Free contour
map generator
Create topographic contour maps from real elevation data — free, in your browser. Sign in with Google or GitHub to generate contour lines for any place on Earth and export PNG or SVG.
Made with TopoLines
Contour maps of real places
Contour map of Chamonix
Open the place page →
Contour map of Amalfi
Open the place page →
Contour map of Hong Kong
Open the place page →
Contour map of Geiranger
Open the place page →
Contour map of San Francisco
Open the place page →
Contour map of Rio de Janeiro
Open the place page →
Contour map of Grenoble
Open the place page →
Contour map of Wellington
Open the place page →
A contour map maker
built for design
Real terrain, live styling, clean vectors. No GIS, no DEM to download.
Every line,
your way
- 01
Real terrain, not a filter
Traced from real elevation data — 30 m free, 10 m on Pro. Coastlines land where they really are.
- 02
Colour by height
A colour ramp from valley floor to summit. Built-in or your own stops.
- 03
Weight that follows the relief
Taper thins strokes toward the summits. Valleys read heavy, peaks stay fine.
- 04
Labels, ticks, auxiliaries
Contour labels, depression ticks, dashed half-interval lines.
- 05
Vector you can edit
Layered SVG grouped by elevation. Opens clean in Figma or Illustrator.
How to create a contour map
in three steps, no GIS
Search a city or drop a pin. TopoLines pulls the elevation data for the frame you drew.
Set the interval, colour and line weight. The map redraws live as you go.
Take a PNG for the web, or a vector SVG that opens straight in Figma.
One valley,
three contour intervals
The height gap between lines changes the result more than any other setting. Chamonix, 3,800 m of relief.
10 m. Dense and intricate. Every fold of the mountain shows.
25 m. Detail with room to breathe. The default.
100 m. Only the major landforms survive. Calm, minimal.
Why not just
use QGIS?
Both draw contours. They are built for different jobs.
| Task | TopoLines | QGIS / ArcGIS |
|---|---|---|
| Getting elevation data | Built in, for anywhere on Earth | Find and download a DEM yourself |
| Setup | Open a browser tab | Install the app, add plugins |
| Styling | Live preview, colour ramps, taper | Restyle afterwards in a vector editor |
| Export | Clean PNG or layered SVG | Export, then clean up the topology |
| Best at | A finished, good-looking map, fast | Spatial analysis and precision GIS work |
Now make it yours
Frequently asked questions
Everything about contour maps, intervals, elevation data and exports. New to contour lines? Start with what is a contour map. See the full FAQ, or the help & troubleshooting page if something's broken.
What is a contour map generator?
A contour map generator turns elevation data into a map of contour lines — curves that connect points of equal height. TopoLines does this automatically: you choose a location and interval, and it traces the contour lines from real terrain data, then lets you export the result as PNG or SVG.
Is the contour map creator free?
Yes. Sign in with Google or GitHub for free and generate a PNG for any location. A paid plan unlocks high-resolution PNG, vector SVG export, finer 10 m elevation data and larger areas.
How do I create a contour map of a specific place?
Open the editor, search for the place or drop a pin, then frame the area you want. TopoLines fetches the elevation data and draws the contour lines instantly. Adjust the interval and colours until it looks right, then export.
Can I export the contour lines as SVG?
Yes. TopoLines renders a clean, layered SVG where each contour is a real vector path — perfect for scaling to poster size or editing in Figma, Illustrator or Inkscape. SVG export is a paid feature.
What is the difference between a contour map and a topographic map?
A topographic map shows the shape of the land, most often using contour lines to represent elevation. Contour lines are the core of a topographic map, so a contour map generator is effectively a topographic map generator focused on that relief.
Where does the elevation data come from?
Open digital elevation models. Free exports use GEDTM30, a global bare-earth terrain model at 30 m resolution, which is plenty for posters and stylised art. Paid exports use 10 m GeoTIFF data, which resolves noticeably finer ridgelines and drainages — worth it when the terrain itself is the subject.
What contour interval should I use?
Match it to the terrain. A tight 5–10 m interval suits flat or highly detailed areas, a medium 20–50 m interval is a safe default for posters, and a wide 100 m+ interval keeps tall mountains readable.
Do I need GIS software like QGIS?
No. The generator handles the elevation processing and vector output for you, so you skip the DEM sourcing, contour tooling and topology cleanup that a GIS workflow requires.