Map features

OpenStreetMap does not have any content restrictions on tags that can be assigned to Nodes, Ways or Areas. You can use any tags you like. However, there is benefit in agreeing a recommended set of features and corresponding tags in order to create, interpret and display a common basemap. This page contains a core recommended feature set and corresponding tags.

If you don't see an appropriate tag for what you would like to map see Proposed features or for grouping ways and nodes together into a higher level component, see Relations. From there you can see what features may be added (and maybe get them in sooner), or propose your own.

• If you need help understanding the terms Node/Way/Area, see Elements.
• Some mapping features are explained in detail, see Mapping/Features.
• To propose a new icon, use the page of the Proposed Icons.
• To see a list of features that were once valid but should no longer be used, see Deprecated features.
• See also Editing Standards and Conventions.

Notes on rendering:

• Using the tags here will mean that your editing efforts are more likely to show up in the various renderers. However, there is no guarantee that a tag listed here will be rendered by any particular renderer or by the renderers used by the OSM main map page.
• There also may be many tags that will render on the OSM main map page that are not listed here. This list is not updated with all the tags implemented by the renderers.

The tables are in grouped by theme, with the more commonly used first.
Each table is (or will be soon) a template which can be used for the translations.

Physical

Highway

This is used to describe roads and footpaths. For an introduction on its usage see the page titled Highways. See the page titled Restrictions for an introduction on access limitations by vehicles type, time, day, load and purpose, etc.

