Hex Map Maker

Hex maps are the classic way to plan overland travel in tabletop role-playing and wargames: each hex is a fixed distance, and every direction is equal. This hex map maker gives you a grid and a terrain palette — click or drag to paint, start from a random landscape if you like, switch on coordinates, and export a clean PNG for your players or your campaign notes.

Why hex maps?

On a square grid, moving diagonally covers about 1.4 times the distance of moving straight, which makes travel rules awkward. On a hex grid every neighbouring hex is the same distance away in six directions, so distance is simply the number of hexes. That is why hex maps are the standard for overland travel in tabletop role-playing games, board wargames and many strategy video games.

How to use the hex map maker

1. Set the number of columns and rows and the hex size.
2. Click “Random landscape” for a starting point, or fill everything with one terrain.
3. Choose a terrain brush from the palette and click or drag across hexes to paint.
4. Switch coordinates on for reference numbers such as 0507 (column 5, row 7).
5. Download a PNG or print the map.

Choosing a hex scale

Choose the scale from how you will use the map: if players travel hex by hex and something can happen in each, a scale where a day’s travel is several hexes works well.

Hexcrawl basics

• Number every hex so you can write a key: “0507 — ruined watchtower, bandits”.
• Not every hex needs something in it; aim for a notable feature every few hexes.
• Decide how terrain affects travel: roads fast, forests and hills slower, mountains and swamps slowest.
• Keep a separate players’ map that you reveal as they explore.
• Use weather and random encounter tables to make travel matter.

Worked example: travel time

These are house-rule numbers for illustration — use your game’s own movement rules. With them, a party crossing 2 plains hexes, 3 forest hexes and 1 swamp hex needs 0.5 + 1 + 0.5 = 2 days.

Terrain colours at a glance

The palette follows common map conventions: greens for plains and forest, tan and brown for hills and mountains, blue for water, sand for desert and white for snow, each with a small symbol so the map still reads when printed in black and white.

Flat-top or pointy-top hexes?

Hex grids come in two orientations. Flat-top hexes, used here, line up in vertical columns, so coordinates are usually column-then-row; pointy-top hexes line up in horizontal rows. Neither is better — flat-top grids suit maps that are wider than they are tall, and many classic wilderness maps use them. If you are matching a published map, use its orientation and numbering.

Using the PNG in other tools

The exported image works in virtual tabletop software, slide decks, campaign wikis and image editors. Add labels, roads and rivers in an editor on top of the painted terrain, or print it and draw them by hand. For large, high-resolution prints, increase the hex size before exporting so the image has more pixels.

Random landscapes

The random landscape button builds terrain from smooth noise: low areas become water, high areas hills, mountains and snow, and a second noise layer for moisture decides between forest, swamp, plains and desert. Every click gives a new landscape; repaint anything you don’t like. It is a quick way to get a believable starting shape rather than a finished map.

Map-making tips

• Rivers run from mountains to the sea, joining — never splitting — as they go downhill.
• Put towns on rivers, coasts and crossroads.
• Mountains in chains, not scattered single hexes, look natural.
• Deserts often lie in the rain shadow on the far side of mountains from prevailing winds.
• Leave empty space; not every hex needs a landmark.

Privacy and saving

The map is created in your browser and nothing is uploaded. To keep a map, download the PNG; the page doesn’t store maps between visits.

Hexcrawl campaign pack

The optional pack includes printable numbered hex paper at two scales, a hex key sheet for noting what is in each hex, a terrain and travel legend and a random encounter table template. The map maker above is free.

AI-assisted content

This page was drafted with AI assistance and reviewed by Kedop. This is an independent tool not affiliated with any game publisher.