# Combine US states: ZIP or county maps Official GBMaps guide for the classic map maker. VectorMaps has a different interface. Source: https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=usa-combine Updated: 2026-11-12 Use the small US chooser map to join up to three states into one editable map. Start in the ZIP section for ZIP areas, or the Counties section for counties. You can load and customize the map before buying access. ![County state chooser with touching Kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri selected, trial loading and separate purchase choices](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/help/images/usa-county-chooser-20261003.jpg) Select adjoining states on the small map. Load selected states works before purchase; the right-hand buttons are optional purchase choices. ## Change states from the Details dropdown ![Details dropdown for a California and Nevada combined ZIP map, with Change selected states and Browse other maps](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/help/images/usa-detail-dropdown.png) The dropdown names the states you are using. Choose Change selected states to reopen the chooser and amend them. Browse other maps opens the catalogue without closing it if it is already open. ## 1. Open the right state chooser Open Map Types, choose USA, then expand USA 5-dig. ZIP-Codes or USA County Maps, then choose the Combine Multiple States choice. Both buttons work the same way; the section determines which boundaries the combined map will contain. [Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=usa-combine#usa-combine--open) ## 2. Pick states on the small US map Click a state to select it. It turns gold and its name appears under Your selected states. Click it again, or click the × on its name, to remove it. Clear removes the current selection. The state abbreviations help you identify smaller states. [Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=usa-combine#usa-combine--choose) ## 3. The selected states must connect Choose up to three states that form one connected area. They do not all have to share a border with each other: a chain such as Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas is fine. States touching at a corner are allowed where shown by the chooser. Alaska may be included separately and appears as an inset. Hawaii cannot join a mainland group; you can use it on its own or with Alaska. The chooser explains why an invalid selection cannot load. [Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=usa-combine#usa-combine--touching) ## 4. Load first; purchase when ready Choose Load selected states to start using the combined map in trial mode. You do not have to buy each state before trying it. The same legend works across the selected states. Use Colour: States for whole-state coloring, or Colour: ZIP codes / Counties for smaller areas. [Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=usa-combine#usa-combine--load) ## 5. Buy your selected states together The bundle button buys access to the selected states that you do not already own, in one payment. Each state is £25 plus VAT where applicable. Three unowned states therefore cost £75 plus VAT. This unlocks the states themselves, so you can use them separately or in other permitted combinations. [Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=usa-combine#usa-combine--bundle) ## 6. Or buy an individual state The individual-state buttons are still available. You can choose just one state now and buy another later. Check that you are buying the right map family: county access and five-digit ZIP access are separate. [Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=usa-combine#usa-combine--single) ## 7. Or choose all 50 states in that family The all-50 option costs £150 plus VAT where applicable and gives 12 months of access to that map family. It lets you choose states whenever you need them. It does not load all 50 as one combined page, and it does not include the other map family. [Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=usa-combine#usa-combine--all) ## 8. Change your selection later Open the Detail dropdown above the map and choose its state-chooser button, or return to Combine Multiple States in Map Types. Save work you want to keep before loading a different map. A trial combination is not a permanently saved map. With active access, save your map to retain the combination and your edits. [Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=usa-combine#usa-combine--amend) ### What this looks like Real US map controls and examples. Choose View larger to see the details. ![The five-digit ZIP chooser — GBMaps controls](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/help/images/usa-zip-chooser-20261003.jpg?v=1791039852) [**The five-digit ZIP chooser**](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=usa-combine#usa-combine--choose) Choose the ZIP family when you need ZIP boundaries. Trial loading, connected states and purchase choices work the same way. ![Combine county states — GBMaps controls](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/help/images/layout-usa-counties-20261112.png?v=1794519767) [**Combine county states**](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=usa-combine#usa-combine--open) Map Types → USA → USA County Maps has its own Combine Multiple States choice. ![Combine ZIP states — GBMaps controls](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/help/images/layout-usa-choices-20261112.png?v=1794519767) [**Combine ZIP states**](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=usa-combine#usa-combine--open) For ZIP boundaries, use Combine Multiple States in Map Types → USA → USA 5-dig. ZIP-Codes. ![Reopen the chooser from Detail — GBMaps controls](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/help/images/usa-combined-detail-20261003.jpg?v=1791039852) [**Reopen the chooser from Detail**](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=usa-combine#usa-combine--amend) The Detail dropdown names your selected states. Choose Change selected states to reopen the chooser for the same map family. ## Related guides - [USA 5-digit ZIP maps: choose a state](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=usa-zip-maps) - [USA county maps: choose a state](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=usa-county-maps) - [Color a whole state; style its border and name](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=usa-state-levels) - [Buying US state maps and seeing US prices](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=usa-billing) - [Make a US sales or service territory map](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=usa-workflow)