Key	Value	Element	Comment	Rendering carto	Examples
Roads
These are the principal tags for the road network. They range from the most to least important.
highway	motorway		A restricted access major divided highway, normally with 2 or more running lanes plus emergency hard shoulder. Equivalent to the Freeway, Autobahn, etc..
highway	trunk		The most important roads in a country's system that aren't motorways. (Need not necessarily be a divided highway.)
highway	primary		The next most important roads in a country's system. (Often link larger towns.)
highway	secondary		The next most important roads in a country's system. (Often link towns.)
highway	tertiary		The next most important roads in a country's system. (Often link smaller towns and villages)
highway	unclassified		The least important through roads in a country's system – i.e. minor roads of a lower classification than tertiary, but which serve a purpose other than access to properties. (Often link villages and hamlets.) The word 'unclassified' is a historical artefact of the UK road system and does not mean that the classification is unknown; you can use highway=road for that.
highway	residential		Roads which serve as an access to housing, without function of connecting settlements. Often lined with housing.
Link roads
highway	motorway_link		The link roads (sliproads/ramps) leading to/from a motorway from/to a motorway or lower class highway. Normally with the same motorway restrictions.
highway	trunk_link		The link roads (sliproads/ramps) leading to/from a trunk road from/to a trunk road or lower class highway.
highway	primary_link		The link roads (sliproads/ramps) leading to/from a primary road from/to a primary road or lower class highway.
highway	secondary_link		The link roads (sliproads/ramps) leading to/from a secondary road from/to a secondary road or lower class highway.
highway	tertiary_link		The link roads (sliproads/ramps) leading to/from a tertiary road from/to a tertiary road or lower class highway.
Special road types
highway	living_street		For living streets, which are residential streets where pedestrians have legal priority over cars, speeds are kept very low and where children are allowed to play on the street.
highway	service		For access roads to, or within an industrial estate, camp site, business park, car park, alleys, etc. Can be used in conjunction with service=* to indicate the type of usage and with access=* to indicate who can use it and in what circumstances.
highway	pedestrian		For roads used mainly/exclusively for pedestrians in shopping and some residential areas which may allow access by motorised vehicles only for very limited periods of the day. To create a 'square' or 'plaza' create a closed way and tag as pedestrian and also with area=yes.
highway	track		Roads for mostly agricultural or forestry uses. To describe the quality of a track, see tracktype=*. Note: Although tracks are often rough with unpaved surfaces, this tag is not describing the quality of a road but its use. Consequently, if you want to tag a general use road, use one of the general highway values instead of track.
highway	bus_guideway		A busway where the vehicle guided by the way (though not a railway) and is not suitable for other traffic. Please note: this is not a normal bus lane, use access=no, psv=yes instead!
highway	escape		For runaway truck ramps, runaway truck lanes, emergency escape ramps, or truck arrester beds. It enables vehicles with braking failure to safely stop.
highway	raceway		A course or track for (motor) racing
highway	road		A road/way/street/motorway/etc. of unknown type. It can stand for anything ranging from a footpath to a motorway. This tag should only be used temporarily until the road/way/etc. has been properly surveyed. If you do know the road type, do not use this value, instead use one of the more specific highway=* values.
highway	busway		A dedicated roadway for bus rapid transit systems
Paths
highway	footway		For designated footpaths; i.e., mainly/exclusively for pedestrians. This includes walking tracks and gravel paths. If bicycles are allowed as well, you can indicate this by adding a bicycle=yes tag. Should not be used for paths where the primary or intended usage is unknown. Use highway=pedestrian for pedestrianised roads in shopping or residential areas and highway=track if it is usable by agricultural or similar vehicles. For ramps (sloped paths without steps), combine this tag with incline=*.
highway	bridleway		For horse riders. Pedestrians are usually also permitted, cyclists may be permitted depending on local rules/laws. Motor vehicles are forbidden.
highway	steps		For flights of steps (stairs) on footways. Use with step_count=* to indicate the number of steps
highway	corridor		For a hallway inside of a building.
highway	path		A non-specific path. Use highway=footway for paths mainly for walkers, highway=cycleway for one also usable by cyclists, highway=bridleway for ones available to horse riders as well as walkers and highway=track for ones which is passable by agriculture or similar vehicles.
highway	via_ferrata		A via ferrata is a route equipped with fixed cables, stemples, ladders, and bridges in order to increase ease and security for climbers. These via ferrata require equipment : climbing harness, shock absorber and two short lengths of rope, but do not require a long rope as for climbing.	not rendered in OSM-Carto
When sidewalk/crosswalk is tagged as a separate way
footway	sidewalk		Sidewalk that runs typically along residential road. Use in combination with highway=footway or highway=path
footway	crossing		Crosswalk that connects two sidewalks on the opposite side of the road. Often recognized by painted markings on the road, road sign or traffic lights. Use in combination with highway=footway or highway=path. Useful information is presence of tactile_paving=*, wheelchair=* suitability and kerb=* represented as a node on the crosswalk way.
When sidewalk (or pavement) is tagged on the main roadway (see Sidewalks)
sidewalk	both | left | right | no		Specifies that the highways has sidewalks on both sides, on one side or no sidewalk at all
When cycleway is drawn as its own way (see Bicycle)
highway	cycleway		For designated cycleways. Add foot=*, though it may be avoided if default-access-restrictions do apply.
Cycleway tagged on the main roadway or lane (see Bicycle)
cycleway	lane		A lane is a route that lies within the roadway
cycleway	opposite		Used on ways with oneway=yes where it is legally permitted to cycle in both directions. Used together with oneway:bicycle=no.
cycleway	opposite_lane		Used on ways with oneway=yes that have a cycling lane going the opposite direction of normal traffic flow (a "contraflow" lane). Used together with oneway:bicycle=no.
cycleway	track		A track provides a route that is separated from traffic. In the United States, this term is often used to refer to bike lanes that are separated from lanes for cars by pavement buffers, bollards, parking lanes, and curbs. Note that a cycle track may alternatively be drawn as a separate way next to the road which is tagged as highway=cycleway.
cycleway	opposite_track		Used on ways with oneway=yes that have a cycling track going the opposite direction of normal traffic flow. Used together with oneway:bicycle=no.
cycleway	share_busway		There is a bus lane that cyclists are permitted to use.
cycleway	opposite_share_busway		Used on ways with oneway=yes that have a bus lane that cyclists are also permitted to use, and which go in the opposite direction to normal traffic flow (a "contraflow" bus lane). Used together with oneway:bicycle=no.
cycleway	shared_lane		Cyclists share a lane with motor vehicles, but there are markings indicating that they should share the lane with motorists. In some places these markings are known as "sharrows" ('sharing arrows') and this is the tag to use for those.
busway	lane		Bus lane on both sides of the road. (See also: Parallel scheme for bus/psv lane tagging lanes:bus=* / lanes:psv=*)
Street parking tagged on the main roadway (see Street parking)
parking :left / :right / :both (hereafter: parking:side)	lane | street_side | on_kerb | half_on_kerb | shoulder | no | separate | yes		Primary key to record parking along the street. Desribes the parking position of parked vehicles in the street.
parking:sideorientation=*	parallel | diagonal | perpendicular		To specify the orientation of parked vehicles if there is street parking.
Lifecycle (see also lifecycle prefixes)
highway	proposed		For planned roads, use with proposed=* and a value of the proposed highway value.
