# GTA 5 map coordinates for FiveM: vector3, heading and ground Z

> How GTA 5 coordinates work in FiveM: X west to east, Y south to north, Z height in metres, vector3 and vector4, copying your position, finding the ground Z.

Source: https://fam-tools.com/guides/gta-5-map-coordinates · FAM Tools · published 2026-09-11 · updated 2026-09-11 · about 11 min

**Short answer.** GTA V uses a right-handed world where X runs west–east, Y runs south–north and Z is height, all in metres. A position is stored as `vector3(x, y, z)` and a position plus facing as `vector4(x, y, z, heading)`, where heading is 0–360 degrees with 0 facing north. Get your own position with `GetEntityCoords(PlayerPedId())` and your facing with `GetEntityHeading`.

## Key points

- **X** grows to the east, **Y** grows to the north, **Z** is height in metres.
- Los Santos sits in the south (negative-to-low Y); Paleto Bay is far north (Y ≈ 6,400).
- **Heading** 0 = north, 90 = west, 180 = south, 270 = east — it increases counter-clockwise.
- Store positions as `vector3` / `vector4`; compare distances with `#(a - b)`.
- Always spawn things slightly above the ground or find the ground Z first.

A GTA 5 map coordinate is three numbers and a heading: X across the map, Y up it, Z for height, and the direction the entity faces. Every job marker, garage, shop and spawn point on a FiveM server is written that way, so once you can read them, placing a new location takes seconds instead of trial and error. This guide explains the coordinate system, the Lua types FiveM gives you for it, and the quickest ways to capture a position in game.

## The three axes

The GTA V map is one continuous world measured in metres from an origin near the middle of Los Santos. The map is taller than it is wide, which is why the minimap textures are arranged in a tall grid — see [the minimap technical specification](https://fam-tools.com/guides/minimap-technical-specification).

| Axis | Direction | Rough range on the playable map |
| --- | --- | --- |
| X | West (−) to East (+) | about −3,700 to +4,300 |
| Y | South (−) to North (+) | about −4,000 to +8,000 |
| Z | Down (−) to Up (+) | sea level ≈ 0; Mount Chiliad peak ≈ 800 |

> **Why the north has big Y values** — Blaine County and Paleto Bay are far from the origin, so their Y values run into the thousands, while downtown Los Santos is close to Y = 0 and the port and airport are negative.

## Heading: which way something faces

Heading is a rotation around the vertical axis in degrees, from 0 to 360. GTA V measures it counter-clockwise from north, which surprises people used to compass bearings:

| Heading | Faces |
| --- | --- |
| 0 (or 360) | North |
| 90 | West |
| 180 | South |
| 270 | East |

That is why a car spawned with heading 90 points left on the map. Headings matter for vehicle spawns, ped placement and doors, and they are the fourth number in most config entries.

## vector3, vector4 and distance in Lua

CfxLua has built-in vector types. They are faster and easier to read than tables of numbers, and they support arithmetic.

*Working with vectors*

```lua
local cityHall = vector3(-544.9, -204.5, 38.2)
local garage   = vector4(215.8, -810.1, 30.7, 157.0) -- x, y, z, heading

-- Access components
print(garage.x, garage.y, garage.z, garage.w)
print(garage.xyz) -- the position part as a vector3

-- Distance between two points
local pos = GetEntityCoords(PlayerPedId())
local dist = #(pos - cityHall)
if dist < 3.0 then
    print('near city hall')
end
```

> **#(a - b) instead of a distance native** — `#(a - b)` is plain vector maths inside the Lua runtime. It is much cheaper than calling a distance native in a loop that runs every frame.

## Getting your current coordinates

The fastest way to collect positions for configs is a small command that prints and copies them.

*client.lua — /coords*

```lua
RegisterCommand('coords', function()
    local ped = PlayerPedId()
    local c = GetEntityCoords(ped)
    local h = GetEntityHeading(ped)
    local line = ('vector4(%.2f, %.2f, %.2f, %.2f)'):format(c.x, c.y, c.z, h)
    print(line)                          -- shows in the F8 console
    TriggerEvent('chat:addMessage', { args = { 'coords', line } })
end, false)
```

1. Stand exactly where the marker or spawn should be, facing the right way.
2. Type `/coords` and copy the line from the F8 console.
3. Paste it into the script’s config.
4. For a vehicle, sit in it and read the vehicle’s coords instead: `GetEntityCoords(GetVehiclePedIsIn(ped, false))`.

Admin menus such as vMenu and txAdmin’s in-game menu can also show coordinates, and txAdmin can teleport you to a waypoint or to typed coordinates.

## Finding the ground height

A Z value taken on a slope or from a map website is often slightly wrong, so things spawn in the ground or float. Ask the game for the ground height at an X/Y:

*client.lua*

```lua
local function groundZ(x, y)
    for height = 1000.0, 0.0, -25.0 do
        RequestCollisionAtCoord(x, y, height)
        Wait(0)
        local found, z = GetGroundZFor_3dCoord(x, y, height, false)
        if found then return z end
    end
    return nil
end
```

Collision only exists where the world has streamed in, which is why the function requests collision at each height it tries. For spawns, add half a metre to the ground Z and let the ped settle.

## Approximate coordinates of well-known places

Handy for testing teleports and sanity-checking configs. These are rounded and approximate — capture exact positions in game for anything you place.

*Rounded values for orientation only.*

| Place | X | Y | Z |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Legion Square | 195 | -935 | 30 |
| Los Santos International Airport | -1035 | -2735 | 14 |
| Pillbox Hill Medical Center | 300 | -585 | 43 |
| Mission Row Police Station | 430 | -980 | 30 |
| Vinewood sign | 710 | 1200 | 345 |
| Sandy Shores | 1850 | 3700 | 34 |
| Paleto Bay | -150 | 6400 | 31 |
| Mount Chiliad summit | 500 | 5595 | 795 |

Zone and district names such as “Vinewood” or “Sandy Shores” can be read from coordinates with `GetNameOfZone` — see [GTA V zone names](https://fam-tools.com/guides/gta-5-zone-names-districts).

## Questions

### How do I get my coordinates in FiveM?

Use `GetEntityCoords(PlayerPedId())` in a client script, or make a `/coords` command that prints them to the F8 console. Many admin menus can show them too.

### What is the difference between vector3 and vector4?

`vector3` is a position (x, y, z). `vector4` adds a fourth value, usually the heading, so it describes where something is and which way it faces.

### Which way is heading 0 in GTA V?

North. Heading increases counter-clockwise, so 90 is west, 180 is south and 270 is east.

### Why does my NPC or car spawn under the ground?

The Z value is too low or the area had not loaded. Use the ground height from `GetGroundZFor_3dCoord` plus a small offset.

### How do I measure the distance between two points?

Subtract the vectors and take the length: `#(pointA - pointB)`. It returns metres.

## Related

- https://fam-tools.com/guides/fivem-blips-guide
- https://fam-tools.com/guides/gta-5-zone-names-districts
- https://fam-tools.com/guides/minimap-technical-specification
- https://fam-tools.com/guides/fivem-map-tiles-and-radar-textures