How to Create D&D Maps Online
You can create D&D maps online with a browser-based editor like Inkarnate, starting from a blank canvas or a cloneable community map. Inkarnate offers a free sign-up and a free editor tier, with paid upgrades for more features; high-resolution exports go up to 8K, and commercial use is included with the Studio tier. This guide covers choosing a map type, building it with layers and shape tools, exporting it for print or virtual tabletops, and checking licensing before you publish.
Step 1: Pick the map type your session actually needs
The map type determines scale, asset choices, and export settings. Match it to how you'll use it at the table.
| Map type | Use it for | Typical scale |
|---|---|---|
| World map | Campaign setting, continents, nations | Continental |
| Regional map | Travel routes, kingdoms, wilderness | Hundreds of miles |
| City map | Towns, districts, points of interest | Single settlement |
| Battle map | Grid combat, dungeon rooms, encounters | 1-inch grid squares |
If you're prepping a single session, a battle map or city map usually gives more immediate value than a world map. World and regional maps pay off over a full campaign.
Step 2: Start from a blank canvas or clone an existing map
Inkarnate's Explore Page hosts a large library of user-generated, cloneable maps — the site cites 237K+ cloneable maps and 16M+ maps created. Cloning is the fastest path when you need a map tonight.
- Clone when: you need a usable map quickly, or want a base to reskin (swap assets, rename locations).
- Start blank when: your setting has specific geography, or you want full control over layout and style.
To clone, open a map from the Explore Page and use the clone option, then edit it as your own copy. To start blank, create a new map and choose your map type and canvas size.
Step 3: Build terrain, walls, and rooms with the drawing tools
Inkarnate's line and shape tools let you draw walls with different strokes and fill rooms with textured fills. A workable order:
- Block out the layout with the shape tool — rough rectangles for rooms, corridors, and outdoor regions.
- Refine edges with the line tool — walls, coastlines, roads, rivers.
- Fill terrain using textured fills and stamps from the asset library (the site lists 30K+ available assets, with 23,400+ in the main library).
- Layer your work so terrain sits under structures, and labels sit on top. Keep labels on a separate layer so you can hide them for a player-facing export.
- Add detail last — furniture, props, lighting, and text.
Work at the final aspect ratio from the start. Changing canvas proportions late forces you to redraw edges and reposition assets.
Step 4: Export at a resolution that fits your table
Inkarnate supports high-resolution exports up to 8K, which the site describes as suitable for both digital and print formats.
- Virtual tabletop (Roll20, Foundry, etc.): export at a resolution that matches your VTT's grid and upload limits. Higher resolution gives you room to zoom without blur.
- Print: export at the highest resolution your plan allows so textures and stamps stay sharp at physical size.
- Handouts or screen sharing: a lower resolution is fine and keeps file sizes manageable.
Check your VTT's maximum image size before exporting — an 8K file may need downscaling or tiling.
Step 5: Check licensing before you publish or sell
Commercial use is included with the Studio tier. Maps you exported while a Studio subscription was active remain licensed for commercial use even after cancelling. If you're only running a home game, the free tier is sufficient for personal use.
Before publishing a map publicly, selling it, or using it in a paid product, confirm which tier was active when you exported it.
Free vs. paid: what the source supports
Inkarnate states you can use the Free version for as long as you want, with no credit card required, and upgrade to a paid plan for more than the Free version offers. The source does not list current prices or the full feature breakdown of each tier — check the plans page for that. The free tier is described by users as more capable than many paid alternatives, but specific limits (asset count, export resolution) are not detailed in the source material.
Common snags
- Blurry battle map in your VTT: the export resolution was too low for the zoom level, or the VTT downscaled it. Re-export higher and check the platform's size limit.
- Grid misalignment: set the grid in the editor to match your VTT's grid before placing walls and floors, not after.
- Cloned map looks generic: swap the asset set and rename locations — the layout is the reusable part, not the theme.
- Commercial use after cancelling: exports made during an active Studio subscription stay licensed for commercial use, so keep track of when you exported.
Start with the map type your next session needs, clone if time is short, and export at the resolution your table requires.