highway	construction		For roads under construction. Use construction=* to hold the value for the completed road.	different colours
Attributes
abutters	commercial | industrial | mixed | residential | retail etc.		See Key:abutters for more details.
bicycle_road	yes		A bicycle road is a road designated for bicycles. If residential streets get the status of bicycle roads, normally, by special signs, motor traffic is admitted with limited speed, often only for residents.
bus_bay	both | left | right		A bus bay outside the main carriageway for boarding/alighting
change	yes | no | not_right | not_left | only_right | only_left		Specify the allowed/forbidden lane changes
destination	<place name of destination>		Destination when following a linear feature
embankment	yes | dyke		A dyke or a raised bank to carry a road, railway, or canal across a low-lying or wet area.
embedded_rails	yes | <type of railway>		A highway on which non-railway traffic is also allowed has railway tracks embedded in it but the rails are mapped as separate ways.
ford	yes		The road crosses through stream or river, vehicles must enter any water.
ice_road	yes		A highway is laid upon frozen water basin, definitely doesn't exist in summer.
incline	Number % | ° | up | down		Incline steepness as percents ("5%") or degrees ("20°"). Positive/negative values indicate movement upward/downwards in the direction of the way.
junction	roundabout		This automatically implies oneway=yes, the oneway direction is defined by the sequential ordering of nodes within the Way. This applies on a way, tagged with highway=* already.
lanes	<number>		The number of traffic lanes for general purpose traffic, also for buses and other specific classes of vehicle.
lit	yes | no		Street lighting
maxspeed	<number>		Specifies the maximum legal speed limit on a road, railway or waterway.
motorroad	yes | no		The motorroad tag is used to describe highways that have motorway-like access restrictions but that are not a motorway.
mountain_pass	yes		The highest point of a mountain pass.
mtb:scale	0-6		Applies to highway=path and highway=track. A classification scheme for mtb trails (few inclination and downhill).
mtb:scale :uphill	0-5		A classification scheme for mtb trails for going uphill if there is significant inclination.
mtb:scale :imba	0-4		The IMBA Trail Difficulty Rating System shall be used for bikeparks. It is adapted to mtb trails with artificial obstacles.
mtb:description	Text		Applies to highway=path and highway=track. A key to input variable infos related to mtbiking on a way with human words
oneway	yes | no | reversible		Oneway streets are streets where you are only allowed to drive in one direction.
overtaking	yes | no | caution | both | forward | backward		Specifying sections of roads where overtaking is legally forbidden. Use overtaking:forward=yes/no/caution and overtaking:backward=yes/no/caution when it depends on driving direction.
parking:lane	parallel | diagonal | perpendicular | marked | no_parking | no_stopping | fire_lane.		Deprecated variant to map parking along streets. See section on street parking above or the street parking page for more details.
parking:condition	free | ticket | disc | residents | customers | private		Deprecated variant to map parking conditions along streets. See section on street parking above or the street parking page for more details.
passing_places	yes		A way which has frequent passing places (See also: highway=passing_place)
priority	forward | backward		Traffic priority for narrow parts of roads, e.g. narrow bridges.
priority_road	designated | yes_unposted | end		Specifying roads signposted as priority roads.
sac_scale	hiking | mountain_hiking | demanding_mountain_hiking | alpine_hiking | demanding_alpine_hiking | difficult_alpine_hiking		Applies to highway=path and highway=footway. A classification scheme for hiking trails.
service	alley | driveway | parking_aisle etc.		See Key:service for more details.
smoothness	excellent | good | intermediate | bad | very_bad | horrible | very_horrible | impassable		See Key:smoothness for more details.
surface	paved | unpaved | asphalt | concrete | paving_stones | sett | cobblestone | metal | wood | compacted | fine_gravel | gravel | pebblestone | plastic | grass_paver | grass | dirt | earth | mud | sand | ground		See Key:surface for more details.
tactile_paving	yes | no		A paving in the ground to be followed with a blindman's stick.	Not to be rendered on standard maps.
tracktype	grade1 | grade2 | grade3 | grade4 | grade5		To describe the quality of the surface. See Key:tracktype for more information.
traffic_calming	bump | hump | table | island | cushion | yes | etc.		See Key:traffic calming for more details.
trail_visibility	excellent | good | intermediate | bad | horrible | no		Applies to highway=path, highway=footway, highway=cycleway and highway=bridleway. A classification for hiking trails visibility
trailblazed	yes | no | poles | cairns | symbols		Applies to highway=*. Describing trail blazing and marking. See Key:trailblazed for more information.
trailblazed:visibility	excellent | good | intermediate | bad | horrible | no		Applies to trailblazed=*. A classification for visibility of trailblazing. See Key:trailblazed:visibility for more information.
turn	left | slight_left | through | right | slight_right | merge_to_left | merge_to_right | reverse		The key turn can be used to specify the direction in which a way or a lane will lead.
width	<number>		The width of a feature.
winter_road	yes		A highway functions during winter, probably can't be driven in summer.
Other highway features
highway	bus_stop		A small bus stop. Optionally one may also use public_transport=stop_position for the position where the vehicle stops and public_transport=platform for the place where passengers wait.
highway	crossing		A.k.a. crosswalk. Pedestrians can cross a street here; e.g., zebra crossing
highway	elevator		An elevator or lift, used to travel vertically, providing passenger and freight access between pathways at different floor levels.
highway	emergency_bay		An area beside a highway where you can safely stop your car in case of breakdown or emergency.
highway	emergency_access_point		Sign number which can be used to define your current position in case of an emergency. Use with ref=NUMBER_ON_THE_SIGN. See also emergency=access_point
highway	give_way		A "give way," or "Yield" sign
emergency	phone		A calling device can be used to tell on your current position in case of an emergency. Use with ref=NUMBER_ON_THE_SIGN
highway	milestone		Highway location marker
highway	mini_roundabout		Similar to roundabouts, but at the center there is either a painted circle or a fully traversable island. In case of an untraversable center island, junction=roundabout should be used. Rendered as anti-clockwise by default direction=anticlockwise. To render clockwise add the tag direction=clockwise.
highway	motorway_junction		Indicates a junction (UK) or exit (US). ref=* should be set to the exit number or junction identifier. (Some roads – e.g., the A14 – also carry junction numbers, so the tag may be encountered elsewhere despite its name)
highway	passing_place		The location of a passing space
highway	platform		A platform at a bus stop or station.
highway	rest_area		Place where drivers can leave the road to rest, but not refuel.
highway	services		A service station to get food and eat something, often found at motorways
highway	speed_camera		A fixed road-side or overhead speed camera.
highway	stop		A stop sign
highway	street_lamp		A street light, lamppost, street lamp, light standard, or lamp standard is a raised source of light on the edge of a road, which is turned on or lit at a certain time every night
highway	toll_gantry		A toll gantry is a gantry suspended over a way, usually a motorway, as part of a system of electronic toll collection. For a toll booth with any kind of barrier or booth see: barrier=toll_booth
highway	traffic_mirror		Mirror that reflects the traffic on one road when direct view is blocked.
highway	traffic_signals		Lights that control the traffic
highway	trailhead		Designated place to start on a trail or route
highway	turning_circle		A turning circle is a rounded, widened area usually, but not necessarily, at the end of a road to facilitate easier turning of a vehicle. Also known as a cul de sac.
highway	turning_loop		A widened area of a highway with a non-traversable island for turning around, often circular and at the end of a road.
highway	User Defined		All commonly used values according to Taginfo

