A wide variety of GPS receivers are available on the market today. They vary considerably in accuracy and sometimes are designed for specific and technical applications. Most GPS receivers can be used to map something of interest for personal use. However, only high-quality GPS receivers are adequate for making maps that are used for official purposes that require high accuracy (such as a lot or property boundary that a government agency might use).

GPS receivers can be categorized into three categories, based on their accuracy:
1. Recreational grade GPS receivers are sold at most box stores and over the Internet. They are the least expensive and are generally accurate to within +/- 25 feet (7.6 meters). These can run in the $100 to $600 range and are the type of GPS unit most often purchased by the general public. Many camping and sporting goods stores also sell this type of GPS receiver.

2. Mapping grade GPS receivers are generally sold by "high end" and licensed resellers. These GPS receivers are typically not as user-friendly as the recreational GPS units, but they can be significantly more accurate (within a meter or ~3 feet). Mapping grade units cost more than the recreational grade GPS receivers, generally in the $1,000 to $3,000 range. Mapping grade GPS receivers are most often used by government agencies, researchers, and other users who require more accurate and dependable coordinate fixes than a recreational GPS can provide.

3. Survey grade GPS receivers are the most accurate but are by far the most expensive. They are accurate to within a centimeter and can cost in the tens of thousands of dollars. These GPS receivers require a great deal of expertise and are most often used by professional surveyors.

Any of the three grades of GPS receivers described above can be used to map your property, but expertise and price will likely dictate which of the receivers you should use. While it is important to keep in mind that owning a GPS does not make you a professional surveyor, even recreational grade GPS receivers can be used to create great maps for personal and non-official use.

Happy mapping!