What is OS VectorMap and when should you use it?

OS VectorMap is a family of mapping products. They’re designed to give you a clear, usable view of Great Britain without the depth and weight of OS MasterMap. 

In simple terms, OS VectorMap sits between highly detailed geographic data and straightforward map views - giving you mapping that’s easier to work with, but still offering useful structure and context. But when people talk about OS VectorMap, they usually mean one of two products: OS VectorMap Local or OS VectorMap District. The difference is fairly simple. 

OS VectorMap Local is the more detailed option. It’s customisable, and was designed to provide local context and street-level clarity.

OS VectorMap District is lighter and simpler, making it useful when you want a clean basemap to sit behind your own data.

When should you use OS VectorMap?

If you need a map that is clear, customisable, and detailed enough to support local planning, analysis, or presentation - but you don’t need the full complexity of OS MasterMap - then OS VectorMap Local is often a great fit.

It’s available in raster and vector formats, scaled at 1:10,000, and commonly used for custom basemaps, urban planning, development work, environmental monitoring, active travel infrastructure, school travel assessments, and land cover analysis.  

If your priority is a simpler basemap that displays your own information clearly, then OS VectorMap District is usually the better choice. It will enable you to overlay and visualise your own data, rather than work with a highly detailed underlying dataset.  

That really is the key distinction. OS VectorMap is useful when you want mapping that’s ready to work hard for you, while staying lighter, cleaner, and easier to manage than more detailed data products. It gives you geographic context without demanding you handle every feature in the landscape. 

VectorMap Local is currently available in formats including GeoPackage, GeoTIFF, GML, and Vector Tiles: the whole product family is accessible via downloads. Do get in touch if you’d like more information about how we can help you choose these and get them into place.  

How Emapsite can help

If you can't find exactly what you need, we can also help you choose the right mapping data solution for your project via email, chat or over the phone.

For more information, reach out to our Customer Support team.

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