Cycleway

Key	Value	Element	Comment	Example
cycleway	lane		A lane is a route that lies within the roadway
cycleway	track		A track is a route that is separate from the road.
cycleway	opposite_lane		lane in the opposite way (a "contraflow" lane)
cycleway	opposite_track		track in the opposite way (that is, separate from the road)
cycleway	opposite		just permitted to cycle in the opposite way (one way street except for cycles). Note - such streets are common in Belgium, the Netherlands and Denmark, for example, but are rare in the UK (although they do exist): often, instead, actually the street is two-way as normal for its whole length except for the very short section past the no-entry sign at the end, where cycles are excepted from the no-entry by means of a short lane separated by an island. This is called a "cycle plug". In some places this has been represented as very short oneway Way at the end with an adjacent cycleway, forming a little triangle with the road they join to.
cycleway	User Defined

Tracktype

Key	Value	Element	Comment	Example
tracktype	grade1		paved track or heavily compacted hardcore.
tracktype	grade2		unpaved track; surface of gravel or densely packed dirt/sand.
tracktype	grade3		unpaved track; A mixture of hard materials and soft. Quite compact
tracktype	grade4		unpaved track; tire marks, with plant growth in between. Mostly dirt, but some hard materials, or compressed materials mixed in.
tracktype	grade5		unpaved track; subtle tire marks, lack of hardcore, Soft with low grip, subtle on the landscape.

Waterway

Key	Value	Element	Comment	Example
waterway	river		For narrow rivers which will be rendered as a line. For larger rivers see Large Rivers (Other languages).
waterway	canal		An artificial open waterway used for transportation, waterpower, or irrigation.(Other languages).
waterway	stream		a naturally-forming waterway that is too thin to be classed as a river. Maybe you can just jump over it.
waterway	drain		An artificial waterway for carrying storm water or industrial discharge.	File:Example Drain.jpg
waterway	dock		An 'enclosed' area of water used for loading, unloading, building or repairing ships.
waterway	lock_gate		A thing to raise/lower the water level for vessels, often found in canals.
waterway	turning_point		A place to turn the driving direction for vessels, where the boats are longer than the river/canal is wide.
waterway	aqueduct		A bridge carrying a channel for supplying water (Other languages).
waterway	boatyard		Boat yard - a place for constructing, repairing and storing vessels out of the water.
waterway	water_point		A place to get fresh water e.g. for caravans.
waterway	waste_disposal		A place to release used water e.g. for caravans.
waterway	mooring		A place for anchoring vessels.
waterway	weir		A barrier built across a river, often to divert water for industrial purposes. Water can still flow over the top.	File:Example weir.jpg
waterway	dam		A wall built across a river or stream to impound the water. A dam normally does not have water flowing over the top of it.
waterway	User Defined

Railway

See also landuse=railway.

Key	Value	Element	Comment	Example
railway	station		Railway station (Other languages).
railway	halt		A small station, may not have a platform, trains may only stop on request.
railway	tram_stop		A tram stop is a place where a passenger can embark / disembark a tram.
railway	viaduct		A high or long bridge with intermediate support piers (Other languages).
railway	crossing		A point where pedestrians may cross.
railway	level_crossing		A point where rails and roads cross.
railway	rail		Full sized passenger or freight trains in the standard gauge for the country or state
railway	tram		One or two carriage rail vehicles, usually sharing motor road (Other languages)
railway	light_rail		Short/light passenger trains. Metro systems.
railway	subway		A passenger rail service running mostly underground.
railway	subway_entrance		The entrance to a subway station, usually going from surface to underground.
railway	preserved		A railway running historic trains, usually a tourist attraction (changed to preserved from preserved_rail as "rail" is redundant).
railway	disused		A section of railway which is no longer used but where the track and infrastructure remains in place.
railway	abandoned		The course of a former railway which has been abandoned and the track and infrastucture removed. Designation not to be used if the feature has been turned into another use, eg cycleway.
railway	narrow_gauge		Narrow-gauge passenger or freight trains.
railway	monorail		A railway with only a single rail.
railway	User Defined

