# 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="https://3029946802-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FybPdpmLltPkzGFvz7m8A%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-09c5ab1aa46309a5d87ce8a5bf93a00e641adcc4%2Fimage.png?alt=media" 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](https://docs.carto.com/carto-user-manual/settings/customizations/configuring-your-organization-basemaps).
{% 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="https://3029946802-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FybPdpmLltPkzGFvz7m8A%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-20483b609a05c145baf71165e20e06648ffb6c33%2FGoogle%20basemaps.gif?alt=media" 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.

<figure><img src="https://3029946802-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FybPdpmLltPkzGFvz7m8A%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-24b8aefac39668485099ed069040795a0c10ca93%2Fgoglebasemaps2.gif?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% 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](https://docs.carto.com/carto-self-hosted/guides/guides/enable-google-basemaps).
{% 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="https://3029946802-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FybPdpmLltPkzGFvz7m8A%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-73ed363a85d9280735493bc142fcc0d066454ada%2Fbuilder_custom_basemaps.gif?alt=media" 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](https://docs.carto.com/carto-user-manual/settings/customizations/configuring-your-organization-basemaps). 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.