OS MasterMap Topography Layer® - GIS Vector Format Maps DXF | SHP | GML - Email delivery in 20 minutes

Q: What’s the difference between GIS formats like GeoPackage, GML, Shapefile, and GeoTIFF?

Different GIS map formats serve unique purposes depending on your system and project. GeoPackage is a modern, open-source format ideal for advanced GIS analysis and spatial databases. GML is XML-based and useful for detailed data exchange and interoperability. Shapefile (SHP) is widely supported for standard workflows and spatial queries. GeoTIFF is a raster format used for visualisation and basic GIS compatibility.

Q: Can you provide OS data clipped specifically to my Shapefile boundary?

Yes, we can supply OS data clipped to your Shapefile boundary. This is ideal for large-scale or targeted projects. However, due to OS pricing structures, it may be more cost-effective to select a slightly larger standard coverage area.

Q: How often is OS MasterMap updated?

OS MasterMap is updated continuously and in cycles. Updates are delivered about every six weeks. New developments such as roads or buildings are typically captured within six months, while natural features follow regular update cycles.

Q: What level of accuracy can I expect from OS MasterMap?

OS MasterMap offers high positional accuracy—approximately 1 metre in urban areas and up to ±2.5 metres in rural or moorland regions. It meets national standards for geographic precision in GIS applications.

Available Formats via Email: GIS Formats: SHP | GML | GPKG | GeoTIFF and DWG | DXF format for CAD

Ordnance Survey Premium Licenced Partner • Fully Licenced official OS mapping • Scalable and Layered OS Vector Data • No sign-up needed – checkout instantly

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OS MasterMap GIS vector data in GeoPackage, Shapefile and GML formats

GeoTIFF georeferenced raster output with custom rotation

OS MasterMap Topography Layer - colour and black and white styles

DWG Colour - full OS specification with solid fills across 50+ named layers

OS Building Height Attributes - 3D building geometry from BHA data

DWG Lines - clean line work for survey overlay and spatial analysis

DWG Lines Basic - simplified single-layer output

OS Terrain 5 DTM and contour overlay on MasterMap base data

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GIS vector data in GeoPackage, Shapefile and GML - up to seven attributed layers per output Define your site area at any angle - rotate the map extent to follow a road, river, boundary or building line OS MasterMap for GIS and CAD users - colour and black and white rendering options DWG Colour - full OS specification with solid fills across 50+ named layers - Building Heights included 3D building geometry from OS Building Height Attributes included with GIS vector and DWG Colour formats DWG or DXF Lines - clean line work ready for survey overlay and spatial context DWG Lines Basic - simplified layers for a lighter, faster base map Optional OS Terrain 5 contours and DTM height points on dedicated layers

Download Samples

GIS Formats

GPKG - GeoPackage ↓ GML ↓ SHP - Esri ↓ GeoTIFF | Colour ↓ GeoTIFF | BW ↓

DWG Colour with BHA

DWG - Colour ↓

CAD Lines

DWG - Lines ↓ More samples ↓

OS MasterMap GIS Data - GeoPackage, Shapefile, GML & DWG Colour

Order OS MasterMap Topography Layer data as attributed GIS vectors in GeoPackage, Shapefile or GML - or as a full-colour DWG with 3D building heights. Every format is clipped to your exact site boundary and delivered by email in British National Grid (EPSG:27700). GIS outputs include up to seven clean layers with full OS feature attributes, ready for analysis in QGIS, ArcGIS Pro, MapInfo or FME.

What You Get

GeoPackage (GPKG)

The modern OGC standard - a single-file SQLite database with all layers, full geometry and spatial indexing. No sidecar files. Natively supported in QGIS 3, ArcGIS Pro and FME.

Shapefile & GML

Industry-standard vector formats for ArcGIS, MapInfo, FME and INSPIRE workflows. Full OS attribute set on every feature with complete geometry and feature codes.

GeoTIFF Raster

Georeferenced raster image at 400 DPI with embedded CRS metadata. Available in colour or black and white. Ideal for background mapping in any GIS or CAD platform.

DWG Colour with BHA

Full-colour AutoCAD drawing to OS specification with solid fills, hatches, symbols and 3D building heights across 50+ named layers. Also available in DWG and DXF line formats.

