Personalised Star Map Poster: A Guide to Choosing Yours
Updated 27 October 2026
A personalised star map poster shows the night sky as it looked over a place you choose, on a date you choose, with your names and a short line of text underneath. It is a popular gift for weddings, anniversaries, the night you met and the arrival of a new baby.
Of all the personalised gifts, a star map is one of the simplest to make and one of the hardest to get wrong: you only need a date, a place and a few words. This guide explains what goes on the poster, which dates work best, how our designs differ and what size to choose.
In short
- We have 6 star map designs, from a classic navy circle to a heart and a dark couples version.
- You add names, a subtitle, the place and the date; the place is printed as coordinates.
- Sizes run from A5 to A0 and 8x10 to 30x40 inches, or you can order a digital file.
- Each poster is made to order in 1–3 working days.
- Delivery is free worldwide: 2–4 working days in the UK (standard), 3–7 worldwide.
What does a personalised star map show?
The centre of the poster is a circular window onto the night sky, with stars, constellation lines and the soft glow of the Milky Way. Underneath it sit the details that make it yours: names in a flowing script, a short subtitle such as "Two hearts, one sky", the name of the place, its coordinates and the date.
Because the sky above a given spot changes from night to night, the date and place you enter are what make the map personal. Two couples who married in different towns, or on different days, would each get a different sky.
Which date should you choose for a star map?
Pick the moment the person you are buying for would recognise straight away. The most common choices are:
- A wedding day, with the venue's town as the place.
- The night you met or your first date, which makes a lovely anniversary or Valentine's surprise.
- An engagement, marking the place they said yes.
- A birth date and the town or hospital where a baby was born.
- A milestone birthday, using the date and place they were born.
Tip: check the details twice
Spell the place the way they would say it, and double-check the date before you order. The preview shows every line of text, so it only takes a moment.
Which personalised star map design is best?
All six designs show the same kind of sky; the difference is the frame around it and the mood. Here is how they compare.
| Design | What it looks like | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Night Sky Star Map | Navy circle on a soft cream background, names in script | Weddings, anniversaries, new babies |
| Star Map Circle | A clean circular map with classic type | Milestones of any kind |
| Heart Star Map | The sky shown inside a heart shape | Valentine's, engagements, the night you met |
| Dark Star Map | A darker, moodier background for modern rooms | Couples, wedding days |
| Day You Were Born | Curved text reading 'the day you were born' | New babies and birthdays |
| Star Map Rectangle | A rectangular sky that fills more of the print | Larger walls and statement sizes |
What should you write on a star map?
Keep it short. The sky is the star of the poster, and a few well-chosen words underneath work better than a paragraph. Some ideas that suit each occasion:
| Occasion | Names line | Subtitle ideas |
|---|---|---|
| Wedding | Emma & James | "Two hearts, one sky", "The night we said I do" |
| The night you met | Your first names | "Where it all began", "Under these stars" |
| Engagement | Both names | "She said yes", "The night we chose forever" |
| New baby | Baby's full name | "The day you were born", "Welcome to the world" |
| In memory | Their name | "Forever in our stars", "Always with us" |
Use the place name people would recognise (a town, a city or the venue) rather than a full address. The poster adds the coordinates for you, so the place line can stay simple.
How do you give a star map as a gift?
A star map is easy to give because it needs no explanation: the date and place tell the story. A few practical points:
- Order it to arrive early. It is made to order, so build in the making time and delivery time shown below.
- Think about framing. Posters are sent unframed unless a frame option is shown on the product page and you choose it. If you frame it yourself, standard sizes such as A3, A2 or 12x16 inches make finding a frame easy. Our guide to framing a poster on a budget can help.
- Short on time? The digital file is not posted, so you can print it locally or send it with a card.
What size star map poster should you order?
Think about where it will hang. As a rough guide:
- A4 or 8x10 inches for a desk, shelf or bedside table.
- A3 or 12x16 inches for a small wall, a hallway or a gallery wall.
- A2 or 18x24 inches above a bed, sofa or sideboard.
- A1, A0 or 24x36 inches and up for a statement piece in a large room.
If you would rather print it yourself, choose the digital file. The exact sizes for each design are listed on its product page.
How long does a star map take to arrive?
Each poster is printed to order, which takes 1–3 working days. After that, delivery is free worldwide:
| Delivery option | Making time | Delivery time (working days) | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK standard | 1–3 working days | 2–4 | Free |
| UK express | 1–3 working days | 1–3 | Shown at checkout |
| Worldwide | 1–3 working days | 3–7 | Free |
| Digital file | Not printed or posted | Not posted | Free |
For a date-sensitive gift, such as an anniversary, order a week or two ahead to leave room for busy periods.
Make your star map
Start with the classic night sky star map, go romantic with the heart star map, or mark a birth with the day you were born star map. You can see every design in our personalised posters collection. Each one is made to order with free worldwide delivery.
Looking for more ideas? Read why personalised posters make such good gifts, or browse our creative personalised poster ideas.
Frequently asked questions
What do I need to make a personalised star map?
Just a date, a place and the words you want underneath: usually names and a short subtitle. The place is printed with its coordinates.
Is the star map different for every date?
Yes. The sky over a place changes from night to night, so the map is drawn for the date and location you enter.
Can I get a star map as a digital file?
Yes. Our star map designs can be ordered as a digital file to print yourself.
How long does delivery take?
Each poster is made in 1–3 working days. UK standard delivery then takes 2–4 working days and worldwide delivery 3–7, and both are free.
Can I return a personalised star map?
Personalised items are made just for you, so they can't be returned for a change of mind. If it arrives damaged or faulty, contact us and we will make it right.
Sources (checked 27 October 2026): our Delivery Info and Returns pages, and the product pages linked above.