Draw Radius on Google Maps the Easy Way

Imagine you run a grocery delivery business, promising a quick 10-minute delivery to your customer’s doorstep. 

However, despite your guaranteed service, your drivers get the orders from afar, resulting in delays, a damaged reputation, and disappointed customers. 

This nightmare can become your reality if you don’t draw a radius. 

Marking your service areas has a bunch of smart and practical benefits, including timely delivery and resource management.

Unfortunately, a full-fledged tool like Google Maps has its limitations, including that it doesn’t let you draw a radius on the Maps directly.

But don’t worry; we have got your back.

Stay tuned until the end as we guide you to draw a radius on Google with a few simple steps.

But before we walk you through the steps, let’s explore why and who needs it.

Who Needs to Draw a Radius Circle and Why?

Mapping radius distance is one of the smart decisions every delivery business owner should make. It has a world of advantages, but before we discuss that, let’s highlight the businesses that need it: 

• Local delivery businesses include food, groceries, flowers, and alcohol. 
• Logistics and courier companies
• Home service providers such as plumbers, electricians, and cleaners. 
• Franchise and multi-location businesses 
• Event planners and catering services
• Medical and pharmacy delivery services

How to Draw a Circle on Google Maps?

A) Mobile users:

• Go to Google Maps on your device.

• Find the location in the search bar or do it manually by panning on the maps.

• Once you discover the location you want to draw a radius around, zoom in on it and hold until a red pin pops up.

• Now, you will see an information bar about the location on the screen.

• Scroll below, and you will see longitude and latitude numbers. Copy them and keep them for later use.

Here’s an example of how decimal degrees look:

Correct: 41.40338, 2.17403Incorrect: 41,40338, 2,17403

It’s important to note that the first number is latitude and the second is longitude.

B) Web users:

• Open your web browser and type Google Maps in the search bar.
  OR
• Simply click on this link (https://www.google.com/maps) to visit the website.

• Find the location you want to draw a circle around from the search bar, or do it manually with a zoom on the Maps.

• Once you discover the desired location, you will see a red pin on it. 

• Right-click on it, and at the top, you will find the coordinates, which you have to copy and save for later use.

C) Since you have the coordinates, let us move forward to the next steps. 

• To map a radius circle, use a trusted third-party tool like KML4Earth: (https://kml4earth.appspot.com/tools.html)

• As you open the website through your desktop or mobile, select the circle’s radius in kilometers, nautical miles, feet, meters, and miles.

• Now, input coordinates we saved earlier.

• Select the color of your choice — Red, green, blue, yellow, or white.

• Once done, hit “Generate Circle.”

The tool will generate a KML file of the details you mentioned and save it in the “Download” section of your file manager. 

D) Keep this file aside for now, and we shall head to the final stage.

• Visit Google My Maps on desktop or mobile by searching on a web browser or clicking on this link: (https://www.google.com/mymaps)

• Tap on “Create A New Map” at the top.

• Upon opening the Maps, you will see a small side panel on the left, which will have a “Layer” option.

• Click on it, name the layer, and tap on “Save.”

• Now, click on the “Import” button right below the layer’s name and import the KML file you downloaded earlier.

• As you upload the file, the Maps will take you to the location of the coordinates you added and create a circle of the size you selected.

That’s it! You have your radius ready.

Customize it the way you want by changing the color of the border, selecting the icon for the center point, and even updating the color of the circle.

Pro Tips:

• Always double-check your GPS coordinates for an accurate radius.
• Ensure the tool is set to the correct measurement unit (miles or kilometers) depending on your regional standard.
• Draw a slightly bigger circle than required to avoid traffic, road conditions, or unwanted detours.
• Draw multiple radii for better organization of delivery zones.
• Don’t just consider distance. Travel time between points A and B is important to measure distance properly.

This was all about how to draw a radius on Google Maps. Now, let’s discuss the advantages of it.

6 Benefits of Drawing A Radius For Businesses

Improved services

Whether you own a flower delivery business or offer medicine delivery services, mapping a radius can define your service boundaries. It also ensures your staff delivers the orders on time, without being overwhelmed. 

Moreover, these factors directly contribute to the growth of your business. 

When you consistently provide top-notch services, customers rely on you, leading to customer satisfaction and loyalty. 

They also might spread a good word about your offerings, bringing in new clients. 

Targeted marketing

Let’s assume you are a wedding planner in Belltown, Seattle, specializing in elegant, high-end weddings for couples living in upscale vicinities. 

But what if you end up targeting areas like industrial zones, student-heavy suburbs, or rural towns?

Not only will you miss out on your ideal client base, but also waste your marketing efforts and pour all the money down the drain. 

Instead, if you draw a precise circle with a radius tool covering prominent neighborhoods like Capitol Hill, Queen Anne, and parts of downtown, you can generate fruitful results. 