Building Height Attributes

OS BHA data included at no extra cost - absolute and relative building heights for 3D extrusion, shadow analysis and massing studies. Available in both GIS and DWG Colour formats.

OS Terrain 5 - Optional

Overlay DTM height points and contour lines at 0.5 m, 1 m, 2 m or 5 m intervals onto your GIS or CAD output. ASCII grid files also available for surface modelling in QGIS, ArcGIS or Civil 3D.

How It Works

Draw your area of interest on the map, pick a GIS or CAD format and we clip the data to your exact boundary. Most GIS orders are delivered by email within minutes as a single ZIP file. Rectangular extents can be rotated to any angle, or send us a GeoJSON, Shapefile, KML or DXF boundary for a bespoke area clip. Flexible 1, 2 or 3-year OS licence terms with unlimited internal use.

Ordnance Survey Premium Licensed Partner

UK Map Centre LLP holds OS Premium Partner status (AC0000848283). Every GIS data cut and DWG output carries a current OS licence, accepted by local authorities, Land Registry and the Planning Portal across England, Scotland and Wales.

More Sample Downloads

GIS Formats

CAD Users

DWG Lines Basic ↓ DWG Colour with BHA ↓ DWG Lines Multi-Layer ↓ DXF Lines Basic ↓ DXF Colour with BHA ↓ DXF Lines Multi-Layer ↓ DWG Colour | DTM | Contours ↓ DWG Lines + DTM ↓ DWG DTM Only ↓ DWG DTM & 2M Contours 3D ↓ OS Terrain 5 ASCII ↓

Guides & Tutorials

Tips and walkthroughs to help you get the most from your GIS and CAD data:

About UK Map Centre LLP

UKMapCentre.com is a sustaining member of QGIS — QGIS Supporter

UKMapCentre.com is a member of The Association for Geographic Information — AGI Member

Ordnance Survey Licensed Partner — OS Licensed Partner

Alternative Products

Standalone OS MasterMap for CAD Extracts: PDF | JPG | TIFF - 1:1250 Extracts: PDF | JPG | TIFF - 1:2500 3D OS MasterMap® Topography Layer

Product:	OS MasterMap® Topography Layer - GIS & CAD Formats
Base Mapping	OS MasterMap Topography Layer®
Scale	Variable, scalable in GIS and CAD
Coverage	Full Great Britain coverage (excludes Northern Ireland - see OSNI)
Format	GIS: GeoPackage, GML, GeoTiff and CAD: DWG, DXF
Software Required	QGIS, ArcGIS, or AutoCAD, Revit, or similar GIS tools
Product Price	From: £23.22 + vat
Delivery Method	Digital delivery by email
Turnaround Time	Email: Target time of 20 mins (7 days a week 7am to 11pm) - Larger files may take longer to generate
Currency	Current - Latest available direct from Ordnance Survey
Samples	Click here to download sample \| GeoPackage Click here to download sample \| GML Click here to download sample \| GML-MapInfo Click here to download sample \| Esri-shp Click here to download sample \| GeoTiff Click here to download sample \| DWG Colour Click here to download sample \| DWG Click here to download sample \| DXF Click here to download sample - Mastermap with Contours & DTM \| DXF
Key Features	Includes North arrow, Scale bar, Licence number, National grid coordinates
Uses	Designed for GIS software, the OS MasterMap® Topography Layer is delivered in layered vector formats, enabling professionals to produce accurate maps and run spatial analysis. Available in multiple formats with optional elevation data (contours or DTM). The formats available support land planning, infrastructure design, and terrain modelling. Extended licence terms are available from 1 to 3 years.
Number of Printouts	Unlimited use across GIS or CAD for the duration of your licence (1, 2 or 3 years).
Options Info	Contours are derived from the OS Terrain® 5 and are not subject to Ordnance Surveys accuracy/specifications and are designed to provide a 2 dimensional guideline only. For 3D modeling use the DTM points as they have a Z(height) value attached to them
Licence Term	Please go to the Licence tab below
OS Terrain (Height)Accuracy	OS Statement: OS Terrain® has been measured against with GPS points in a range of sample areas to provide a root mean square error (RMSE) value for the height points in each geographic area; urban and major communication routes, rural, and mountain and moorland. Urban and major communication routes = 1.5 metres RMSE* Rural = 2.5 metres RMSE Mountain and moorland = 2.5 metres RMSE * Root mean square error. This is the average of the mean heights collected in a sample area. The contours are generated from the OS Terrain® 5 using a third party application. They are not subject to Ordnance Surveys accuracy / specifications and are designed to provide a 2 dimensional guideline only.
OS Terrain (Height Option): Further Reading	OS Terrain 5 User Guide \| OS Doc

