Customizing a Google Map: Custom Markers

Overview

This tutorial teaches you how to change the icon of a Google maps marker. It is beneficial to know the basics of creating markers when using this tutorial.

Note: You can use standard and custom marker icons from the Google Earth/Maps Icons collection.

The following map is an example of a map that uses customized markers.

The section below lists all of the code that you need to create the map in this tutorial.

TypeScript

let map: google.maps.Map;

function initMap(): void {
  map = new google.maps.Map(document.getElementById("map") as HTMLElement, {
    center: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.91722, 151.23064),
    zoom: 16,
  });

  const iconBase =
    "https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/javascript/examples/full/images/";

  const icons: Record<string, { icon: string }> = {
    parking: {
      icon: iconBase + "parking_lot_maps.png",
    },
    library: {
      icon: iconBase + "library_maps.png",
    },
    info: {
      icon: iconBase + "info-i_maps.png",
    },
  };

  const features = [
    {
      position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.91721, 151.2263),
      type: "info",
    },
    {
      position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.91539, 151.2282),
      type: "info",
    },
    {
      position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.91747, 151.22912),
      type: "info",
    },
    {
      position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.9191, 151.22907),
      type: "info",
    },
    {
      position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.91725, 151.23011),
      type: "info",
    },
    {
      position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.91872, 151.23089),
      type: "info",
    },
    {
      position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.91784, 151.23094),
      type: "info",
    },
    {
      position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.91682, 151.23149),
      type: "info",
    },
    {
      position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.9179, 151.23463),
      type: "info",
    },
    {
      position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.91666, 151.23468),
      type: "info",
    },
    {
      position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.916988, 151.23364),
      type: "info",
    },
    {
      position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.91662347903106, 151.22879464019775),
      type: "parking",
    },
    {
      position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.916365282092855, 151.22937399734496),
      type: "parking",
    },
    {
      position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.91665018901448, 151.2282474695587),
      type: "parking",
    },
    {
      position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.919543720969806, 151.23112279762267),
      type: "parking",
    },
    {
      position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.91608037421864, 151.23288232673644),
      type: "parking",
    },
    {
      position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.91851096391805, 151.2344058214569),
      type: "parking",
    },
    {
      position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.91818154739766, 151.2346203981781),
      type: "parking",
    },
    {
      position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.91727341958453, 151.23348314155578),
      type: "library",
    },
  ];

  // Create markers.
  for (let i = 0; i < features.length; i++) {
    const marker = new google.maps.Marker({
      position: features[i].position,
      icon: icons[features[i].type].icon,
      map: map,
    });
  }
}
index.ts

Note: Read the guide on using TypeScript and Google Maps.

JavaScript

let map;

function initMap() {
  map = new google.maps.Map(document.getElementById("map"), {
    center: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.91722, 151.23064),
    zoom: 16,
  });
  const iconBase =
    "https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/javascript/examples/full/images/";
  const icons = {
    parking: {
      icon: iconBase + "parking_lot_maps.png",
    },
    library: {
      icon: iconBase + "library_maps.png",
    },
    info: {
      icon: iconBase + "info-i_maps.png",
    },
  };
  const features = [
    {
      position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.91721, 151.2263),
      type: "info",
    },
    {
      position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.91539, 151.2282),
      type: "info",
    },
    {
      position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.91747, 151.22912),
      type: "info",
    },
    {
      position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.9191, 151.22907),
      type: "info",
    },
    {
      position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.91725, 151.23011),
      type: "info",
    },
    {
      position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.91872, 151.23089),
      type: "info",
    },
    {
      position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.91784, 151.23094),
      type: "info",
    },
    {
      position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.91682, 151.23149),
      type: "info",
    },
    {
      position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.9179, 151.23463),
      type: "info",
    },
    {
      position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.91666, 151.23468),
      type: "info",
    },
    {
      position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.916988, 151.23364),
      type: "info",
    },
    {
      position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.91662347903106, 151.22879464019775),
      type: "parking",
    },
    {
      position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.916365282092855, 151.22937399734496),
      type: "parking",
    },
    {
      position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.91665018901448, 151.2282474695587),
      type: "parking",
    },
    {
      position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.919543720969806, 151.23112279762267),
      type: "parking",
    },
    {
      position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.91608037421864, 151.23288232673644),
      type: "parking",
    },
    {
      position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.91851096391805, 151.2344058214569),
      type: "parking",
    },
    {
      position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.91818154739766, 151.2346203981781),
      type: "parking",
    },
    {
      position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.91727341958453, 151.23348314155578),
      type: "library",
    },
  ];

