---
schema_version: "1"
id: 921b7c0dfafe9524b3c8e0b0b699159bad425343fc527ae5b8de47f48a90c4a4
title: Customise How Your Map Looks
collection: tableau
version: next
locale: en-gb
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/tableau/next/en-gb/public/desktop/maps_options.md
canonical_url: https://help.tableau.com/v0.0/public/desktop/en-gb/maps_options.htm
source_site: help.tableau.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: 1381eb334908fbfb1e864eb07685e37324a0208439ffe9d96496b04b32aa7a0a
description: Customize map appearance using map layers, styles, and U.S. demographic data.
---
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# Customise How Your Map Looks

This article describes how you can customise the appearance of a map view in Tableau.

**Note**: Many of the tasks in this article make use of the **Map Layers** pane. To open this pane, select **Map** > **Map Layers**. In older versions of Tableau, select Map \> **Map Options**.

## Select a Tableau background map style

When you are connected to the Tableau background map, you can choose between six built-in background map styles: Normal, Light, Dark, Streets, Outdoors and Satellite. You can see these styles below:

<table><tbody><tr><td><span class="uicontrol">Normal</span></td><td><span class="uicontrol">Light</span></td><td><span class="uicontrol">Dark</span></td></tr><tr><td><img src="https://help.tableau.com/v0.0/public/desktop/en-gb/Img/map_options_normal.png" alt="A map using the Normal background map style in Tableau."></td><td><img src="https://help.tableau.com/v0.0/public/desktop/en-gb/Img/map_options_grey.png" alt="A map using the Light background map style in Tableau."></td><td><img src="https://help.tableau.com/v0.0/public/desktop/en-gb/Img/map_options_dark.png" alt="A map using the Dark background map style in Tableau."></td></tr><tr><td><span class="uicontrol">Streets</span></td><td><span class="uicontrol">Outdoors</span></td><td><span class="uicontrol">Satellite</span></td></tr><tr><td><img src="https://help.tableau.com/v0.0/public/desktop/en-gb/Img/map_options_streets.png" alt="A map using the Streets background map style in Tableau that shows the streets of the region."></td><td><img src="https://help.tableau.com/v0.0/public/desktop/en-gb/Img/map_options_outdoors.png" alt="A map using the Outdoors background map style in Tableau that shows the topography of the region."></td><td><img src="https://help.tableau.com/v0.0/public/desktop/en-gb/Img/map_options_satellite.png" alt="A map using the Satellite background map style in Tableau that shows the satellite view of the region."></td></tr></tbody></table>

**To select a Tableau background map style:**

1. Select Map \> Map Layers.
2. In the Map Layers pane on the left-hand side of the workspace, under Background, click the Style drop-down menu, and then select a background map style.

![A map layer window with options for configuring the background style and displayed layers.](/tableau/next/en-gb/public/desktop/en-gb/Img/layers2.png)

For more information about the built-in Tableau background maps, see [Select Background Maps](https://help.tableau.com/v0.0/public/desktop/en-gb/maps_mapsources.htm).

## Import your own background map

If the built-in Tableau background map styles don't meet your needs, you can import your own background map from a Web Map Service (WMS) server or a Mapbox map.

To import your own background map:

1. Select Map \> Background Maps > Map Services.
2. In the Map Services dialog box, click Add, and then select to add WMS servers or Mapbox maps.
3. Follow the prompts to connect Tableau to the map service of your choice.
    
    For more information, see [Use Web Map Service (WMS) Servers](https://help.tableau.com/v0.0/public/desktop/en-gb/maps_mapsources_wms.htm) or [Use Mapbox Maps](https://help.tableau.com/v0.0/public/desktop/en-gb/maps_mapsources_mapbox.htm).
4. When finished, click **Close**.
5. Select Map \> Background Maps, and then select the background map you want to use.
    
    The map updates to include the background map you choose.

## Add a static background image

In addition to importing your own background map, you can add a static background image to your workbook and plot your data on it. For example, you can take a Google Map image and plot your data on it.

