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Google Maps Autocomplete API Documentation

GET   /api/v1/search?engine=google_maps_autocomplete
OpenAPI Initiative Download OpenAPI Spec

The Google Maps Autocomplete API returns the suggestions the Google Maps search box shows while a query is being typed, biased to the map area set with ll. A query suggestion is a search phrase that can be passed as the q of the Google Maps API. A place suggestion is a business, landmark, address, street, area or transit station, or coordinates or a plus code typed in q. All but streets, coordinates and plus codes carry a data_id and place_id, which the Google Maps Place API, Google Maps Reviews API and Google Maps Photos API accept.

API Parameters

Search Query

  • Name
    q
    Required
    Required
    Description

    The partial text typed into the Google Maps search box, for example pizz or 350 5th ave. Up to 100 characters and 30 words.

  • Name
    cp
    Required
    Optional
    Description

    Position of the text cursor within q, counted in characters from the start, up to the length of q. Google Maps completes the word at the cursor, and the rest of q narrows the suggestions. By default, and at 0, the cursor is at the end of q.

Geographic Location

  • Name
    ll
    Required
    Optional
    Description

    The map area the suggestions are biased to, as Google Maps shows it in its URL. It can be formatted in two ways:

    • @latitude,longitude,zoom (e.g. @40.7484,-73.9857,14z), with a zoom level, where Google Maps zooms from 3z (the whole world) to 21z (the closest view)
    • @latitude,longitude,meters (e.g. @40.7484,-73.9857,5886m), with the height of the visible map in meters, where Google Maps shows about 50m at the closest view and about 15000000m for the whole world
    Without ll, the map centres on a major city of the gl country, New York for the default us.

Localization

  • Name
    hl
    Required
    Optional
    Description

    The default parameter en defines the interface language of the search. Check the full list of supported Google hl languages.

  • Name
    gl
    Required
    Optional
    Description

    The default parameter us defines the country of the search. Check the full list of supported Google gl countries.

Engine

  • Name
    engine
    Required
    Required
    Description

    Parameter defines an engine that will be used to retrieve real-time data. It must be set to google_maps_autocomplete.

API key

  • Name
    api_key
    Required
    Required
    Description

    The api_key authenticates your requests. Use it as a query parameter (https://www.searchapi.io/api/v1/search?api_key=YOUR_API_KEY) or in the Authorization header (Bearer YOUR_API_KEY).

Zero Data Retention

  • Name
    zero_retention
    Enterprise Only
    Enterprise Only
    Required
    Optional
    Description

    Set this parameter to true to disable all logging and persistent storage. No request parameters, HTML, or JSON responses are stored or logged. Suitable for high-compliance use cases. Debugging and support may be limited while enabled.

API Examples

Suggestions

Suggestions

Each suggestion carries its type (query or place) and its full text as value. A query suggestion can carry a thumbnail, such as a chain's logo. A place suggestion also carries its title and, when Google Maps shows them, its subtitle (the location line shown after the name, often shorter than the full address), gps_coordinates and country_code. All but streets, coordinates and plus codes carry a data_id and place_id.

GET
https://www.searchapi.io/api/v1/search?engine=google_maps_autocomplete&ll=%4040.7484%2C-73.9857%2C14z&q=pizz
Request
import requests

url = "https://www.searchapi.io/api/v1/search"
params = {
  "engine": "google_maps_autocomplete",
  "q": "pizz",
  "ll": "@40.7484,-73.9857,14z"
}

response = requests.get(url, params=params)
print(response.text)
Response
{
  "search_metadata": {
    "id": "search_Y80BKjxagxvjcKk35nMQeWO6",
    "status": "Success",
    "created_at": "2026-10-29T21:24:07Z",
    "request_time_taken": 1.56,
    "parsing_time_taken": 0.0,
    "total_time_taken": 1.56,
    "request_url": "https://www.google.com/maps/search/pizz/@40.7484,-73.9857,14z?hl=en&gl=us",
    "html_url": "https://www.searchapi.io/api/v1/searches/search_Y80BKjxagxvjcKk35nMQeWO6.html",
    "json_url": "https://www.searchapi.io/api/v1/searches/search_Y80BKjxagxvjcKk35nMQeWO6"
  },
  "search_parameters": {
    "engine": "google_maps_autocomplete",
    "q": "pizz",
    "ll": "@40.7484,-73.9857,14z",
    "hl": "en",
    "gl": "us"
  },
  "suggestions": [
    {
      "value": "pizza hut",
      "type": "query"
    },
    {
      "value": "PizzArte, West 55th Street, New York, NY",
      "type": "place",
      "title": "PizzArte",
      "subtitle": "West 55th Street, New York, NY",
      "gps_coordinates": {
        "latitude": 40.7629224,
        "longitude": -73.9774359
      },
      "data_id": "0x89c25983c7d5790d:0x94de8163d799fbf",
      "place_id": "ChIJDXnVx4NZwokRv595PRboTQk",
      "country_code": "US"
    },
    {
      "value": "pizza near me",
      "type": "query"
    },
    {
      "value": "Pizza Pizza",
      "type": "query",
      "thumbnail": "https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSuFbGmMYLtmGa_l6_9k7aS-F7YdH5DVgoMZUaUGhA9qXtxxYrN"
    },
    ...
  ]
}