  // Create markers.
  for (let i = 0; i < features.length; i++) {
    const marker = new google.maps.Marker({
      position: features[i].position,
      icon: icons[features[i].type].icon,
      map: map,
    });
  }
}
index.js

Note: The JavaScript is compiled from the TypeScript snippet.

CSS

/* Always set the map height explicitly to define the size of the div
       * element that contains the map. */
#map {
  height: 100%;
}

/* Optional: Makes the sample page fill the window. */
html,
body {
  height: 100%;
  margin: 0;
  padding: 0;
}
style.css

HTML

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
  <head>
    <title>Custom Markers</title>
    <script src="https://polyfill.io/v3/polyfill.min.js?features=default"></script>
    <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="./style.css" />
    <script src="./index.js"></script>
  </head>
  <body>
    <div id="map"></div>

    <!-- Async script executes immediately and must be after any DOM elements used in callback. -->
    <script
      src="https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/js?key=YOUR_API_KEY&callback=initMap&libraries=&v=weekly"
      async
    ></script>
  </body>
</html>
sample.html

All

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
  <head>
    <title>Custom Markers</title>
    <script src="https://polyfill.io/v3/polyfill.min.js?features=default"></script>
    <style type="text/css">
      /* Always set the map height explicitly to define the size of the div
       * element that contains the map. */
      #map {
        height: 100%;
      }

      /* Optional: Makes the sample page fill the window. */
      html,
      body {
        height: 100%;
        margin: 0;
        padding: 0;
      }
    </style>
    <script>
      let map;

      function initMap() {
        map = new google.maps.Map(document.getElementById("map"), {
          center: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.91722, 151.23064),
          zoom: 16,
        });
        const iconBase =
          "https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/javascript/examples/full/images/";
        const icons = {
          parking: {
            icon: iconBase + "parking_lot_maps.png",
          },
          library: {
            icon: iconBase + "library_maps.png",
          },
          info: {
            icon: iconBase + "info-i_maps.png",
          },
        };
        const features = [
          {
            position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.91721, 151.2263),
            type: "info",
          },
          {
            position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.91539, 151.2282),
            type: "info",
          },
          {
            position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.91747, 151.22912),
            type: "info",
          },
          {
            position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.9191, 151.22907),
            type: "info",
          },
          {
            position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.91725, 151.23011),
            type: "info",
          },
          {
            position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.91872, 151.23089),
            type: "info",
          },
          {
            position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.91784, 151.23094),
            type: "info",
          },
          {
            position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.91682, 151.23149),
            type: "info",
          },
          {
            position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.9179, 151.23463),
            type: "info",
          },
          {
            position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.91666, 151.23468),
            type: "info",
          },
          {
            position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.916988, 151.23364),
            type: "info",
          },
          {
            position: new google.maps.LatLng(
              -33.91662347903106,
              151.22879464019775
            ),
            type: "parking",
          },
          {
            position: new google.maps.LatLng(
              -33.916365282092855,
              151.22937399734496
            ),
            type: "parking",
          },
          {
            position: new google.maps.LatLng(
              -33.91665018901448,
              151.2282474695587
            ),
            type: "parking",
          },
          {
            position: new google.maps.LatLng(
              -33.919543720969806,
              151.23112279762267
            ),
            type: "parking",
          },
          {
            position: new google.maps.LatLng(
              -33.91608037421864,
              151.23288232673644
            ),
            type: "parking",
          },
          {
            position: new google.maps.LatLng(
              -33.91851096391805,
              151.2344058214569
            ),
            type: "parking",
          },
          {
            position: new google.maps.LatLng(
              -33.91818154739766,
              151.2346203981781
            ),
            type: "parking",
          },
          {
            position: new google.maps.LatLng(
              -33.91727341958453,
              151.23348314155578
            ),
            type: "library",
          },
        ];

