General Guidelines for Creating Garmin Custom Maps

Certain guidelines need to be followed when creating Garmin Custom Maps to ensure they work correctly on your device.

Note: Outside of providing guidelines and requirements for Garmin Custom Maps, we cannot assist with or support these maps as they are user-created and considered third-party.

Guidelines for Creating Custom Maps

• More than one jpeg can be in a KMZ file.

• The only kml file that will be processed is a doc.kml, inside the KMZ file.

• JPEG files are the only supported image type.

• JPEG files must be saved without Progressive Image (typically found under advanced options).

• KMZ files are read from \Garmin\CustomMaps directory on both the device's internal memory and on the SD Card.

  • Garmin BaseCamp™ software will display custom maps; however, custom maps cannot be sent from Garmin BaseCamp™ to a product that supports custom maps. Custom maps must be manually placed in the CustomMaps folder of the device they are to be used on.

  • Overlander® navigator users: The CustomMaps folder needs to be created and added to the first Garmin folder on the device.

• Images over 1 megapixel (1024x1024 pixels, 512x2048 pixels, etc.) will be rendered at a reduced resolution on the device. If this is causing a problem for your map, you can split the image and use multiple JPEG files inside of one KMZ file.

• Each JPEG should be less than 3MB.

• The max number of Custom Map JPEG images that can be loaded:

  • Typically 100 for supported devices.

  • Exceptions to this are the: Montana® series (500), Monterra™ (99), Oregon® 600/700 series (500), GPSMAP® 64/65/66 series (500) outdoor handhelds.

• The size of the JPEG files will affect the draw speed on the Garmin device.

• There is no limitation on KMZ file size as long as the previous limitations are met.

• Since each KMZ file will need at least one JPEG file to be a functional custom map, KMZ file limitations match JPEG limitations.

• Custom Maps are enabled or disabled individually or as a group, depending on the Garmin device model.

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  Compatible Devices That Enable or Disable Custom Maps Individually

  • Dog Tracking Handhelds

    • Alpha® 200 & Alpha® 200i

    • Alpha® 300 & Alpha® 300i

  • Outdoor Handhelds

    • eTrex® Touch 25 | eTrex® Touch 35 | eTrex® Touch 35t

    • GPSMAP® 276Cx

    • GPSMAP® 64s | GPSMAP® 64sc | GPSMAP® 64st | GPSMAP® 64sx | GPSMAP® 64csx

    • GPSMAP® 65 |  GPSMAP® 65s

    • GPSMAP® 66i | GPSMAP® 66s | GPSMAP® 66sr | GPSMAP® 66st

    • GPSMAP® 67 | GPSMAP® 67i

    • GPSMAP® 86i | GPSMAP® 86s | GPSMAP® 86sc | GPSMAP® 86sci

    • Montana® 700 | Montana® 700i | Montana® 710 | Montana® 710| Montana® 750i | Montana® 760i

    • Monterra®

    • Oregon® Series

    • Rino® 750 | Rino® 750t | Rino® 755t

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  Compatible Devices That Enable or Disable Custom Maps as a Group

  • Dog Tracking Devices

    • Alpha® 50¹

    • Alpha® 100

    • Astro® 320

    • Astro® 430

    • Astro® 900

    • Atemos 50¹

    • Atemos 100¹

  • GPS Navigators

    • Arctic Cat G8 Display 

    • BMW Motorrad Nav V

    • BMW Motorrad Nav VI

    • Can-Am Spyder zūmo® 590

    • Ducati zūmo® 395

    • Harley Davidson Roadtech zūmo® 590

    • Kawasaki RIDGE 8" Tread Display

    • Overlander®

    • Tread®

    • Tread® - Base Edition

    • Tread® 2 Series

    • Tread® - Overland Edition

    • Tread® XL - Overland Edition

    • Tread® - SxS Edition

    • Tread® XL - Baja Chase Edition

    • Tread® XL - Baja Race Edition 

    • zūmo® 395

    • zūmo® 396

    • zūmo® 590

    • zūmo® 595

    • zūmo® XT

    • zūmo® XT2

  • Outdoor Handhelds

    • Colorado® Series

    • Dakota™ Series

    •  eTrex® 20 | eTrex® 20x | eTrex® 22x | eTrex® 30 | eTrex® 30x | eTrex® 32x

    • GPSMAP® 62 | GPSMAP® 62s | GPSMAP® 62sc | GPSMAP® 62st | GPSMAP® 62stc

    • GPSMAP® 78 | GPSMAP® 78s | GPSMAP® 78sc

    • GPSMAP® 79s | GPSMAP® 79sc

    • Montana® 600 Series

    • Rino® 600 Series

  ¹These devices are sold and designed for use in Europe only.