Garmin Custom Waypoint Symbols
  Required Software
  Guidelines
  Example
  BaseCamp Synchronization
  Waypoint Symbol Names
  Waypoint Symbol Sources


Required Software
  • Your favorite image editing program to create and modify the custom waypoint symbols (we like Paint.net for PC).
  • Legacy devices (non mass-storage) will require xImage PC software to transfer waypoint symbols to the GPSr.
 
 
Guidelines
  • Waypoint symbols should be saved in a 24-bit Windows-style bitmap format (*.bmp).
  • Waypoint symbols should not exceed 32 pixels in width and height.
  • To make a pixel transparent, set its color to magenta (RGB = 255, 0, 255).
  • Replacement symbols can be assigned by editing the <sym></sym> element in the waypoint’s GPX file (i.e. “Flag, Blue.bmp”).
  • New symbols can be given any other file name (i.e. “New Symbol.bmp”).
  • Modern (mass-storage) devices are limited to a total of 56 custom waypoint symbols per device.
    • Symbols must be saved to the device (not the microSD card) in the [GPSr]\Garmin\CustomSymbols\ directory.
    • By default, a symbol displayed on the map will be centered on the waypoint coordinates.
      • To adjust this 'hot spot', include the desired center position offset from the upper-left corner in the file name.
      • Example: "Anchor.10x20.bmp" will be centered 10 pixels to the right and 20 pixels down from the top left corner.
  • Legacy (pre mass-storage) devices are limited to a total of 24 custom waypoint symbols per device.
 
 
Example
  • We felt the default Garmin geocache symbols were unnecessarily large for smaller display sizes, cluttering the map and obstructing additional map details from view, so we created our own custom set of smaller geocache symbols.
    • Below is an example of our custom 'Traditional Cache' geocache symbol.
    • Remember, the magenta (255, 0, 255) pixels are transparent, and will not be displayed on the GPSr.
    • This geocache symbol is part of our GPSrChive 14x custom geocache symbol set.
Traditional Cache Symbol
(actual size)
 		Traditional Cache Symbol
(zoomed 10x)
 		Traditional Cache Symbol
displayed on Map page
 
 
BaseCamp Synchronization
  • Configure BaseCamp and your GPSr to recognize and use the same custom symbols:
    • Make two copies of each 24-bit *.bmp custom symbol, one for BaseCamp, and one for the GPSr.
    • Name the BaseCamp symbols 001.bmp, 002.bmp, 003.bmp, 004.bmp, etc.
      • Only symbol names from 000.bmp - 063.bmp are recognized.
      • All BaseCamp symbol names are three digits, with leading zeros added when necessary.
    • Name the corresponding GPSr symbols Custom 1.bmp, Custom 2.bmp, Custom 3.bmp, Custom 4.bmp, etc.
      • All corresponding GPSr symbol names are prefixed with "Custom " and do not include any leading zeros.
  • Place the BaseCamp symbols in the specified directory on your computer:
    • [PC] \My Documents\My Garmin\Custom Waypoint Symbols\
    • [Mac] {user}\Library\Application Support\Garmin\Custom Waypoint Symbols\
 
 
  • Place the GPSr symbols in the [Garmin GPSr]\Garmin\CustomSymbols\ directory: 
 
 
  • Create a waypoint in BaseCamp and choose a custom symbol to display: 
 
  • OPTION: Use your favorite text editor to manually assign custom symbol selections to existing {waypoint}.gpx files: 
 
 
  • Waypoints sent from BaseCamp to your GPSr will be presented with the corresponding custom symbol: 



 
 
 
 
