SHP to GZ Converter
Processing entirely on your device — large files may take a moment.
ESRI Shapefile and Gzip Compressed File exist for different jobs: 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). Unpack a .gz into a normal file or repack it as ZIP/TAR when the receiving tool does not understand gzip.
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 to convert SHP to GZ
- 1
Select your files
Select your SHP file.
- 2
Convert instantly
The file bytes are gzip-compressed in place — the same archive your server or build tool produces, made locally.
- 3
Download results
Download the .gz file — ready to upload, serve or attach.
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 GZ format
A .gz file is one file squeezed by gzip — not an archive. kernel.org tarballs are “tar inside gz”, but plenty of logs, JSON dumps and CSV exports travel as plain .gz. Opening one means decompressing it back to the original bytes.
Repacking into ZIP or TAR gives the decompressed file a container that every GUI tool opens without a second thought.
+Strengths
- ✓Everywhere on Linux and macOS
- ✓Fast, well-understood compression
- ✓Streams natively from any tool
!Limitations
- −Single file only — no directory tree
- −No encryption or integrity metadata
Why convert SHP to GZ?
There is a concrete reason this conversion exists: Multi-file bundle, awkward to move GZ sidesteps that — Everywhere on Linux and macOS If that is your situation, the tool above settles it in seconds, entirely on your device.
Frequently asked questions
Is this SHP to GZ 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.
Is there a file size limit for SHP to GZ?
The only limit is your device's memory, since nothing is uploaded. Files up to a few hundred megabytes work fine on a modern desktop browser; very large files simply take a little longer.
Is there a size limit for archive conversion?
There is no upload cap because nothing is uploaded — the practical limit is your device memory. A few hundred megabytes of unpacked content works comfortably on a modern computer.
What about folders and directory structure?
The full directory tree is preserved: folders stay folders, and deep paths arrive exactly as they were packed in the SHP file.