        // Create markers.
        for (let i = 0; i < features.length; i++) {
          const marker = new google.maps.Marker({
            position: features[i].position,
            icon: icons[features[i].type].icon,
            map: map,
          });
        }
      }
    </script>
  </head>
  <body>
    <div id="map"></div>

    <!-- Async script executes immediately and must be after any DOM elements used in callback. -->
    <script
      src="https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/js?key=YOUR_API_KEY&callback=initMap&libraries=&v=weekly"
      async
    ></script>
  </body>
</html>
inline.html

let map; function initMap() { map = new google.maps.Map(document.getElementById("map"), { center: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.91722, 151.23064), zoom: 16, }); const iconBase = "https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/javascript/examples/full/images/"; const icons = { parking: { icon: iconBase + "parking_lot_maps.png", }, library: { icon: iconBase + "library_maps.png", }, info: { icon: iconBase + "info-i_maps.png", }, }; const features = [ { position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.91721, 151.2263), type: "info", }, { position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.91539, 151.2282), type: "info", }, { position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.91747, 151.22912), type: "info", }, { position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.9191, 151.22907), type: "info", }, { position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.91725, 151.23011), type: "info", }, { position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.91872, 151.23089), type: "info", }, { position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.91784, 151.23094), type: "info", }, { position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.91682, 151.23149), type: "info", }, { position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.9179, 151.23463), type: "info", }, { position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.91666, 151.23468), type: "info", }, { position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.916988, 151.23364), type: "info", }, { position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.91662347903106, 151.22879464019775), type: "parking", }, { position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.916365282092855, 151.22937399734496), type: "parking", }, { position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.91665018901448, 151.2282474695587), type: "parking", }, { position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.919543720969806, 151.23112279762267), type: "parking", }, { position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.91608037421864, 151.23288232673644), type: "parking", }, { position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.91851096391805, 151.2344058214569), type: "parking", }, { position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.91818154739766, 151.2346203981781), type: "parking", }, { position: new google.maps.LatLng(-33.91727341958453, 151.23348314155578), type: "library", }, ]; // Create markers. for (let i = 0; i < features.length; i++) { const marker = new google.maps.Marker({ position: features[i].position, icon: icons[features[i].type].icon, map: map, }); } }

/* Always set the map height explicitly to define the size of the div * element that contains the map. */ #map { height: 100%; } /* Optional: Makes the sample page fill the window. */ html, body { height: 100%; margin: 0; padding: 0; }

<!DOCTYPE html> <html> <head> <title>Custom Markers</title> <script src="https://polyfill.io/v3/polyfill.min.js?features=default"></script> <!-- jsFiddle will insert css and js --> </head> <body> <div id="map"></div> <!-- Async script executes immediately and must be after any DOM elements used in callback. --> <script src="https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/js?key=AIzaSyBIwzALxUPNbatRBj3Xi1Uhp0fFzwWNBkE&callback=initMap&libraries=&v=weekly" async ></script> </body> </html>

Customizing a map marker

The image below displays a Google maps marker with the default red icon.

You can change this icon to an image of your choice. The table below explains the code that customizes the default marker to use an icon for parking lots.

Code and description
var iconBase = 'https://maps.google.com/mapfiles/kml/shapes/'; var marker = new google.maps.Marker({ position: myLatLng, map: map, icon: iconBase + 'parking_lot_maps.png' });	Adds the icon property to the MarkerOptions object, to change the marker’s icon. The icon property can be either a string (the URL to the marker icon), or an Icon object. See the customized marker icon below.

Customizing markers by map features

Each point of interest in the list of campus features has a type attribute. Notice how the code extract below specifies the parking, library and info types. You can customize the marker icon depending on the map feature type you set it to.

var iconBase = 'https://maps.google.com/mapfiles/kml/shapes/';
var icons = {
  parking: {
    icon: iconBase + 'parking_lot_maps.png'
  },
  library: {
    icon: iconBase + 'library_maps.png'
  },
  info: {
    icon: iconBase + 'info-i_maps.png'
  }
};

function addMarker(feature) {
  var marker = new google.maps.Marker({
    position: feature.position,
    icon: icons[feature.type].icon,
    map: map
  });
}

More information

• The image on a marker is called its 'icon'.
• A marker is also known as a 'pin'.