For more information, see the following topics:

- [Use Background Images in Your Views](https://help.tableau.com/v0.0/public/desktop/en-gb/bkimages.htm)
- [Add Images of Google Maps and OpenStreetMap as Background Images in Tableau](https://help.tableau.com/v0.0/public/desktop/en-gb/bkimages_maps.htm)
- [Find Background Image Coordinates](https://help.tableau.com/v0.0/public/desktop/en-gb/bkimages_coordinates.htm)

## Show or hide map layers

If you are using the Tableau background map, or a WMS map or Mapbox map that contains custom layers, you can show or hide layers on your background map to customise the background elements that frame your geospatial data. For example, you can overlay Streets and Highways/Motorways or county boundaries on the map to give your data context.

**To add or subtract map layers:**

1. Select Map > Map Layers.
2. In the Map Layers pane, under the Map Layers section, select one or multiple map layers.
    
    **Note:** Some map layers are only visible at specific zoom levels. If a map layer is unavailable at your current level of zoom, it will appear greyed out.  
      
    To use layers that are not available, zoom further in to the view.

![Map Layers pane with Base, Land Cover, Country/Region Borders, Country/Region Names, State/Province Borders and State/Province Names selected.](/tableau/next/en-gb/public/desktop/en-gb/Img/buildmap2.png)

Some map layers are built to work with certain styles. What follows is a description of the different map layers available. Some of these layers are only available when using certain map styles.

<table class="table--plain"><colgroup><col><col><col></colgroup><thead><tr class="Head-Header1"><th>Layer Name</th><th>Description</th><th>present in map style</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="Body-Body1"><td>Base</td><td>Shows the base map including water and land areas.</td><td>All</td></tr><tr class="Body-Body2"><td>Land Cover</td><td>Shades wilderness areas and parks to give the map more depth.</td><td>All except Satellite</td></tr><tr class="Body-Body2"><td>Terrain</td><td>Displays a relief of vertical elevation changes.</td><td>All except Satellite</td></tr><tr class="Body-Body1"><td>Coastlines</td><td>Displays coastlines.</td><td>Light, Dark, Normal</td></tr><tr class="Body-Body2"><td>Streets, Highways/Motorways, Routes</td><td>Marks dual-carriageways and motorways as well as small city streets. This layer includes the motorway and street names as well.</td><td>All</td></tr><tr class="Body-Body1"><td>Light Country/Region Borders</td><td>Shows a light grey outline of country/region borders and names.</td><td>Light, Dark, Normal</td></tr><tr class="Body-Body2"><td>Light Country/Region Names</td><td>Shows country and region names in a light grey.</td><td>Light, Dark, Normal</td></tr><tr class="Body-Body1"><td>Country/Region Borders</td><td>Highlights country and region borders in a darker grey.</td><td>All</td></tr><tr class="Body-Body2"><td>Country/Region Names</td><td>Highlights country and region names in a darker grey.</td><td>All</td></tr><tr class="Body-Body1"><td>Light State/Province Borders</td><td>Shows a light grey outline of state borders and names.</td><td>Light, Dark, Normal</td></tr><tr class="Body-Body2"><td>Light State/Province Names</td><td>Shows state and province names in a light grey.</td><td>Light, Dark, Normal</td></tr><tr class="Body-Body1"><td>State/Province Borders</td><td>Highlights state and province borders in a darker grey.</td><td>All</td></tr><tr class="Body-Body2"><td>State/Province Names</td><td>Highlights state and province names in a darker grey.</td><td>All</td></tr><tr class="Body-Body1"><td>County Borders</td><td>Highlights second-level administration borders and US county borders.</td><td>Light, Dark, Normal</td></tr><tr class="Body-Body2"><td>County Names</td><td>Highlights second-level administration names and US county names.</td><td>Light, Dark, Normal</td></tr><tr class="Body-Body1"><td>Postcode Boundaries</td><td><p>Marks zip code and postcodes boundaries for US and select countries. You must zoom in to see this layer.</p></td><td>Light, Dark, Normal</td></tr><tr class="Body-Body2"><td>Postcode Labels</td><td>Shows labels of zip code and postcodes boundaries for US and select countries. You must zoom in to see this layer.</td><td>Light, Dark, Normal</td></tr><tr class="Body-Body1"><td>Area Code Boundaries</td><td>Marks US area code boundaries. You must zoom in to see this layer.</td><td>Light, Dark, Normal</td></tr><tr class="Body-Body2"><td>Area Code Labels</td><td>Shows labels for the US area codes. You must zoom in to see this layer.</td><td>Light, Dark, Normal</td></tr><tr class="Body-Body1"><td>US Metro Boundaries (CBSA)</td><td>Marks US Metropolitan Statistical Areas and Micropolitan area boundaries.</td><td>Light, Dark, Normal</td></tr><tr class="Body-Body2"><td>US Metro Labels (CBSA)</td><td>Shows labels for the US Metropolitan Statistical Areas and Micropolitan areas.</td><td>Light, Dark, Normal</td></tr><tr class="Body-Body2"><td>Water Labels</td><td>Shows labels for bodies of water.</td><td>All</td></tr><tr class="Body-Body2"><td>Cities</td><td>Shows labels for cities.</td><td>All</td></tr><tr class="Body-Body2"><td>Points of Interest</td><td>Displays labels for points of interest such as schools, parks, cemeteries, businesses and important buildings. This layer is dependent on the zoom level.</td><td>All</td></tr><tr class="Body-Body2"><td>Neighbourhoods</td><td>Shows labels for neighbourhoods in cities. You must zoom in to see this layer.</td><td>All</td></tr><tr class="Body-Body2"><td>Subway/Underground and Train Stations</td><td>Displays the names of subway/underground and train stations. You must zoom in to see this layer.</td><td>All except Satellite</td></tr><tr class="Body-Body1"><td>Building Footprints</td><td>Shows the outline of buildings, where available. You must zoom in to see this layer.</td><td>Satellite, Streets, Outdoors</td></tr><tr class="Body-Body1"><td>House Numbers</td><td>Displays the house numbers of buildings, with and without building footprints. You must zoom in to see this layer.</td><td>Streets, Outdoors</td></tr><tr class="Body-Body1"><td>Contour Lines</td><td>Displays lines indicating vertical elevation change in metres. This layer is dependent on zoom level.</td><td>Outdoors</td></tr></tbody></table>

