KML to Shapefile Converter

Turn a KML file from Google Earth into a shapefile for QGIS or ArcGIS. Polygons, lines and points keep their names and attributes.

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How it works

  1. Pick or drop a KML file, for example one exported from Google Earth or a field app.
  2. Check the shapes on the map and read any notes about what changed.
  3. Download the zip. It holds the .shp, .shx, .dbf, .prj and .cpg files that QGIS, ArcGIS and other GIS software open together.

Everything runs in your browser. Your files are never uploaded to our servers.

Questions

How do I convert KML to a shapefile?

Drop the KML file on the KML to Shapefile Converter, check the shapes on the map, then download the zip. Unzip it and open the .shp file in QGIS or ArcGIS; keep the other files beside it, because together they make up the shapefile.

Why did I get more than one shapefile?

A shapefile holds one kind of shape. If your KML mixes polygons, lines and points, the zip has one shapefile for each, named _polygons, _lines and _points.

Why are some attribute names shorter?

The shapefile attribute table (.dbf) allows names of up to 10 characters, without accents or spaces. Longer names are shortened and kept unique, and the page lists every name it changed.

Which coordinate system does the shapefile use?

WGS84 latitude and longitude (EPSG:4326), the same as KML. The .prj file in the zip says so, so GIS software places the shapes correctly.

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