MapGeoData Open the app →

Convert GPX to a shapefile

MapGeoData turns a GPX file into a shapefile right in your browser. Drop in your .gpx, see it on the map, and download a Shapefile ZIP with the .shp, .shx, .dbf, and .prj bundled together. It's free, needs no account, and there's nothing to install.

Convert GPX to a shapefile in your browser

MapGeoData turns a GPX file from a GPS unit or a phone app into a shapefile, with no desktop software in between. Drop your .gpx onto the map, confirm it looks right, and download a Shapefile ZIP ready for QGIS, ArcGIS, or any tool that reads shapefiles. The conversion runs locally, with no account and nothing to install.

Why convert GPX to a shapefile

GPX is what GPS devices and fitness apps export, but GIS software and data submissions usually want a shapefile:

How to convert (3 steps)

  1. Add your GPX. Drag your .gpx onto the page, or use the Convert a file button.
  2. Preview it. Your waypoints and tracks render on the map so you can confirm them before exporting.
  3. Export as a Shapefile ZIP. Choose Shapefile from the export options and download the .zip.

What to know

The parts of a GPX file map to the natural shapes: waypoints become points, and tracks and routes become lines. Because a shapefile holds a single geometry type, export the waypoints and the tracks as separate shapefiles rather than expecting one file to hold both. Waypoint details such as the name and elevation carry through as .dbf columns where the file records them, with names over 10 characters shortened to fit. GPX is already in WGS84 lon/lat, so the shapefile is written in WGS84 with a matching .prj.

When you're ready, you can also send the same data out as GeoJSON, CSV, or FlatGeobuf from the same export menu.

Free, no account, no install. Runs right in your browser.

Convert your GPX

Frequently asked questions

What happens to waypoints versus tracks?

Waypoints convert to points and tracks and routes convert to lines. Since a shapefile holds one geometry type, export the points and the lines separately, one shapefile each.

Do I need to install anything or sign up?

No. The conversion runs in your browser, so there's nothing to install and no account to create. MapGeoData sets no tracking cookies and never sells or shares your data.

Does it keep the waypoint names and details?

Yes. Waypoint details like the name and elevation become columns in the shapefile's .dbf where the file includes them. Names over 10 characters are shortened, a limit of the format.

What's in the download?

A single .zip holding the shapefile set: the .shp (geometry), .shx (index), .dbf (attributes), and .prj (coordinate system). QGIS, ArcGIS, and other GIS tools open it directly.

What coordinate system does the shapefile use?

GPX records positions in WGS84 lon/lat, so the shapefile is written in WGS84 with a matching .prj file.

Is there a file-size limit?

Files up to 128MB convert in your browser. Larger files still work, using a temporary server to help process them.