Google Maps is good at getting you to one place. It is much less helpful when you need to hand somebody a complete list they can read without tapping through dozens of pins.
A PDF works well for a wedding guest guide, a property shortlist, a sales territory, or the restaurants for a group trip. A printed copy is better when the person receiving it will be offline, carrying a clipboard, or simply does not want another app.
ExportMyMap turns the live saved list into a document rather than a screenshot. That matters: names and addresses stay readable, the layout continues across pages, and the PDF can include links back to the original places.
PDF or Print: which button should you use?
The two outputs share the same place-card layout, but they are meant for different jobs.
| Downloads a reusable PDF file | Opens your browser's print dialog |
| Includes a clickable View on Google Maps link per place | Omits the Maps link because it is not useful on paper |
| Easy to email, archive, or upload | Best for choosing a physical printer and paper settings |
| Consistent output without relying on a local PDF printer | Can also use the system's Save as PDF option |
If you want a file to send to someone, choose PDF. If you are standing next to a printer and care about paper size, margins, copies, or page range, choose Print.
What appears in the document?
Where Google provides the data, each place can show its name, address, phone number, rating and review count, website, and whether it is permanently closed. Your personal note can appear too. The document header includes the list title, place count, and export date.
PDF is deliberately a readable guide, not a substitute for a spreadsheet. It does not give you sortable columns or preserve every technical field. If the recipient needs to filter by country, deduplicate rows, or import places into a CRM, send an Excel or Google Sheets export instead.
Step 1: Open the list and scan it
Open Google Maps on a computer in Chrome, Edge, Brave, or Arc. Sign into the right account, open Saved, and find the list you need.
Install ExportMyMap from the Chrome Web Store if it is not already in the browser, then launch it over Maps. Pick the list and wait for the scan to finish. The extension reads the places through your existing Google Maps session and enriches them with the details available for each listing.
Export 5 lists free — up to 5 places per list. Unlimited exports require a paid plan. The current options are listed in pricing.
Step 2: Edit the document before it becomes a document
This is the step people skip, and it is the reason many exported PDFs feel like database dumps.
Give the list a title that makes sense to the reader. Places is technically correct; Three days in Copenhagen — cafés and dinner is useful. The export title does not have to match the original Google Maps list name.
Then review the selected places. Remove duplicates, old options, and anything marked permanently closed unless its presence is part of the point. A shorter guide that somebody can trust beats a complete one they have to second-guess.
Finally, decide whether to leave Include notes on. Notes such as “quiet room at the back” or “call before arriving” may be the most valuable part of a team guide. Notes such as “too expensive for Alex” probably should not travel outside the planning group.
Step 3: Download PDF or open Print
Select up to 500 places and choose PDF. The button shows a generating state while the document is rendered, then your browser downloads the finished file. Large documents take longer than a ten-place shortlist, so give the first click time to finish.
For paper, choose Print. A print-friendly page opens and the browser displays its normal print dialog. From there you can select a printer, paper size, orientation, scale, and page range. Chrome and most other browsers also offer Save as PDF, although the dedicated PDF button is the more predictable option for a file you plan to share.
The 500-place ceiling applies to both PDF and Print. It keeps the document manageable and the generation reliable. If you genuinely need 800 locations on paper, split them by country, neighborhood, owner, or status. The result will be easier to use as well as easier to generate.
Data formats such as CSV, KML, GPX, JSON, GeoJSON, and Excel are not subject to the same document limit and are a better archive for a very large list.
Step 4: Check the boring parts
Open the downloaded PDF before sending it. Look at the first page, the final page, and one page in the middle. Confirm that:
- the title and place count are right;
- long names and addresses remain readable;
- the document did not end halfway through the list;
- a View on Google Maps link opens the intended place;
- private notes are absent if you meant to exclude them.
For a physical print, print two pages first. This catches an unsuitable scale, accidental grayscale setting, or paper-size mismatch before you feed 60 pages through the printer.
Sharing the result without creating confusion
A PDF is a snapshot. Put a date in the filename if the source changes regularly: site-visits-2026-07.pdf tells the next person far more than maps-list-new.pdf.
If the list is still evolving and recipients need the latest version, a shareable web link may fit better. If several friends are contributing ideas inside Google Maps, compare the options in five ways to share a travel list.
Be equally deliberate about privacy. A downloaded PDF is easy to forward. Remove home addresses, client notes, access codes, or private commentary before creating a document for a wider group.
Troubleshooting
The PDF button says the list is too large. Reduce the selection to 500 places or fewer. Splitting by a useful category is better than selecting an arbitrary first 500.
Some fields are blank. Not every Google Maps listing has a public phone number, website, rating, or street address. A blank field is preferable to guessing. The name and whatever usable location data Google returns still remain in the export.
A permanently closed place appears. The status is included precisely so you can spot it. Deselect the place and generate the document again if it should not be part of the handoff.
Nothing happens after clicking Print. Check whether the browser blocked the new tab, then allow pop-ups for ExportMyMap and try once more.
The recipient needs to navigate, not read. Send the PDF for context and a KML or GPX file for the mapping app. One file does not have to do every job.
A useful place guide is not the one with the most fields. It is the one the next person can open, understand, and act on without asking what you meant.