Collada (DAE) is the old XML-based 3D interchange format from Sony/Khronos — still what SketchUp exports and countless asset stores hand out. Meshes, hierarchies and materials, but heavyweight XML.
Typical use: Convert DAE to glTF/GLB for the web, or to STL/OBJ for printing and editing.
About the DAE format
Collada (DAE) was the Khronos Group's first attempt at a universal 3D interchange format — an XML schema carrying meshes, scene hierarchies, materials and even skinning. SketchUp's default export, countless asset stores and older game pipelines all speak it.
Its XML verbosity is why the industry moved to glTF: a DAE can weigh ten times its GLB equivalent. Converting to GLB shrinks it for the web, OBJ/STL strip it to raw geometry for editing or printing.
Strengths
- ✓ Widely exported by DCC tools and asset stores
- ✓ Complete scene semantics in XML
- ✓ Human-readable structure
Limitations
- ✗ Verbose XML — large files, slow parsing
- ✗ Superseded by glTF for web delivery
- ✗ Material definitions vary between exporters
- Structure
- XML scene graph
- Materials
- Phong/lambert profiles
- Compatibility
- SketchUp, Blender, asset stores
- Best for
- Legacy 3D interchange
Convert DAE to…
5 direct directions plus 19 workflows, sorted A–Z; 🔥 marks popular targets.
Frequently asked questions
What is a DAE file?
Collada (DAE) is the old XML-based 3D interchange format from Sony/Khronos — still what SketchUp exports and countless asset stores hand out. Meshes, hierarchies and materials, but heavyweight XML.
How do I convert DAE files online?
Pick a target format from the "Convert DAE to…" list below, drop your file and hit convert. Everything runs in your browser — no install, no upload, no watermark, no limits.
Is it safe to convert DAE files here?
Yes. Every conversion is performed by your own device inside the browser — files never leave for a server, and the page keeps working even offline.
Which formats can DAE convert to?
This page lists all 24 directions across documents, images, audio, video, spreadsheets and archives — each one is its own free converter page.