# Basemaps

A basemap is a crucial component of any map, providing essential context, spatial features, and the visual foundation for your creations. CARTO Builder supports three different type of basemaps: [CARTO](#carto), [Google Maps](#google-maps) and [Custom](#custom).

<figure><img src="/files/z4R33hvsj8LIFPmo5NDV" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="info" %}
Admin users can configure the basemap options available in Builder. The availability of basemap types depends on the organization-level configuration. For more details on configuring and managing basemaps, [refer to this section](/carto-user-manual/settings/customizations/configuring-your-organization-basemaps.md).
{% endhint %}

### **CARTO basemaps**

Select *CARTO* in the menu to see different basemap options. They include:

* **Voyager**: Basemap with colors to clearly differentiate natural and cultural features.
* **Positron**: Light basemap with dark-colored text.
* **Dark Matter**: Dark basemap with light-colored text.

You can manage the CARTO basemap layers to hide and show water, buildings, roads, and more.

<figure><img src="/files/VvjITKvDWtJJrK1b3SqL" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### **Google Maps basemaps**

Select *Google Maps* in the menu to see different basemap options. They include:

* **Roadmap**: Displays the default road map view.
* **Satellite**: Displays Google Earth satellite images.
* **Hybrid**: Displays satellite imagery with overlays of road names, city names, and other labels.
* **Terrain**: Displays a physical map based on terrain information.
* **Positron, Voyager, and Dark Matter**: New versions developed for Google Maps.
* **3D Tiles**: Displays Google Photorealistic 3D Tiles, a high-fidelity, mesh-based representation of the world built from aerial and satellite imagery. To see this basemap in its full glory, switch to [3D map view](/carto-user-manual/maps/map-view-modes.md). Coverage varies by region — see Google's [Photorealistic 3D Tiles coverage](https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/tile/coverage) for the latest list of supported areas.

<figure><img src="/files/JMB2Idqi2V4NsZFeIHAc" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="info" %}
Layers using the **height** styling attribute may render with visual artifacts when overlapping 3D buildings. Adjust the layer's elevation or styling if needed.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="info" %}
For **Self-Hosted deployments**, Google Maps API Key must be added to the configuration to enable the use of Google Maps within the organization. Learn more in this [section](/carto-self-hosted/guides/guides/enable-google-basemaps.md).
{% endhint %}

### Custom basemaps

CARTO supports custom basemaps set up at the organization level by Admin users. When custom basemaps are available, they will be displayed under the *Custom* tab section of basemaps.

<figure><img src="/files/SWy7HEIxlTiXBaMrIBBR" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

To learn more about how you can upload custom basemaps to the CARTO platform and the supported formats, check [this page](/carto-user-manual/settings/customizations/configuring-your-organization-basemaps.md). For a step-by-step guide on custom basemaps, check out [our tutorial](https://academy.carto.com/building-interactive-maps/data-visualization/customize-your-visualization-with-tailored-made-basemaps) in the Academy.


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# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.carto.com/carto-user-manual/maps/basemaps.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.