Aeroway

Key	Value	Element	Comment	Example
aeroway	aerodrome		An Aerodrome (UK), Airport (US), see also military=airfield
aeroway	terminal		Airport passenger building
aeroway	helipad		Helicopter start/landing pad
aeroway	runway		A strip of land kept clear and set aside for airplanes to take off from and land on. (Other languages)
aeroway	taxiway		Where airplanes manouevre between runways and parking areas.
aeroway	apron		A place where planes are parked.
aeroway	User Defined

Aerialway

Key	Value	Element	Comment	Example
aerialway	cable_car		A cabin or gondola cable car run.
aerialway	chair_lift		An open chairlift run.
aerialway	drag_lift		An overhead tow-line for skiers and riders.

Power

Key	Value	Element	Comment	Example
power	tower		For towers or pylons carrying high voltage electricty cables. Normally constructed from steel latticework. Should not be used for electricity or telephone cables carried on single wooden poles.
power	line		A way following the path of power cables.
power	sub_station		A tag for electric substations.	File:800px-Transmissionsubstation.jpg

Man Made

Key	Value	Element	Comment	Example
man_made	works		Industrial building to produce something
man_made	beacon
man_made	survey_point		Triangulation pillars, geodetic vertices, and fixed equipment used by topographers (e.g. DGPS radio stations)
man_made	power_wind		Wind generated power, see also man_made=windmill
man_made	power_hydro		Power generated by water (from a river, lake, tide, ...)
man_made	power_fossil		Power generated by burning fossils (oil, gas, ...)
man_made	power_nuclear		Nuclear power plant
man_made	tower		A tall and often lean building or structure e.g. telecoms. Also see "Historic" below.
man_made	water_tower		A tower to store water in, usually found on hills beside or in a town
man_made	gasometer		http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasometer
man_made	reservoir_covered
man_made	lighthouse		Sends out a light beam to guide ships
man_made	windmill		Windmill, mostly ancient and out of order, see also man_made=power_wind
man_made	pier		A "bridge into the ocean", usually for recreation
man_made	pipeline		A pipe for carrying various fluids, such as water, gas, sewage
man_made	wastewater_plant		Facilities used to treat wastewater (known as sewage in some countries)
man_made	User Defined

Leisure

Key	Value	Element	Comment	Example
leisure	sports_centre
leisure	golf_course
leisure	stadium		A major sports arena with substantial tiered seating
leisure	track		e.g. running, cycle-racing, greyhound, horses
leisure	pitch		e.g. a field for playing football/soccer, cricket, baseball sports
leisure	water_park
leisure	marina		For mooring leisure yachts and motor boats
leisure	slipway		Boats can be launched here	File:800px-Swanage lifeboat on its slipway 1.JPG
leisure	fishing
leisure	nature_reserve
leisure	park
leisure	playground
leisure	garden
leisure	common		An area where the public can walk anywhere (UK)
leisure	User Defined

Amenity

Key	Value	Element	Comment	Example
amenity	pub		A place selling beer and other alcoholic drinks; may also provide food or accommodation (UK)
amenity	biergarten		http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biergarten
amenity	nightclub		a nightclub
amenity	cafe		a cafe
amenity	restaurant		Restaurant (not fast food)
amenity	fast_food		Fast Food Restaurant
amenity	parking		Car Park. Only nodes will get a parking symbol. Areas will be colored. Streets on car parking are often tagged highway=service	Concept example
amenity	bicycle_parking		Parking for bicycles
amenity	bicycle_rental		Rent a bicycle (only big rental networks)
amenity	car_rental		Rent a car
amenity	car_sharing		Share a car
amenity	taxi		A place where taxis wait for passengers.
amenity	fuel		Petrol station; gas station; marine fuel; ... Streets to petrol stations are often tagged highway=service.
amenity	telephone		Public telephone
amenity	toilets		Public toilets (might require a fee)
amenity	recycling		recycling facilities (bottle banks etc.)
amenity	public_building
amenity	townhall		A town hall building, regardless of whether it is currently used for administrative purposes
amenity	place_of_worship		A church, mosque, or temple, etc. Note that you also need religion=<whatever>, usually denomination=<whatever> and preferably name=<whatever> as well as amenity=place_of_worship. See the article for details.
amenity	grave_yard		A (smaller) place of burial, often you'll find a church nearby. Large places should be landuse=cemetery instead.
amenity	post_office
amenity	post_box		Alternative mail-carriers can be tagged via "operator=";
amenity	school		school and grounds
amenity	university		a University campus or buildings
amenity	college		a College campus or buildings
amenity	pharmacy		Pharmacy dispensing=yes dispensing=no or omitted
amenity	hospital
amenity	library		A public library (municipal, university, ...) to borrow books from.
amenity	police		A Police station
amenity	fire_station		A Fire station
amenity	bus_station		Bus Station (this is a big station, a bus stop is highway=bus_stop)
amenity	theatre		a theatre or opera house
amenity	cinema		a cinema
amenity	arts_centre		an arts centre
amenity	courthouse		a place where justice is dispensed
amenity	prison		a prison
amenity	bank		a bank (for a bank that also has an ATM, use amenity=bank;atm)
amenity	bureau_de_change		Bureau de change, Currency exchange, Wechsel, Cambio - a place to change foreign bank notes and travellors cheques
amenity	atm		an ATM or cash point
amenity	fountain		A fountain for cultural / decorational / recreational purposes.
amenity	User Defined

