atlases are 1:20,000 to 1:25,000, doubling for the central area (for example, Geographers' A-Z Map Company's A-Z atlas of London is 1:22,000 for Greater London and 1:11,000 for Central London). A travel atlas may also be referred to as a road map.

A desk atlas is made similar to a reference book. It may be in hardback or paperback