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Full Salesforce Maps Layers entry
How-to guide

Build a Salesforce Maps marker layer

Marker layers are the layer type admins and ops most often build by hand. You create one in the Salesforce Maps Marker Layer Builder, point it at an object, filter it, and choose how the pins look before saving it to a folder.

By Dipojjal Chakrabarti · Founder & Editor, Salesforce DictionaryLast updated Jun 16, 2026

Marker layers are the layer type admins and ops most often build by hand. You create one in the Salesforce Maps Marker Layer Builder, point it at an object, filter it, and choose how the pins look before saving it to a folder.

  1. Open the Marker Layer Builder

    From the Salesforce Maps Layers tab, start a new marker layer. This opens the builder, where each tab handles one part of the layer definition.

  2. Pick the data source

    Choose the Salesforce object the layer plots, such as Account, Lead, Opportunity, or a custom object. The object must have location fields so its records can be geocoded onto the map.

  3. Filter the records

    Add field, activity, or cross filters so the layer shows only the records you want. Keep the filter tight, for example open opportunities above an amount owned by the current user.

  4. Configure the markers

    On the Markers tab, choose an assignment type. Use Varied Based On 1 Field to color by a value, Varied Based On 2 Fields for color plus shape, or Labeled Pins to show text.

  5. Set popups and save

    Choose which fields appear in the marker popup and related tabs, name the layer, and save it to a Personal or Corporate folder so the right people can plot it.

Mandatory fields
Source objectrequired

The Salesforce object the layer plots, such as Account or Opportunity. It needs geocoded location data on its records.

Layer namerequired

A clear label reps see in the Layers tab. Name it for the question it answers, like Open Opps Over 50K.

Folderrequired

The Personal or Corporate folder where the layer is saved, which controls whether it stays private or is shared with teams.

Gotchas
  • Records without geocoded coordinates will not plot, so confirm address fields are populated and geocoded before expecting pins.
  • You can apply at most two cross-object filters per marker layer, so plan related-object logic within that limit.
  • Saving a layer to a Personal folder keeps it private. Use a Corporate folder when the whole team needs to plot the same view.

See the full Salesforce Maps Layers entry

Salesforce Maps Layers includes the definition, worked example, deep dive, related terms, and a quiz.