Shop

Key	Value	Element	Comment	Example
shop	User Defined		Feel free to use/invent values suitable for your country, a small global set is also being developed for ease of rendering and searching
shop	supermarket		Supermarket
shop	convenience		Convenience Store - a small local store usually selling a small selection of food items plus things like simple first aid, household, stationary and car items
shop	butcher		Selling meat
shop	bicycle		A shop that sells bicycles, bicycle equipment and may rent or repair them
shop	doityourself		A shop that sells tools and supplies to do-it-yourself householders, gardening, ...
shop	dry_cleaning		A shop or kiosk offering a clothes dry cleaning service. The actual cleaning may be done elsewhere.
shop	outdoor		A shop that sells camping, walking, climbing, fishing and other outdoor sports equipment (and GPSes)
shop	kiosk		A small shop on the pavement that sells magazines, tobacco, newspapers, sweets and stamps.

Tourism

Key	Value	Element	Comment	Example
tourism	information
tourism	hotel		Wikipedia:Hotel
tourism	motel		Wikipedia:Motel
tourism	guest_house		Wikipedia:Guest House
tourism	hostel		Wikipedia:Hostel
tourism	camp_site		A place where you can pitch a tent
tourism	caravan_site		A place where you can park a caravan overnight or for longer periods
tourism	picnic_site		A place where you can have an outdoor picnic. May have facilities such as tables and benches.
tourism	viewpoint		A place, often high, with a good view of surrounding countryside or notable buildings
tourism	theme_park
tourism	attraction
tourism	zoo
tourism	artwork		A tag for public pieces of art.
tourism	User Defined

Historic

Key	Value	Element	Comment	Example
historic	castle		Other languages
historic	monument		An object, especially large and made of stone, built to remember and show respect to a person or group of people. Other languages
historic	memorial		Much like a monument, but smaller. Might range from a WWII memorial to a simple plate on a wall.
historic	museum		Other languages
historic	archaeological_site		Excavation place for ancient remains
historic	ruins		Remains of a castle or alike, usage was abandoned
historic	User Defined

See also railway=preserved for historic trains.

Landuse

Key	Value	Element	Comment	Example
landuse	farm		Animals, vegetables, flowers, fruit growing (Other languages)
landuse	quarry		Surface mineral extraction (Other languages)
landuse	landfill		Place where waste is dumped upon. Other languages
landuse	basin		Other languages
landuse	reservoir		Stores water, may covered or uncovered (Other languages)
landuse	forest		Managed forest or woodland plantation (Other languages). See also natural=wood
landuse	allotments		A piece of land given over to local residents for growing vegetables and flowers (UK). "Kleingärten" (DE)
landuse	residential		Predominantly houses or apartment buildings
landuse	retail		Predominantly shops
landuse	commercial		Predominantly offices
landuse	industrial		Predominantly workshops, factories or warehouses
landuse	brownfield		Describes land scheduled for new development where old buildings have been demolished and cleared	File:Landuse-brownfield.png
landuse	greenfield		Describes land scheduled for new development where there have been no buildings before
landuse	railway		Area for railway use, generally off-limits to the general public
landuse	construction		"Under construction" site, should become something different once the construction is finished
landuse	military		For land areas owned/used by the military for whatever purpose
landuse	cemetery		Place for burials. Smaller places (e.g. with a church nearby) may use amenity=grave_yard instead.
landuse	village_green		An area of common land, usually grass, in the centre of a village (quintessentially English - defined separately from 'common land' under the Commons Registration ACt 1965 and the Commons Act 2006)
landuse	recreation_ground		An open green space for general recreation, which may include pitches, nets and so on, usually municipal but possibly also private to colleges or companies
landuse	User Defined

Military

See also landuse=military.

Key	Value	Element	Comment	Example
military	airfield		A place where military planes take off and land
military	bunker		Buildings, often build from concrete, to stand even heavier fire.
military	barracks		Buildings where soldiers live and work.
military	danger_area		Usually a large marked area around something like a firing range, bombing range, etc which is an exclusion zone.
military	range		Where soldiers have practice with their weapons (firing, bombing, artillery, ...).
military	User Defined

