Google Maps API

Set up API access for Google Maps, including geocoding, directions, places, and map rendering.

⏱ 5 minutes maps location console.cloud.google.com

getapi google-maps

Prerequisites

A Google Cloud account with billing enabled

Credentials

Variable	Description	Sensitive
`GOOGLE_MAPS_API_KEY`	API key for Google Maps Platform APIs	Secret

Setup Steps

1 Info

We'll set up a Google Maps API key. You'll need a Google Cloud project with billing enabled — Google provides a $200/month free credit for Maps usage.
2 Open URL

Opening the Google Cloud API dashboard. Sign in if prompted.
https://console.cloud.google.com/apis/dashboard
3 Choice
Do you have a Google Cloud project with billing enabled?
- Yes, I have a project ready
  
  → Jumps to enable_apis
- No, I need to create one
  
  → Jumps to create_project
4 Info

Click the project dropdown at the top, then 'New Project'. Give it a name and create it. Then go to Billing in the sidebar and link a billing account (required for Maps APIs, but you get $200/month free).
5 Confirm

Project created with billing enabled?

Checkpoint — confirm before continuing
6 Open URL

Opening the Maps API library. Enable the APIs you need (e.g. Maps JavaScript API, Geocoding API, Places API, Directions API).
https://console.cloud.google.com/apis/library?filter=category:maps
7 Confirm

Relevant Maps APIs enabled?

Checkpoint — confirm before continuing
8 Open URL

Opening the Credentials page. Click 'Create credentials' > 'API key'.
https://console.cloud.google.com/apis/credentials
9 Info

After creating the key, click 'Edit API key' to add restrictions. For web apps, add HTTP referrer restrictions. For server apps, add IP restrictions. Under 'API restrictions', select only the Maps APIs you enabled.
10 Input

Copy your API key and paste it here:

→ GOOGLE_MAPS_API_KEY

Starts with AIza. 35 characters
11 Validate

Checking your API key works...

API key verified. Google Maps is ready to use.

Couldn't verify the API key. Make sure the Geocoding API is enabled and billing is set up.

Things to Know

Google Maps requires billing to be enabled, but you get $200/month in free usage (covers most development and small-scale production).
ALWAYS restrict your API key — unrestricted keys can be abused and run up charges on your billing account.
Different Maps APIs are billed separately. Check the pricing page for per-request costs.
API keys used in client-side JavaScript are visible in the browser. Use HTTP referrer restrictions to prevent abuse.
The $200/month free credit does NOT stack — unused credit does not roll over.