How to create free maps for your Garmin GPS unit

WARNING

These pages are very old (I haven't looked at them since 2011, and it's now 2020). I am leaving them here because there is still (based on my web logs) some interest in the contents. However, I make no promises as to whether any of the contents is still correct. I imagine a lot of it is very out of date. Use at your own discretion.

Back to our normal programme

I've put together a number of different pages on this topic, which covers how to take data from OpenStreetMap and turn it into a Garmin file which you can load into your GPS unit. If you've never done this before, I'd suggest working your way through them in order.

Tutorials & guides

Basic step-by-step guide to map creation - A newbie guide
Guide to mkgmap style files - How to customise styles
Guide to TYP files - What they are, how to edit them and use them in mkgmap
Advanced guide to splitter
Walk through my compilation process step-by-step
How to improve OSM data using mkgmap output

Information & FAQs

Comprehensive list of mkgmap/splitter options and other goodies - This is a "scrapbook" where I keep any nuggets of info I discover on the mkgmap mailing list or elsewhere. Updated 14th November 2012
FAQ

Downloads & links to 3rd party software

Maps for the GCC region Download pre-built gmapsupp.img files for Garmin devices for the GCC countries Updated 2nd December 2012
Downloads I've provided the various customised files I use to compile maps with mkgmap Updated 2nd December 2012
Useful software Things to make your life easier
OSM_generate Software to generate grids of POIs / polygons

Screenshots

Legend Legend for my TYP file and Mapsource style
Screenshots of my style/TYP files in action
Screenshots & IMG downloads of default Garmin types

I wrote these pages to try to help newcomers to mkgmap, because whilst there's a lot of information for it, it's not particularly well organised. Please please please send any suggestions or comments to help me improve things.

You can reach me at eilrahc backwards @cferrero.net
Sorry for the obfuscation - you can guess why I've done it.