This can also help you tailor your message, showcase relevant packages, and give you a better understanding of your market. 

Better resource allocation

Your team is your greatest asset; protect and prioritize them by allotting them specific areas. 

By drawing a radius, you can assign them to the different map points. This allows your team to manage and emphasize important deliveries. Plus, it saves your fuel costs, as your drivers are not wandering off in multiple circles. 

Route planning

One of the other perks of a radius circle is that it can help logistics teams to plan and optimize delivery routes pretty efficiently. 

Once you identify the coordinates you want to target, you can divide the dispatchers or drivers according to different regions. This guarantees smooth operations and management of orders more logically. 

It also reduces the overall miles driven and gives an understanding of how much capacity a vehicle can carry in one go. 

Transform how your logistics team works. Use Upper’s Chrome extension to optimize routes in your service zone areas with a click.

Scalability

As you operate in a particular radius size, you must measure delivery times, order region and volume, and profitability. 

These insights not only help you identify per zonal performance but also determine the current coverage area and where you can open your next hub.

For example, if the majority of your customers place orders outside your predefined zone, let’s say 10 km, that may be your perfect spot to open the new branch. 

Cost control

Expenses in a business are a major priority and a matter of concern, especially if you are taking care of logistics. Without defining a radius, the costs can spiral out, and you might end up spending a lot on fuel, labor, and vehicle maintenance. 

Shaping a radius can limit how far your drivers will go, leading to smarter planning and measurable savings.

Now that you know which businesses need to draw a radius and why, let’s jump straight into how to do it. 

We know what you might be thinking, “This is all great, but how do I choose a tool that’s reliable and accurate?” 

Like we said, we are always here for you!

What to Consider When Choosing a Radius Tool?

User-friendliness

When choosing a radius tool for your needs, the first aspect that you must take into account is a simple and easy-to-understand layout. A complicated interface can confuse you and your team members, especially if you are not technically sound.

It’s best to choose a tool that’s effortless to set up and has no code or steep learning curve. 

Radius drawing capabilities 

If you are a small business owner managing limited areas, a free tool might be enough for you. However, if you are covering a range of service zones, a paid tool with versatile drawing capacity is a must. 

It should allow you to create multiple radii and freeform shapes and have the ability to switch between miles and kilometers. This ensures you draw accurate service boundaries and can measure the distance between branches, distribution centers, or potential service locations.

Google Maps compatibility 

The radius tool should be compatible with Google Maps to ensure that the radius created accurately overlays on the Map’s environment. This is especially crucial for delivery businesses and their core team, who need real-time visualization of streets, buildings, landmarks, and traffic. 

Data upload and export

A robust and comprehensive radius tool should allow you to upload CSV or Excel files of your delivery addresses and place pins on Google Maps. 

This helps you comprehend your customers and delivery points and whether or not the delivery areas are outside your service scope. 

Additionally, it should permit you to export Maps in image format or a KMZ/KML file so you can attach them to presentations or websites. 

Pricing, limits, and scalability

There are a range of radius tools on the market, each one fitting different needs. So, choose the one that aligns with your needs and budget. 

Moreover, if you plan to grow your business anytime soon, it’s best to opt for a solution that scales with you. It should offer features like coverage of multiple zones, data imports, and brand customizations to easily manage your logistics. 

Mobile and cross-device accessibility 

Gone are the days when everything was managed on desks, printed maps, highlighters, and spreadsheets. Today’s digital-first mindset has changed how we approach work. 

Whether you are a field agent or an on-site manager, you need solutions that can be easily accessed on all your devices — tablet, mobile phone, or PC — including a radius tool. 

Select the one that’s responsive and device-friendly so you can manage your work at any time from anywhere you want. 

Support

Even the most powerful tools can fall short when you are confused and need assistance. This is why it is fundamental to go for a tool that comes with a user manual, video tutorials, help centers, and live chat support. 

The right support gives you the well-deserved peace of mind and eases your route planning and customer targeting journey. 

Cover Your Service Zones Efficiently with Optimized Routing

Running a logistics business is not just about dispatching orders and delivering them to the right place. It’s a full-fledged operation that demands speed, strategy, and seamless execution. 

This is exactly why Upper was created — a powerful software that throws such complexities out of the question. 

It was designed not just to simplify but to optimize your delivery routes. Plus, it can efficiently define your service zones with its territory management feature.

Simply log in to the Upper app or web version and select the territory management option. Instantly draw your radius by entering the coordinates of the area you wish to cover. Assign specific routes to drivers, and send them notifications, all from one centralized platform.

You can even restrict your drivers from entering non-service areas, ensuring they remain within designated zones for smoother operations and timely, cost-effective deliveries.

Curious how it works? Try Upper for Free