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.
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.