# Radial Circles: distance rings Official GBMaps guide for the classic map maker. VectorMaps has a different interface. Source: https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=circles Updated: 2026-10-22 Draw equally spaced circles around a depot, office or other centre. These are straight-line distances. Use Distance/Time when road travel matters. [Watch tutorial video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4-LXbJ53kI) Some videos show an earlier layout. The written instructions below describe the current controls; this is a guide, not a video transcript. ![Radial Circles: distance rings — current GBMaps controls](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/help/images/coverage-circles.png) Current controls. Select a numbered marker for its explanation. ## Distance rings on the map ![Three concentric circles over Yorkshire share one centre. Blue, green and rust-coloured rings are labelled 5 miles, 10 miles and 15 miles.](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/help/images/example-circles.png) A set of three rings with a 5-mile interval gives radii of 5, 10 and 15 miles from the same centre. The labels and line colours make the distances easy to distinguish. These are straight-line distances, so they are useful for a radius-based service area; use Distance/Time for a journey-based view. ## 1. Show all circles Shows or hides all the circle sets without deleting them. A hidden set retains its centre, colours and labels. Placing a centre makes the circles visible so you can see what you are positioning. [Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=circles#circles--show) ## 2. Circle set Selects the set you are editing. Each set has its own centre. Use + to add another set, or the … menu for rename, duplicate and other set options. A separate topic explains linked settings. [Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=circles#circles--set) ## 3. Place centre on map Tick it, then click the map where the centre should sit. Another click moves the same selected set; it does not add another set. Turn placement off when the centre is correct, so subsequent clicks can be used for normal map editing. [Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=circles#circles--place) ## 4. Find a centre by postcode Enter a postcode and click Find to position the selected set accurately. Supported postcode/ZIP lookup depends on the map. A full postcode is more precise than a broad district. Check the centre on the map before using the results. [Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=circles#circles--postcode) ## 5. Number of circles Sets how many rings are drawn, from 1 to 20. Four circles at a 10-mile interval produce radii of 10, 20, 30 and 40 miles. Reducing the count hides the extra rings; increasing it again can bring their settings back. [Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=circles#circles--number) ## 6. Interval in miles Sets the gap in radius between rings, from 1 to 100 miles. The outer-circle readout is the number of circles multiplied by this interval. These distances do not account for roads, rivers, traffic or travel time. [Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=circles#circles--interval) ## 7. Line width and label size Adjust the line width and the lettering on the circles. Use modest values when many rings overlap. The controls affect the selected set, or every set if linked settings are enabled. [Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=circles#circles--style) ## 8. A colour and label for each ring Each row shows its radius, a colour square and an editable label. Click the square to recolour that ring and type wording such as “Local delivery” or “20 miles”. Labels explain the rings; they do not change the distance calculation. [Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=circles#circles--labels) ## 9. Colour postcodes Turn the coverage into postcode territories with one click. Choose Add to existing to keep current colouring, or Replace colouring to start again from this coverage. The matching uses polygon centres; read the separate postcode-colouring guide for edge cases and overlaps. [Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=circles#circles--colour) ### What this looks like Current GBMaps controls with example maps and account details. Choose View larger to see the details. ![Find this tool in the menu — GBMaps controls](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/help/images/help-20261022-menu-concentricCircles.png?v=1792654463) [**Find this tool in the menu**](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=circles#circles--show) The current menu entry. Expand its options as described in the numbered instructions; extra controls appear when an item or data has been added. ## Related guides - [Several circle centres & linked settings](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=circle-sets) - [Colour postcodes inside circles](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=circle-postcodes) - [Distance/Time: road-travel areas](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=travel)