## Add layers for US demographic data

If you are using the Tableau background map, you can turn on a variety of predefined data layers that show US census information. The data in these layers is for demographic data collected from the US ACS Census.

**Note:** Map data layers are only available for locations in the US.  
  
To add data layers for locations outside the US you can connect to a WMS server that contains the desired demographic information. For more information, see [Use Web Map Service (WMS) Servers](https://help.tableau.com/v0.0/public/desktop/en-gb/maps_mapsources_wms.htm).

**To add a US data layer to your map view:**

1. Select Map \> Map Layers
2. In the Map Layers pane, under **Data Layer**, do the following:
    
    - Click the **Layer** drop-down menu and select a data layer.
    - Click the By drop-down menu, and then select to layer the data by **State**, **County**, **Zip Code** or **Block Group**.
    - Click the Using drop-down menu to select a colour scheme.

![A viz depicting a map of the United States with data points overlaid with the Data Layer pane highlighted to show that the data points on the map show population by state using a blue-green colour spectrum.](/tableau/next/en-gb/public/desktop/en-gb/Img/buildmap4.png)

Once you select a data layer, it is added as shading to the map and a legend is shown to explain the colours of the layers. To hide or show this legend at any time, select Map \> Map Legend.

## Change the mark type

By default, when you add a geographic field to the view, Tableau creates a point map. You can change this to a polygon (filled) map, a line map or a density map (heatmap).

**Note**: Filled maps are not available at the city or postcode level.

To change a point map to a filled or line map:

- On the Marks card, click the Mark Type drop-down and select Map.
    
    ![The Marks card dropdown with the Map Mark type selected.](/tableau/next/en-gb/public/desktop/en-gb/Img/maps_marks.png)

To change a point map to a heatmap (density map):

- On the Marks card, click the Mark Type drop-down and select Density.
    
