Plate Caree

35. Polyconic

36. Quartic Authalic

37. Robinson

38. Sinusoidal

39. South Pole Azimuthal Equidistant

40. South Pole Stereographic

41. Earth from Space

42. Stereographic

43. Times

44. Two-point Equidistant

45. Van der Grinten

46. Vertical Perspective

47. Wagner

48. Wagner-2

49. Winkel-1

50. Winkel Tripel

Types of Map Projections
Now that you have an arsenal of map projections, it’s time to put what you know into action.
Take a fresh approach to your next map…
Because there’s nothing quite like creating a work of art.
So which map projection suits your needs most?
Additional Resources
Here are some more helpful references for map projection types:
- What are Map Projections?
- Map Distortion with Tissot’s Indicatrix
- Cylindrical Projection: Mercator, Transverse Mercator, and Miller
- Conic Projection: Lambert, Albers, and Polyconic
- Azimuthal Projection: Orthographic, Stereographic, and Gnomonic
What’s your favorite map projection and why? Please let us know in the comment section below.
Vertical perspective
I liked the Berghaus star map.
I like space and vertical the most, they look 3d and I like 3d things.
I picked Gall stereographic because it is flat and easier to tell otherwise I would keep having to turn it around so that is why I picked the flat one.
I like the shape of the Compact Miller because it’s basic
Imagine trying to navigate the ocean with the fuller LoL
I would’ve liked a map that flipped the placement of the Americas with the placement of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Otherwise, these were super interetsing.
No Peters Projection?
Great collection! How about Equal Earth and Spillhaus? Makes a round 52, “A map a week keeps the cobwebs away”
Hellooo George, I recognise your virtual cv LOL
For learning, it is never too late. I feel like a child who got a doll to play with. Looking at maps is my favourite hobby, feel that this site information will enhance my interest and knowledge.
Wow! I didn’t know half of those!
This is an interesting collection. I think it adds about 40 to the number of variants that I delt with over 30 years and schools in Alberta, Queensland, West Autralia and university Geography departments in Minnesota and Washington State.
However I was introduced to the one I liked most in 1957. It was a book that displayed great circle portions of the world. It came from WW2 Strategic Bombing planning.
It gave a perspective that gave meaning to the curvature of the earth.