Natural

Key	Value	Element	Comment	Example
natural	spring		A place where ground water flows naturally from the ground ((hydrology, land) (3596) Other languages)
natural	peak		top of a hill or mountain
natural	glacier		Areas (or peaks) covered with ice throughout the year
natural	volcano		A volcano, either dormant, extinct or active
natural	cliff		Rock face
natural	scree		Loose rock
natural	scrub		Uncultivated land covered with bushes or stunted trees
natural	fell		Bare upper lying uncultivated land principally covered with grass and often grazed.
natural	heath		Bare lower lying uncultivated land with bushes but little or no tree cover.
natural	wood		Natural woodland (trees). See also landuse=forest
natural	marsh		waterlogged area
natural	water		Lakes, etc. Always keep water on the right side of the way and land on the left side, in relation to the sequence of nodes in the Way for it to show correctly on rendered maps.
natural	coastline		The coastline should run clockwise around water and anti-clockwise around land, i.e. land on the left side and water on the right side of the way (that is, according to the sequence of nodes in the way), for it to show correctly.
natural	mud		(Other languages)
natural	beach		Beach: sand, gravel or pebble (Other languages)
natural	bay		Bay (Other languages)
natural	land		Land that exists within another area, such as a lake. (i.e an island). Keep water on the right and land on the left side in relation to sequence of nodes in the Way. Layering may also be required
natural	User Defined

Non Physical

Route

Key	Value	Element	Comment	Example
route	bus		The route a public bus takes
route	ferry		The route a ferry takes from terminal to terminal
route	flight
route	ncn		Deprecated. See Cycle routes for tagging details.
route	subsea
route	ski
route	tour
route	pub_crawl		(UK/US) An (unofficial!) route connecting a series of pubs according to some pre-arranged plan or theme
route	User Defined

Boundary

Key	Value	Element	Comment	Example
boundary	administrative		e.g. State, county, local council (unclear how these are specified. Clarify!). Use therefore border_type=
boundary	civil
boundary	political		Electoral boundaries
boundary	national_park		Area of outstanding natural beauty, set aside for conservation and for recreation (Other languages)

Sport

Key	Value	Element	Comment	Example
sport	10pin		10-pin Bowling
sport	athletics
sport	baseball
sport	basketball
sport	bowls		Lawn bowls
sport	climbing		Rock climbing - natural or articial climbs (climbing walls)
sport	cricket
sport	cricket_nets		Cricket nets for practise
sport	croquet
sport	cycling
sport	dog_racing
sport	equestrian
sport	football		(Clarification is needed here; does this refer to the game known as "soccer" in North America, or to something like American/Canadian football? Given that sport=soccer is also listed, I'm inclined towards the latter interpretation... Dshpak 23:10, 4 August 2007 (BST)). A less ambiguous way would be to use the true (internationally recognised) names for these sports, i.e. Association Football, Rugby Union Football, American Football, Rugby League Football, Australian Rules Football, etc.
sport	golf
sport	gymnastics
sport	hockey
sport	horse_racing
sport	motor
sport	multi
sport	pelota
sport	racquet
sport	rugby
sport	skating
sport	skateboard
sport	soccer
sport	swimming
sport	skiing
sport	table_tennis
sport	tennis		Tennis courts

Abutters

Key	Value	Element	Comment	Example
abutters	residential		predominantly houses and apartments
abutters	retail		predominantly shops
abutters	industrial		predominantly workshops, factories, warehouses
abutters	commercial		office buildings, business parks, etc.
abutters	mixed		where there is no clear predominance, for example mixed shops and residences in an inner city ring

Accessories

Key	Value	Element	Comment	Example
fenced	yes/no
lit	yes/no		Street lighting --- this tag is listed on Deprecated_features but there is no alternative proposed

Properties

Key	Value	Element	Comment	Example
area	yes		Making a closed way render solid
bridge	yes		A bridge, use together with the layer tag.	Concept example
tunnel	yes		A tunnel, use together with the layer tag.	Concept example
mountain_pass	yes		The highest point of a mountain pass.
cutting	yes		A cut in the land to carry a road or tram. Mostly in hilly landscape. Source	Picture
embankment	yes		A raised bank to carry a road, railway, or canal across a low-lying or wet area. Source
lanes	Num		Number of travel lanes in each (or only permitted) direction
layer	-5 to 5		This numerical tag used to be `elevation', however it got renamed due to confusion with the ele and altitude tags used by tracklog imports.	layer:-1 layer:1 (not +1)
surface	paved/unpaved
ele	Num		Altitude (meter over sea level)
width	Num		Width of way in metres
est_width	Num		A rough guess of the width of way in metres
depth	Num		Depth in metres
est_depth	Num		A rough guess of the Depth in metres
start_date	Date		Date feature was created
end_date	Date		Date feature was removed
operator	User Defined		The operator tag can be used to name a company or corporation who's responsible for a certain object or who operates it	"A Company"

