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Convert KML to a shapefile

MapGeoData turns a KML or KMZ file into a shapefile right in your browser. Drop in your .kml or .kmz, 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 KML to a shapefile in your browser

MapGeoData turns a KML or KMZ file from Google Earth into a shapefile, with no desktop GIS in between. Drop your .kml or .kmz 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 KML to a shapefile

KML is built for Google Earth, but most desktop GIS work and data handoffs expect a shapefile:

How to convert (3 steps)

  1. Add your KML. Drag your .kml or .kmz onto the page, or use the Convert a file button.
  2. Preview it. Your placemarks render on the map so you can confirm the shapes and data before exporting.
  3. Export as a Shapefile ZIP. Choose Shapefile from the export options and download the .zip.

What to know

Your placemark data comes across as .dbf columns: the name, description, and any ExtendedData fields, with names over 10 characters shortened to fit the format. Two things are worth remembering. A shapefile holds one geometry type, so a KML that mixes points, lines, and polygons is best exported one type at a time. And because KML is already in WGS84 lon/lat, the shapefile is written in WGS84 with a matching .prj, so nothing shifts position.

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 KML

Frequently asked questions

Does it handle KMZ as well as KML?

Yes. A .kmz is a zipped .kml, and MapGeoData opens both. Drop either one in and export a shapefile.

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 my placemark data become attributes?

Yes. A placemark's name, description, and any ExtendedData fields become columns in the shapefile's .dbf. Names longer than 10 characters are shortened, a limit of the format.

Can one shapefile hold my points, lines, and polygons together?

No, and that's a shapefile rule. A shapefile holds a single geometry type, so if your KML mixes points, lines, and polygons, export the one type you need at a time.

What coordinate system does the shapefile use?

KML is already 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.