Shapefile to KML Converter — free & private
Drop a zipped ESRI Shapefile and get KML instantly. Runs fully in your browser. No uploads.
Why this converter?
- No server uploads — conversion happens locally.
- Optional polygon-only export (good for AOIs/boundaries).
- Copy or download KML and preview it on a map.
If your file is big
- Export Shapefile → KMZ (smaller download, easier to share).
- Use Shapefile Reducer to simplify or batch large datasets.
- Open the full editor to clean/merge/buffer polygons before export.
FAQ
Is my Shapefile uploaded anywhere?
No. The Shapefile is parsed and converted locally in your browser. Nothing is sent to a server.
What files should be inside the .zip?
At minimum: .shp + .dbf, and ideally .shx too. A .prj file helps us detect the coordinate system. All files should share the same base name and be included in the ZIP.
Why does CRS matter for KML?
KML expects WGS84 longitude and latitude (EPSG:4326). If your Shapefile is in a projected CRS, the KML can appear in the wrong place unless it is reprojected first.
Do you reproject coordinates automatically?
Only in one case. If the .prj indicates Web Mercator (EPSG:3857), you can enable the built-in 3857 to 4326 reprojection. For other CRSs, reproject in QGIS or ArcGIS first.
What does “Only keep Polygon / MultiPolygon” do?
It filters the export to polygons only and skips points and lines. This is useful for AOIs, boundaries, and coverage areas. If your dataset is points or lines, disable this option.
Why do you drop Z values by default?
Many KML viewers do fine with 2D coordinates and some datasets have inconsistent Z values. Dropping Z reduces surprises and keeps the output smaller. If you need altitude, turn off the “Drop Z” option.
How are Placemark names chosen?
By default, we try to use a reasonable name field (like name, title, or id). You can force names to use a specific attribute field, use feature numbers, or remove names entirely.
Why is my KML file so large and slow in Google Earth?
Large geometry plus lots of attributes can make KML heavy. Reduce the selected fields, shorten max value length, disable the description table, or export KMZ instead. Simplifying the Shapefile before converting also helps.
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