SHP to CSV Converter
Processing entirely on your device — large files may take a moment.
CSV is the common language of data — importing contacts, analytics exports and database dumps almost always expects CSV. If your files are still in SHP format, this page is the shortcut: SHP is the ESRI shapefile — the decades-old GIS standard that still carries most government and research map data (usually zipped with .dbf/.prj siblings).
This converter runs entirely in your browser using WebAssembly — your files never leave your device, nothing is uploaded, and there are no watermarks, sign-ups or queues. Drop in several files at once to convert them as a batch.
How SHP compares to CSV
| SHP | CSV | |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | Geometry + DBF attribute table | One flat table |
| Types / schema | Points, polylines, polygons | Untyped (all strings) |
| Compatibility | ArcGIS, QGIS, OSM exports | Excel, Sheets, databases, code |
| Best for | Government & research map data | Data exchange and bulk import |
How to convert SHP to CSV
- 1
Select your files
Drag & drop your SHP files onto the area above, or click to browse. You can add multiple files at once for batch conversion.
- 2
Convert instantly
Click "Convert to CSV". The conversion runs entirely inside your browser using WebAssembly — no upload, no queue, no waiting.
- 3
Download results
Download each converted CSV file individually, or grab everything at once as a ZIP archive.
About the SHP format
The ESRI shapefile is the cockroach of GIS formats — designed in 1998, immune to extinction. Governments, research institutes andOpenStreetMap exports still ship as .shp, almost always zipped together with .dbf (attributes), .shx (index) and .prj (projection) siblings.
The browser can read the whole bundle: unzip it, parse the geometry records and the DBF attributes, and you get a clean GeoJSON or a flat CSV — no QGIS install required for a quick look.
+ Strengths
- ✓The lingua franca of public GIS data
- ✓Attributes and geometry in one bundle
- ✓Reads in every serious GIS tool
! Limitations
- −Multi-file bundle, awkward to move
- −2GB size limit and field-name limits
- −No web map support without conversion
About the CSV format
CSV (comma-separated values) is the lowest common denominator of tabular data: one table, rows as lines, columns separated by commas, everything plain text. Excel, Google Sheets, every database importer, every data-science library and every scripting language read it, which is why it has survived fifty years of format fashion.
Its weaknesses come from the same minimalism. There are no types (everything is a string until you decide otherwise), no formulas, one table per file, and dialect quirks are legendary: comma vs semicolon locales, quoting rules, and Excel's insistence on re-opening UTF-8 files without a BOM as mojibake. Clean, well-formed UTF-8 CSV with a BOM sidesteps nearly all of it.
+ Strengths
- ✓Universal: Excel, Sheets, databases and code all read it
- ✓Human-readable and diff-friendly
- ✓Streams well — process giant files line by line
! Limitations
- −No types, no formulas, no multiple sheets
- −Dialect chaos: delimiters, quoting, encoding
- −Nested or hierarchical data does not fit
Why convert SHP to CSV?
Think of it as moving your file to the container that fits the job. Multi-file bundle, awkward to move CSV works differently: Universal: Excel, Sheets, databases and code all read it If any of that sounds like your task, run the conversion — it takes seconds and nothing leaves your device.
Frequently asked questions
Is this SHP to CSV converter really free?
Yes — completely free, with no sign-up, no watermark and no daily conversion limits. The site is supported by advertising.
Are my files uploaded to a server?
No. The conversion runs entirely inside your browser using WebAssembly, so your files never leave your device — that is what makes it instant and private.
Does it work on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android?
Yes. Anything with a modern browser works: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS. No software installation is required.
What about special characters and non-English text?
Everything is handled as UTF-8. When you export CSV for Excel, a UTF-8 BOM is included automatically so Chinese, Japanese, Korean and accented characters display correctly on both Windows and macOS.
Is my data safe here?
Yes. The conversion is plain JavaScript running in your tab: the data is parsed and re-serialized in memory, never sent anywhere, and disappears when you close the page.
How large can my SHP file be?
Since everything runs locally in your browser, the real limit is your device memory rather than an upload cap. Files up to a few hundred megabytes are usually fine on a modern computer; extremely large ones simply take longer.