Download Contour Lines for Wisconsin
Generate topographic contour lines for any area in Wisconsin, from the USGS 3D Elevation Program's lidar elevation model, at any interval from 1 ft.
Ready to generate contour lines?
Pick an area on the map, choose an interval and see the contours straight away. No account, nothing to install.
Start creating contours →What are contour lines?
Contour lines are lines on a map that join points of equal elevation. Close together, the ground is steep; far apart, it is gentle. A closed loop is a hilltop or a hollow, and a run of V-shaped bends points up a gully or down a ridge. They are the most compact way to show the shape of the land, which is why they sit under every hiking map, site plan and grading drawing.
Why use Wisconsin Elevation Tools?
- Lidar detail: contours are generated from the USGS 3DEP seamless bare-earth model, 3.3 ft per pixel where lidar has been flown. Lidar coverage and source dates vary across Wisconsin. Check your site against the USGS 3DEP work-unit index; an unavailable lookup means coverage is unknown.
- Your interval, in feet: 1 ft, 2 ft, 5 ft, 10 ft, 20 ft, 40 ft, 100 ft, rather than the one fixed interval printed on a published map sheet.
- Formats for every program: GeoJSON and Shapefile for GIS, DXF for CAD in Wisconsin State Plane, US survey feet, KML for Google Earth, SVG for design and PDF for print.
- Real boundaries: in counties that publish an open parcel service, click a property and the contours on the map stop at its line, and so do the GeoJSON and KML files saved from the Contour Lines panel. Download Data files cover the rectangle around it.
- Nothing to install: it all runs in the browser.
How to download contour lines
- Select your area. Search a place or an address and select, draw or upload an area up to 7.5 miles per side, or use the Property tool to pick a parcel.
- Choose a contour interval. 1 or 2 ft for a house lot or a driveway, 5 or 10 ft for farm acreage in glacial country, 20 ft or more for steep country such as the bluffs and coulees of the Driftless Area.
- Pick your format. The Contour Lines panel itself saves GeoJSON and KML, clipped to the parcel when you selected one; the Download Data tool covers every format below, for the rectangle around your area:
- GeoJSON or Shapefile for QGIS, ArcGIS and other GIS software
- DXF for AutoCAD and Civil 3D
- PDF for a printable map sheet
- KML for Google Earth
- SVG for graphic design and laser cutting
- STL or OBJ for a 3D terrain model
- Download. Download Data files carry the USGS credit and state what share of their area fell outside full-resolution lidar.
Create your contour map now
Contours render on the map as soon as you pick an interval, so you can judge the result before you export it.
Common uses for contour lines
Hiking and trail running
Contours show where a trail climbs, where it traverses and where the ridges and drainages run. Pair them with an elevation profile before a day in the Kettle Moraine or on the bluffs at Devils Lake.
Land development and building
Contours are the first layer of a site plan: where the flat ground is, how water will move and how much grading a building pad needs. They help you prepare for a conversation with your county planning department about a building permit; they do not replace the survey the county may ask for.
GIS and mapping
GeoJSON and Shapefile exports carry each line's elevation in feet, with a meters field alongside, ready for analysis and cartography in QGIS or ArcGIS.
3D printing
The same area can be exported as an STL or OBJ surface. See 3D printing a terrain model.
About the data source
Ground elevations come from the USGS 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) seamless bare-earth model, with elevations above NAVD 88. Source cells are 3.3 ft per pixel in the finest work units, with about 9.8 ft per pixel and 33 ft per pixel sources elsewhere. USGS elevation data is public domain. Lidar coverage and source dates vary across Wisconsin. Check your site against the USGS 3DEP work-unit index; an unavailable lookup means coverage is unknown. Check any address on the lidar coverage page. More from the USGS 3D Elevation Program and Wisconsin elevation resources.
Frequently asked questions
Is the contour tool free?
Generating and viewing contours on the map is free, with no account. Downloading the files needs a pass: US$29 for 24 hours, US$99 for 30 days or US$399 for 12 months, one-off payments in US dollars, not subscriptions.
How accurate is the elevation data behind the contours?
Accuracy depends on the source project, its date and how well ground was measured; this site does not assign one accuracy figure to all Wisconsin. Source cells range from 3.3 ft per pixel in the finest work units to about 9.8 ft per pixel or 33 ft per pixel in coarser sources. Every download reports the share outside the finest lidar work units, or says coverage is unknown if the index cannot be reached. Bare-earth elevations exclude buildings and tree canopy and do not replace a surveyed elevation for legal or engineering decisions.
Can I use the contours commercially?
USGS 3DEP elevation data and USGS maps are U.S. Government works in the public domain: you may use the results, including commercially. A credit to the USGS 3D Elevation Program is appreciated, and every file you download carries it. Wisconsin parcel boundaries are aggregated local-government data, not legal surveys; the parcel disclaimer accompanies the selection. Brown County surface data is credited separately when used. The Esri aerial basemap follows Esri’s terms and is display-only; downloadable aerial photos use USGS NAIP.
What if I need contours for a larger area?
One request covers up to 7.5 miles per side. For a bigger area, split it into adjoining blocks and generate each one; the contours are cut from the same seamless elevation model, so they meet at the edges.
Which contour interval should I pick?
The tool offers 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 40, 100 ft. Use 1 or 2 ft for a house lot, a driveway or site work, 5 or 10 ft for acreage, a farm or a day hike, and 20 ft or more for closely spaced lines on the steeper hillsides of the Driftless Area, where finer lines merge into a solid band. If the lines crowd together so tightly you cannot see the ground between them, step the interval up.
Related guides
- Topographic maps of Wisconsin — how to read contours, and how custom maps differ from USGS quads.
- Contour map of your property — contours over a county parcel.
- Lidar data for Wisconsin — the data behind every contour.
- Elevation profile generator — a cross-section along any line.
- Contour Lines tool — how the tool works, step by step.