Bring your map to life with 3D buildings. This feature adds depth and realism to your interactive map, creating a more immersive and engaging experience for your audience.
3D building data is available in most cities worldwide, and coverage continues to improve. If a structure is missing or needs enhancement, you can create your own. Learn how to create custom 3D buildings for your map.
Mapme offers three different ways to display 3D buildings:
- Show All 3D Buildings – Display all available buildings in 3D across the map.
- 3D Building Layers – Select and highlight specific buildings with custom visibility and interactivity settings. Learn more
- Draw 3D Buildings – Create custom 3D structures using drawing tools. Learn more
The table below summarizes the differences between these options:
| Show All 3D Buildings | 3D Building Layers | Draw 3D Buildings | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Large areas and city-wide maps | Highlighting landmarks, campuses, or selected buildings | New developments or buildings not yet available in map data |
| Example use cases | City guides, tourism maps | Campuses, project portfolios, points of interest | Real estate developments, future projects |
| Visibility | Automatically displayed between zoom levels 14–21 | Full control | Full control |
| Interactivity | No | Full control | Full control |
| Colors | Single color for all buildings, with optional building-specific colors when available | Each layer can use a different color | Each drawing layer can use a different color |
This guide focuses on the Show All 3D Buildings option.
How Show All 3D Buildings Works
- Global coverage: Display all available 3D buildings within the current map view.
- Zoom-based visibility: Buildings automatically appear between zoom levels 14 and 21.
- Dynamic opacity: Building opacity adjusts automatically based on zoom level to maintain clarity.
- Custom styling: Choose a building color that matches your map design and branding.
How to Enable 3D Buildings
- Go to Settings.
- Open Basemap.
- Enable 3D Buildings.
Change the 3D Building Color
- Click the color picker next to the 3D Buildings setting.
- Select a color from the palette or enter a custom color value.
Use Building Colors When Available
Some buildings include their own color information. When enabled, these colors are displayed automatically. Buildings without color data use your selected 3D building color.
This option is available on Expert and Enterprise plans.
Examples of 3D Buildings on Maps
View an example with default 3D building colors
View an example with custom-colored 3D buildings
Take 3D Maps Further
Want to explore advanced use cases, design tips, and real-world examples? Read our complete guide to interactive 3D building maps →