Restrictions

Key	Value	Element	Comment	Example
access	yes/private/ permissive/ unknown/no		General access permission. 'permissive' means there is no legally-enshrined right of access, but the landowner has allowed it at his/her discretion. 'private' means access is restricted to the landowner.
bicycle	yes/private/ permissive/ unknown/no		Access permission for bicycles. For values see above
foot	yes/private/ permissive/ unknown/no		Access permission for pedestrians. For values see above
goods	yes/private/ permissive/ unknown/no		Access permission for light commercial vehicles (LCV) or goods vehicles of category N1 with a maximum allowed mass of up to 3.5 tonnes. For values see above
hgv	yes/private/ permissive/ unknown/no		Access permission for Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGV) (UK), e.g. for goods vehicles of category N2 and N3 (trucks, lorries) with a maximum allowed mass over 3.5 tonnes. For values see above
horse	yes/private/ permissive/ unknown/no		Access permission for horse riders. For values see above
motorcycle	yes/private/ permissive/ unknown/no		Access permission for motorcycles. For values see above
motorcar	yes/private/ permissive/ unknown/no		Access permission for (motor) cars. For values see above
psv	yes/private/ permissive/ unknown/no		Access permission for Public Service Vehicles (UK), e.g. buses and coaches. See above
motorboat	yes/private/ permissive/ unknown/no
boat	yes/private/ permissive/ unknown/no
oneway	yes (or true/1)/ -1/ no (or false)		The permitted direction for a way is indicated by sequential order of nodes within the way (enable arrows in JOSM!). -1 for oneway direction opposite to the sequence of nodes.	Concept example
noexit	yes		A dead end road/cul de sac with only one access road
date_on	Date		Date restriction starts
date_off	Date		Date restriction stops
day_on	Day of Week		Day restriction starts
day_off	Day of Week		Day restriction stops
hour_on	Time		Time restriction starts
hour_off	Time		Time restriction stops
maxweight	Num		Weight limit in tonnes
maxheight	Num		height limit in metres
maxwidth	Num		width limit in metres
maxlength	Num		length limit in metres
maxspeed	Num		Maximum speed in km/h
minspeed	Num		Minimum speed in km/h
toll	yes		Toll or fee must be paid to access way, see also highway=toll_booth

Naming

Name

Key	Value	Element	Comment	Example
name	User Defined		The common default name
int_name	User Defined		International name
nat_name	User Defined		National name
reg_name	User Defined		Regional name
loc_name	User Defined		Local name
old_name	User Defined		Historical name
name:lg	User Defined		Name in different language eg. name:fr=Londres. See: Bilingual_street_names

References

Key	Value	Element	Comment	Example
ref	User Defined		The common default reference (eg M25)
int_ref	User Defined		International reference (eg E30)
nat_ref	User Defined		National reference
reg_ref	User Defined		Regional reference
loc_ref	User Defined		Local reference
old_ref	User Defined		Historical reference
ncn_ref	User Defined		The number reference (eg 54) of a National Cycle Network route. In the UK, national routes have single-or double-digit numbers with a red background on the signs.
rcn_ref	User Defined		The number of the regional cycle network. In the UK the regional routes have double-digit numbers with a blue background on the signs.	(Sign showing both national and regional spur).
lcn_ref	User Defined		The number of the local cycle network
source ref	User Defined		To record the URI, source reference (eg Landsat) or other link to physical sources.
icao	User Defined		ICAO International airport codes
iata	User Defined		IATA International airport codes

Places

Key	Value	Element	Comment	Example
place	continent		One of the continents: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, Australia (from largest in size to smallest)
place	country		country (on areas and ways, border_type=nation is used instead)
place	state		state
place	region		region
place	county		county
place	city		As defined by national/state/provincial government. Often over 100,000 people
place	town		As defined by national/state/provincial government. Generally smaller than a city, between 10,000 and 100,000 people
place	village		As defined by national/state/provincial government. Generally smaller than a town, below 10,000 people
place	hamlet		As defined by national/state/provincial government. Generally smaller than a village, just a few houses
place	suburb		Named area of town or city. Often a suburb is its own municipality, with separate government, and should be tagged as such.
place	locality		An unpopulated, named place.
place	island		identifies an island (see also natural=land)

See OSM_tags_for_routing for the guideline to automatic interpretation of this tag.

See also the FAQ for a description how to use areas and nodes when tagging a place.

Key	Value	Element	Comment	Example
place_name	User Defined		Only for areas. For nodes use 'name' instead (see Notes). It may do no harm to use both, though.
place_numbers	User Defined		For property numbers
postal_code	User Defined		The postal code
is_in	User Defined		For categorisation - for example place=suburb; name=Eccleshall; is_in=Sheffield,South Yorkshire,England,UK

Annotation

some keys are allowed with one of the following values.

Key	Value	Element	Comment	Example
note	User defined		A note to yourself or to other mappers. There is a map where you can view notes
description	User defined		Text that might be viewable to the end user (perhaps using a search system or a map with pop-ups).
image	URI		Reference to an image (use the "source_ref" key below when the image is referencing the source of the element)
source	extrapolation		Extension of information from a known source
source	knowledge		Local or common knowledge
source	historical		from out-of-copyright mapping or other historical document
source	image		photograph or video
source	survey		gpx track or other physical survey
source	voice		Voice recordings, eg dictaphone
source	User defined
source_ref	User defined		To record the URI, source reference (eg Landsat) or other link to physical sources.

Editor keys

These keys are set by the editor (usually JOSM or Potlatch) and are not intended to be changed manually.

Key	Value	Element	Comment	Example
created_by	defined by editor		Identifies the editing software which carried out this edit.
history	defined by editor		Used to identify a way that has been recovered from an earlier version.