    ![The Mark type dropdown with the density mark type highlighted.](/tableau/next/en-gb/public/desktop/en-gb/Img/density_densitymark.png)

## Add levels of detail

With maps, for each level of detail you add, the more granular your data becomes. For example, you might look at obesity rates at the state level, or you could drill down into the county level, like the examples below. Adding or subtracting levels of detail changes the make up of your map.

![A map of the United States with states shaded in various hues of green and yellow.](/tableau/next/en-gb/public/desktop/en-gb/Img/maps_customize7.png) ![A map of the United States with states shaded in various hues of green and yellow.](/tableau/next/en-gb/public/desktop/en-gb/Img/maps_customize8.png)

To add levels of detail to the view:

- From Dimensions, drag a geographic field to Detail on the Marks card.

## Add colour

There are two ways you can add colour to your map view: You can colour locations categorically, or you can colour locations quantitatively.

**To colour locations on your map categorically:**

- From the **Data** pane, drag a dimension to colour on the Marks card.
    
    The image below shows each state in the US coloured by region: West, Central, South and East. The dimension, Region, is on colour on the Marks card.
    
    ![A map of the United States, segmented by region.](/tableau/next/en-gb/public/desktop/en-gb/Img/maps_customize3.png)

To colour each location on your map quantitatively:

- From the **Data** pane, drag a measure to colour on the Marks card.
    
    The image below shows each state in the US coloured by the amount of sales they achieved. The measure, Sales, is on colour on the Marks card.
    
    ![A filled map of the United States.](/tableau/next/en-gb/public/desktop/en-gb/Img/maps_customize2.png)

For more information about colour, see [Colour Palettes and Effects](https://help.tableau.com/v0.0/public/desktop/en-gb/viewparts_marks_markproperties_color.htm).

## Add labels

You can add labels to your locations to provide extra context. For example, you can add labels for location name and sales.

To add labels to your data, from the **Data** pane, drag a dimension or measure to Label on the Marks card.

A label appears in the centre of your location (if a polygon), or to the side of your location (if a data point).

You can add multiple labels.

![A map with countries labelled to denote the country name and percentage of sales.](/tableau/next/en-gb/public/desktop/en-gb/Img/maps_customize10.png)

## Adjust the size of your data points

You can adjust the size of your data points to compare and contrast them, or make smaller data points easier to see.

To uniformly adjust the size of your data points:

- On the Marks card, click Size, and then adjust the slider to the left or right.
    
    ![Mark Size slider bar.](/tableau/next/en-gb/public/desktop/en-gb/Img/maps_customize5.png)

To size your data points quantitatively:

- From Measures, drag a field to Size on the Marks card.
    
    ![A point map of the Midwest United States depicting urban areas.](/tableau/next/en-gb/public/desktop/en-gb/Img/maps_customize4.png)

## Create custom tooltips

You can create custom tooltips to show additional information about your locations when your audience hovers or clicks on them. You can type in your own information to appear for all marks, or add a field that will update with information specific to each mark.

![Map of the United States with a tooltip shown for Colfax County, New Mexico.](/tableau/next/en-gb/public/desktop/en-gb/Img/maps_customize6.png)

**To add a field to a tooltip:**

- From the Data pane, drag the field to Tooltip on the Marks card.

**To edit a tooltip:**

1. On the Marks card, click Tooltip.
2. In the Edit Tooltip dialog box, format the tooltip how you would like it to appear.

For more information about customising tooltips, see [Format tooltips](https://help.tableau.com/v0.0/public/desktop/en-gb/formatting_specific_titlecaption.htm#Format_tooltips) and [Add tooltips to marks](https://help.tableau.com/v0.0/public/desktop/en-gb/viewparts_marks_markproperties.htm#TooltipProp).

## See also:

[Mapping Concepts in Tableau](https://help.tableau.com/v0.0/public/desktop/en-gb/maps_build.htm)

[Use Web Map Service (WMS) Servers](https://help.tableau.com/v0.0/public/desktop/en-gb/maps_mapsources_wms.htm)

[Use Mapbox Maps](https://help.tableau.com/v0.0/public/desktop/en-gb/maps_mapsources_mapbox.htm)

[Select Background Maps](https://help.tableau.com/v0.0/public/desktop/en-gb/maps_mapsources.htm)