Google Maps gets you to a place, but finding its elevation takes another step. Turn on Terrain to read elevation contours, or open cycling directions to check the hills along a route. For an altitude reading at a specific point, use Google Earth.
Check elevation on your computer
Start by finding your location in Google Maps.
Point to Layers at the bottom left.
Click More.
Select Terrain.
Read the gray altitude numbers along the contour lines. They show terrain elevation, but they don't give an exact reading for every dropped pin.
No labeled contours at your location? Try Google Earth's point-altitude method below.
On Android or iPhone, switch the map type
Terrain shows elevation contours in the Google Maps mobile app.
Open Google Maps on your Android phone or tablet, iPhone, or iPad.
Find the place you want to inspect.
Tap Layers at the top right.
Choose Terrain.
Read the gray altitude labels along the contours around your location.
If there are no altitude labels there, use Google Earth for a point reading.
See the hills along a cycling route
For a bike trip, check the route's elevation information before you head out.
Search for your destination in Google Maps.
Select Directions.
Enter your starting point.
Select Cycle (the bicycle icon).
Review the route's elevation information and available hill details. Coverage and detail vary by city and route.
Cycling elevation information is also available in the mobile apps. The hill details describe the selected route; they don't provide a ground-altitude reading for every point you might want to inspect.
When you need altitude at a specific point
Google Earth is a separate app with a point-altitude feature. In Google Earth on a computer browser, use Search to find a place or coordinates.
Hover over the location you want to inspect. Read its real-world altitude at the bottom right, separately from the camera altitude. The camera's height isn't the ground's elevation.
On Android, iPhone, or iPad, use Search to find the place in the Google Earth app.
Press and hold the desired location to reveal its altitude and coordinates. Treat these measurements as estimates; their resolution varies.
You can also move the map to the desired location in the mobile app before pressing and holding the point.
Read an elevation profile in Google Earth
Google Earth on the web can show elevation along a line you draw. This gives you another way to inspect terrain beyond the cycling routes available in Google Maps.
Use Measure or Path or polygon to start drawing a line across the terrain you want to examine.
Place at least two points. The Elevation Profile chart appears in the inspector panel.
Finish drawing to obtain refined elevation values for the line.
For a path's minimum, median, and maximum elevation, read Advanced measurements. Paths also provide slope statistics, while a closed polygon provides elevation statistics for the area within its boundary.
Choose feet or meters in Google Earth
Google Earth's unit settings let you read altitude in feet or meters.
On the web, click Settings at the upper right.
Open Formats and units.
Select Unit system.
Choose Metric (meters and kilometers) or Imperial (feet and miles).
On mobile, tap your avatar or Google Account profile.
Open Settings.
Tap Formats and units.
Choose your preferred units. This changes Google Earth's readings, not Google Maps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need Google Earth Pro to see an elevation profile?
No. Google Earth on the web supports elevation profiles. Use Measure or Path or polygon to draw a line with at least two points. Read the Elevation Profile chart in the inspector panel. Finish drawing to obtain refined elevation values.
Can I check a placemark's ground elevation in Google Earth?
Yes. On the web, right-click the location and add it as a Placemark. Select it on the map or in Map contents. Read its ground elevation under Advanced measurements in the inspector panel. On mobile, add the point as a Placemark, then read Advanced measurements at the bottom of the screen.
How do I check elevation statistics for an area on my phone?
In Google Earth on Android, iPhone, or iPad, tap Measure. Move the map to each position and tap Add point. Return to the first point and tap Close shape. Pull up the results card and read the minimum, median, and maximum elevation under Advanced measurements.