You might think that all maps are designed the same, so you can just walk into a store and purchase the first one you see, but there is a big problem with that. Not every map is designed the same, which makes it hard to figure out what qualities go into a good one.

This is especially hard to find a truly good all-purpose map because these are used for even more purposes than just your average map. While a good map features a lot of different qualities, you can check out this list to see what you definitely need to have for navigation purposes.

Titles and Names

Of course, every map includes titles for locations and names of places or things, but a good map makes a concerted effort to emphasize why this is important. It should be in a legible font that isn’t crowded, is big enough to read but doesn’t take up space, and is placed in a good spot, so there is no room for confusion. The proper naming and title of maps should be able to tell you as much as you need to know so you can get a comprehensive understanding of your terrain just from the map.

Legend

A good legend is important for indicating what is on a map. Just like the titling or naming of the locations and objects on a map, a legend should indicate all of the logos and markings to help you figure out what it is you are looking at. Buildings, road stops, railroads, mountains, trees, and any kind of weighted lines to help you figure out the imagery/symbology you are seeing. Always look for a well-plotted legend with a plethora of symbols to help you read it.

Orientation

Bad maps will make it difficult to understand the orientation of what you are looking at. If you look at https://www.onestopmap.com/, you can see that orientation is important, so it needs to show you the direction arrow (and sub-directions), latitude, and longitude. These directional orientation markers will help you understand how to read the map correctly, so you know where to go. At a minimum, a map must have a North arrow, but the ideal all-purpose map will include the entire compass rose.

Topography

Not every map uses this feature, and many people are unsure of how to read it, but it is always better to have something on a map than not, to help you get around. The topography is the study of landforms and surfaces, which is helpful on a map to let you know about elevation points and changes in terrain. The best maps will show these markings, which can help you navigate around any rock formations and figure out just how difficult a trek might be with elevation. Topographical maps are indeed useful, and they don’t take much to learn how to read either.

Scale Indication

Scale indication helps people reading a map figure out what distance the area represents. There is often a small bar in one of the bottom corners that will show you a fractional representation of how big the map is supposed to represent. It could say something is 1/250th of a mile, so it is up to you to read the map and figure out what the representational value is. Your map should show you this value to help you understand the scale of the area on your map.

Good Design

It might seem silly to say that a map needs good design, but the amount of graphic quality that goes into a truly great map is undervalued. Good design for a map means having a solidified border to help show you where the map stops, neatness (like the use of font), placement of symbols and indicators, the balance of map details, and simplistic attention to detail without unnecessary inclusions. The design of the map is one of the most vital parts towards clarity and usefulness, so a map that is too much flair, too crowded, too blank, or is hard to read will be useless. Your all-purpose map should follow a good model of consistency.

When you think of maps, you might not think of them as something to be analyzed and deconstructed, but the qualities of a good map require a lot of attention to detail and planning. The features listed are some of the most important things you need in a good all-purpose map, and with it, you can make any adventure easier because of your navigation tool.