SHP to KML Converter
Processing entirely on your device — large files may take a moment.
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). Convert KML to GeoJSON for web maps, or to CSV for spreadsheets.
iLoveConverter processes everything locally on your computer, which makes it private and fast: no upload wait, no server storage, no limits. Add as many files as you like — batch conversion is built in.
How SHP compares to KML
| SHP | KML | |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | Geometry + DBF attribute table | XML placemarks & folders |
| Types / schema | Points, polylines, polygons | Points, lines, polygons, styles |
| Compatibility | ArcGIS, QGIS, OSM exports | Google Earth, Maps, agencies |
| Best for | Government & research map data | Sharing annotated places |
How to convert SHP to KML
- 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 KML". The conversion runs entirely inside your browser using WebAssembly — no upload, no queue, no waiting.
- 3
Download results
Download each converted KML 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 KML format
KML (Keyhole Markup Language) started life as Google Earth’s file format and became an OGC standard. It describes placemarks, paths, polygons and even camera tours, with rich styling — which is also why it is heavier and harder to parse than GeoJSON.
Most KML files in the wild come from Google Earth exports and government portals. Converting them to GeoJSON puts the same places into any web map without a Google Earth dependency.
+ Strengths
- ✓Rich styling, tours and descriptions
- ✓Google Earth and Maps read it natively
- ✓OGC standard, widely published by agencies
! Limitations
- −Verbose XML, hard to hand-edit
- −Web map libraries need conversion first
Why convert SHP to KML?
Converting makes sense where the strengths of KML meet what SHP cannot give you. Rich styling, tours and descriptions Meanwhile Multi-file bundle, awkward to move One pass through the converter above puts your file on the right side of that trade-off.
Frequently asked questions
Is this SHP to KML 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 KML?
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 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.
Are formulas, styles or multiple sheets converted?
No — this conversion extracts the data itself into KML. Formulas are exported as their current values, styling is not carried over, and multi-sheet workbooks convert sheet by sheet. For full fidelity between spreadsheet formats, exchange within the same tool family.