Item	Permitted	Alternative Product / Notes
Digital submission to any online planning portal		Export at required scales, e.g. 1:500, 1:1250, 1:200, from a single purchased file.
Add basic content to this Product -i.e. outline a property in red for purposes of planning permission.		Within a GIS setup or CAD package
GIS Use		Data is already georeferenced
Ready for CAD		Data is already georeferenced
Printing Extra Copies		Unlimited outputs or scales via your software within the license term.
Permit your Contractors to use the purchased Licensed Data		Submit Contractor Form. Select the number of users or terminals before purchase for compliance - see Contractor Form .docx below.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What’s the difference between GIS formats like GeoPackage, GML, Shapefile, and GeoTIFF?

Different GIS map formats each serve unique purposes depending on your system and project.

GeoPackage: A modern, open-source format ideal for advanced GIS analysis, spatial databases, and mobile mapping.

GML: An XML-based format designed for detailed data exchange and interoperability between various GIS applications.

Shapefile (SHP): A widely supported vector format suitable for standard GIS workflows, mapping, and spatial queries.

GeoTIFF: A simple raster image format ideal for basic visualisation, elevation display, and easy compatibility across GIS viewers and software.

Can I access GIS map services online for my area?

Yes. You can search by postcode, boundary, or county to order Ordnance Survey MasterMap data online. Our website provides fast access to licensed map services, with layered data ready for use in your preferred program.

Can you provide OS data clipped specifically to my Shapefile boundary?

Yes, we can supply OS data precisely clipped to your provided Shapefile boundary, beneficial for large-scale or specific-area projects. However, due to Ordnance Survey pricing structures, it can often be just as cost-effective to select a slightly larger standard coverage area.

How often is OS MasterMap updated?

Ordnance Survey’s MasterMap Topography Layer is maintained through continuous and cyclic revision, with updates delivered every six weeks on average. Continuous revision captures new infrastructure developments (e.g. buildings and roads) within six months, while natural features are updated in regular cycles.

This ensures your GIS mapping system remains current for spatial analysis, planning and accurate geographic information.

What level of accuracy can I expect from OS MasterMap?

OS MasterMap is exceptionally accurate for a national-scale dataset. GIS features are recorded to within ~1 m relative accuracy in urban areas and up to ±2.5 m in rural or moorland regions, meeting high standards of positional precision.

Need help selecting the right GIS maps for your project? Contact us for expert assistance and fast access to licensed OS data, built to support your plans now and in the future.

OS MasterMap Topography Layer® - GIS Vector Format Maps DXF | SHP | GML - Email delivery in 20 minutes

Available Formats via Email: GIS Formats: SHP | GML | GPKG | GeoTIFF and DWG | DXF format for CAD

Download Samples

OS MasterMap GIS Data - GeoPackage, Shapefile, GML & DWG Colour

What You Get

GeoPackage (GPKG)

Shapefile & GML

GeoTIFF Raster

DWG Colour with BHA

Building Height Attributes

OS Terrain 5 - Optional

How It Works

Ordnance Survey Premium Licensed Partner

More Sample Downloads

GIS Formats

CAD Users

Guides & Tutorials

About UK Map Centre LLP

Alternative Products

LICENSING AND LEGAL

Ordnance Survey Licensing

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What’s the difference between GIS formats like GeoPackage, GML, Shapefile, and GeoTIFF?

Can I access GIS map services online for my area?

Can you provide OS data clipped specifically to my Shapefile boundary?

How often is OS MasterMap updated?

What level of accuracy can I expect from OS MasterMap?

Need help selecting the right GIS maps for your project? Contact us for expert assistance and fast access to licensed OS data, built to support your plans now and in the future.