Waypoint Symbol Names
  • Custom waypoint symbols saved to the GPSr with the following names will be displayed in place of the default symbol.
  • All waypoint symbols that are intended to replace default GPSr symbols must be named precisely as displayed in the list below.
  • For example "pin, blue.bmp" will not replace the Blue Pin symbol, while "Pin, Blue.bmp" will.
  • Not all Garmin GPSr share identical waypoint symbol sets, which can result in some waypoints being displayed with a different symbol on some devices.
Geocache Symbol Names
  • Cache In Trash Out Event
  • Earthcache
  • Event Cache
  • Geocache
  • Geocache Course 1
  • Geocache Found
  • Letterbox Hybrid
  • Locationless (Reverse) Cache 1
  • Mega-Event Cache
  • Multi-cache
  • Project APE Cache 1
  • Traditional Cache
  • Unknown Cache
  • Virtual Cache
  • Webcam Cache
  • Wherigo Cache
Waypoint Symbol Names
  • Airport
  • Alert 3
  • Amusement Park
  • Anchor
  • Animal Tracks
  • ATV
  • Ball Park
  • Bank
  • Bar
  • Beach
  • Bell
  • Big Game
  • Bike Trail
  • Binoculars 3
  • Blind
  • Block, Blue
  • Block, Green
  • Block, Red
  • Blood Trail
  • Boat Ramp
  • Bowling
  • Bridge
  • Building
  • Buoy, White
  • Campground
  • Camp Fire 3
  • Canoe 3
  • Car
  • Car Rental
  • Car Repair
  • Cemetery
  • Church
  • Circle with X 3
  • Circle, Blue 3
  • Circle, Green 3
  • Circle, Red 3
  • Circle, Yellow 3
  • City (Large)
  • City (Medium)
  • City (Small)
  • Civil
  • Contact, Afro 2
  • Contact, Alien 2
  • Contact, Ball Cap 2
  • Contact, Big Ears 2
  • Contact, Biker 2
  • Contact, Bug 2
  • Contact, Cat 2
  • Contact, Dog 2
  • Contact, Dreadlocks 2
  • Contact, Female1 2
  • Contact, Female2 2
  • Contact, Female3 2
  • Contact, Goatee 2
  • Contact, Kung-Fu 2
  • Contact, Pig 2
  • Contact, Pirate 2
  • Contact, Ranger 2
  • Contact, Smiley 2
  • Contact, Spike 2
  • Contact, Sumo 2
  • Contact, Female3 2
  • Controlled Area
  • Convenience Store
  • Cover
  • Covey
  • Crossing
  • Dam
  • Danger Area
  • Department Store
  • Diver Down Flag 1
  • Diver Down Flag 2
  • Drinking Water
  • Fast Food
  • Fishing Area
  • Fishing Hot Spot Facility
  • Fitness Center
  • Flag, Blue
  • Flag, Green
  • Flag, Red
  • Flag, Yellow 3
  • Food Source
  • Forest
  • Furbearer
  • Gas Station
  • Glider Area
  • Golf Course
  • Horse Trail 3
  • Hunting 3
  • Kayak 3
  • Letter A, Red 3
  • Letter B, Red 3
  • Letter C, Red 3
  • Letter D, Red 3
  • Lighthouse 3
  • Marina 3
  • Man Overboard
  • Medical Facility
  • Mine
  • Movie Theater
  • Museum
  • Navaid, Amber
  • Navaid, Black
  • Navaid, Blue
  • Navaid, Green
  • Navaid, Orange
  • Navaid, Red
  • Navaid, Violet
  • Navaid, White
  • Number 1, Blue 3
  • Number 2, Blue 3
  • Number 3, Blue 3
  • Number 4, Blue 3
  • Oil Field
  • Parachute Area
  • Park
  • Parking Area
  • Pharmacy
  • Picnic Area
  • Pin, Blue
  • Pin, Green
  • Pin, Red
  • Pin, Yellow 3
  • Pizza
  • Police Station
  • Post Office
  • Private Field 3
  • Radio Beacon
  • Residence
  • Restaurant
  • Restricted Area
  • Restroom
  • RV Park
  • Scales
  • Scenic Area
  • School
  • Shelter 3
  • Shipwreck
  • Shopping Center
  • Short Tower
  • Shower
  • Ski Resort
  • Skiing Area
  • Skull and Crossbones
  • Small Game
  • Snowmobile 3
  • Square, Yellow 3
  • Stadium
  • Stop Sign 3
  • Street Intersection 3
  • Summit
  • Swimming Area
  • Tall Tower
  • Telephone
  • Toll Booth
  • Trail Head
  • Tree 3
  • Tree Stand
  • Treed Quarry
  • Triangle, Blue 3
  • Triangle, Green 3
  • Triangle, Red 3
  • Triangle, Yellow 3
  • Truck
  • Truck Stop
  • Tunnel
  • Ultralight Area
  • Upland Game
  • Waterfowl
  • Water Source
  • Wind Turbine 3
  • Wrecker
  • XSki 3
  • Zoo
    1 Legacy Geocache symbols not recognized by modern Garmin products.
    2 Waypoint symbols available on Garmin Rino models.
    3 New waypoint symbols introduced in 2019 to maintain compatibility with inReach equipped devices.
 
 
 
Waypoint Symbol Sources