How to Drop Multiple Pins on Google Maps | Build a Custom Pin Map

Dropping multiple pins in Google Maps requires using the separate My Maps tool, which lets you build a custom map with up to 10,000 saved locations.

The standard Google Maps interface works great for finding a single restaurant or getting directions, but it was never designed to hold a permanent collection of pins. Trying to drop a second pin only replaces the first one. The fix is a dedicated map-building tool called Google My Maps, and it lives inside your Google account. Building a multi-pin map takes about two minutes once you know where to click, and the result is a reusable map you can pull up on any device.

Why Can’t I Just Drop Multiple Pins in Normal Google Maps?

The regular Google Maps interface treats a dropped pin as a temporary “you are here” marker for a single location. Clicking a new spot removes the old one. This is by design — the main map interface is built for navigation and quick lookups, not for building collections of saved places. Google’s official guidance directs users who want multiple pins to the My Maps tool, which was purpose-built for this exact task.

What Is Google My Maps and How Is It Different?

Google My Maps is a separate map editor, accessible through your Google account, that lets you place unlimited markers, draw lines, and organize locations into layers. Unlike the main Google Maps interface, every pin you add here stays until you remove it. A custom map created in My Maps can then be opened inside the regular Google Maps app on your phone for easy access on the go. The key difference: Google Maps is for finding your way; My Maps is for saving your places.

How To Drop Multiple Pins on Google Maps: Desktop Steps

The only supported way to build a multi-pin map is on a computer. Google’s help documentation explicitly labels the following process as a desktop workflow. You’ll need to be signed into your Google account.

1. Go to Google Maps on your computer and click the hamburger menu (three horizontal lines) in the top-left corner.
2. Click Saved.
3. Click the Maps tab near the top of the menu, then click Create Map at the bottom. This opens a new tab with the My Maps editor.
4. In the new map, click the Add marker icon (a pin shape below the search bar). Your cursor becomes a pin. Click any spot on the map to place it.
5. Give the pin a name and click Save.
6. To add a specific place by name, use the search bar inside My Maps. Type the location, click the result, then click Add to map.
7. Repeat steps 4–6 for every pin you want to include.

Each placed pin now shows up permanently on your custom map. The map auto-saves to your Google account, so there is no lost work if you close the browser.

What Limits Apply to a Custom Pin Map?

My Maps has generous limits meant to handle everything from a weekend road trip to a national park survey. The table below shows what you can store before hitting a cap.

If you plan to pin 50 favorite campgrounds or all the breweries in your state, you will stay well under these limits. The ceiling only matters for large-scale projects like mapping every trail in a national forest.

Can You Drop Multiple Pins on Google Maps on iPhone or Android?

The creation workflow is desktop-first, but the resulting custom map works on mobile. After you build the map on a computer, open the Google Maps app on your phone, tap Saved, then tap Maps. Your custom map appears there with all its pins intact. You can tap any pin for details or use the map to navigate to a specific spot. You cannot add new pins to a custom map from the mobile app itself, though you can preview or edit the map on your phone using the My Maps mobile site in a browser.

How To Organize Multiple Pins With Layers

Once your map starts to fill up, layers help you sort pins into categories without cluttering the view. In the My Maps editor, each new place is added to the default Untitled layer. To create a new layer, click Add layer in the left panel, give it a name, and then add markers directly to that layer. You can toggle entire groups on and off, which is useful if you want to view only “Coffee Shops” or “Gas Stations” without removing the other pins. Each layer supports up to 2,000 items independently.

Build Your Multi-Pin Map: Next Steps

The most common hang-up is looking for a multi-pin feature inside the main Google Maps interface. It does not exist there. Open the hamburger menu, head to Saved > Maps > Create Map, and your pin-laying session begins in the My Maps editor. Use Add marker for freeform spots or the search bar for known addresses. Give each pin a label so the map stays useful weeks later, and use layers if your collection crosses into different categories. Close the tab; the map saves itself. Open the Google Maps app later, tap Saved > Maps, and every pin you placed is ready to navigate to.