Key:highway

highway
Description
The highway tag is the primary tag used for any kind of street or way.
Group: Highways
Used on these elements
Documented values: 72
Implies
access=yes
Useful combination
Access maxheight=* maxwidth=* maxspeed=* maxweight=* oneway=* width=*
Status: de facto
Tools for this tag
taginfo · CH · CZ · FR · GB · HU · IE · IN · JP · PL overpass-turbo
Wikidata
Q57977870

Main article: Highways

Usage

Main article: Highways

The key highway=* is the main key used for identifying any kind of road, street or path. The value of the key helps indicate the importance of the highway within the road network as a whole. See the table below for an ordered list from most important (motorway) to least important (service).

See Highway:International equivalence for how different countries apply these tags to their own road networks.

Note that highway=* distinguishes roads by function and importance rather by their physical characteristic and legal classification. Usually this things are highly correlated, but OSM is not obligated to copy official road classifications.

This key is also used for features like bus stops, service areas, pedestrian crossings and other highway related things (see below).

Examples

We have about a dozen-and-a-half examples each of urban and exurban tagging, with photos.

Values

See below for details of commonly used values:

Highway

Key	Value	Element	Comment	Rendering carto	Photo
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.
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.
highway	bridleway		For horse riders. Equivalent to highway=path + horse=designated.
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.
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=* only if default-access-restrictions do not 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=*)
Lifecycle
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
destination	<place name of destination>		Destination when following a linear feature
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:condition	free / ticket / disc / residents / customers / private		Specifying the parking conditions (terms). See parking:condition=* for more details.
parking:lane	parallel / diagonal / perpendicular / marked / no_parking / no_stopping / fire_lane.		Specifying the parking space. See parking:lane=* for more details.
passing_places	yes		A way which has frequent passing places (See also: highway=passing_place)
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
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
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	speed_camera		A fixed road-side or overhead speed camera.
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	services		A service station to get food and eat something, often found at motorways
highway	stop		A stop sign
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	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	User Defined		All commonly used values according to Taginfo

Assumptions

Unpaved road of major importance, example of highway=tertiary on Highway Tag Africa

Forestry road not used as link between settlements, correctly tagged as highway=track + surface=asphalt + tracktype=grade1

Only highway=motorway/motorway_link implies anything about quality. Other road types, from highway=trunk through highway=tertiary to highway=residential=residential/service or highway=path/footway/cycleway/track do not imply anything about road quality. In area with poor infrastructure road forming main road network, of the highest importance in region should be tagged highway=trunk - no matter whether it is high-quality wide asphalt road or narrow low-quality tract worse than highway=service in other regions. Some primary roads in Africa are unpaved.

In absence of surface, tracktype and other tags describing quality of road one may try to extrapolate this information from value of highway tag. Note that this needs tuning for every region. Typical highway=primary may be drastically different in various places across the planet.

It is highly recommended to add and use tags describing road quality like surface. In one region it may be obvious that all highway=tertiary are paved and highway=track unpaved but no assumption like that will work worldwide. Also, tagging at least some common values allows to automatically build set of defaults for each area.

See also

• Statistics about tagged roads (length for each country with history, possibility to display info about specific road class)