Zoom level to map scale calculator

Zoom level

Latitude

Meters per pixel

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Approximate scale

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Web maps use the Web Mercator projection, which stretches areas further from the equator - the same zoom level covers less real-world distance per pixel the further you are from the equator, which is why latitude is part of the calculation, not just the zoom level.

Why zoom level alone is not enough

Web maps use the Web Mercator projection, which stretches areas further from the equator to keep north pointing "up" everywhere on the map - the practical effect is that the same zoom level covers a smaller real-world distance per pixel the further you are from the equator. A zoom level of 10 does not mean the same ground distance at the equator as it does near the poles, which is why this asks for latitude, not just the zoom level.

What it computes

Given a zoom level and a latitude, this returns meters per pixel and an approximate representative fraction scale (such as 1:50,000) using the standard Web Mercator resolution formula, the same relationship Google Maps, Leaflet, Mapbox and OpenStreetMap tiles are built on.

Where this is useful

Choosing which zoom level to default a map embed to for a given real-world coverage area, working out how large a marker or line needs to be drawn at a given zoom to represent a real distance accurately, or converting between a web map's zoom level and a traditional printed map's scale for a report that has to quote one.