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Convert DXF to KML Online — Free GIS Converter

Convert AutoCAD DXF drawings to KML for Google Earth and Google Maps — assign CRS, reproject to WGS 84, and download a ready-to-use .kml file.

Updated May 2026

CAD drawings become instantly shareable and explorable in 3D when converted to KML — take your .dxf survey, site plan, or utility map and open it in Google Earth or Google Maps with geodata.plus.

Why convert DXF to KML?

Google Earth is the most accessible 3D geographic viewer available to non-GIS audiences — executives, clients, planning committees, and the public can all open a KML file with zero software cost. DXF is the natural starting format for site plans, boundary surveys, and infrastructure alignments, but it lives entirely in the CAD world. Converting to KML brings those drawings into a georeferenced context where they can be overlaid on satellite imagery, shared via a link, or embedded in a Google Maps presentation.

KML also supports rich styling — placemark icons, line colors, polygon fill — making it well suited for stakeholder presentations where visual clarity matters more than analytical precision.

Why use geodata.plus

  • Free tier — convert up to 3 files per month at no cost, no credit card required
  • Automatic CRS detection — reads coordinate hints from the DXF header and lets you assign the correct source EPSG before conversion
  • Optional reprojection — always reprojects to WGS 84 (EPSG:4326) as required by the KML specification
  • Browser-based — no QGIS, GDAL, or Google Earth Pro install needed; works on any modern browser
  • Encrypted transfer — all uploads use TLS; files are stored temporarily in Cloudflare R2 and automatically deleted on schedule
  • Auto-deleted output — output files are automatically deleted after 2 days (free tier) and 7 days (Pro); no manual cleanup needed

How it works

  1. Upload your DXF file (.dxf) using the widget above
  2. geodata.plus parses the DXF layer structure and entity types
  3. Select KML as the output format; assign the source CRS so coordinates are correctly reprojected to WGS 84
  4. Download your .kml file ready to open in Google Earth or import into Google Maps

DXF format

DXF (Drawing Exchange Format) is Autodesk's open CAD interchange format. It stores geometry as layers of entities — lines, polylines, arcs, circles, and polygons — with no embedded coordinate reference system. CAD operators work in local or projected coordinate spaces, so the correct CRS must be supplied externally when converting to a geographic format. DXF is the dominant output format for surveying instruments and CAD software worldwide.

| Property | Value | |---|---| | Extension | .dxf | | Type | Vector, single file | | Coordinate system | None native — local/project coordinates assumed | | Geometry types | Points, Lines, Polylines, Arcs, Circles, Polygons (hatches) | | Common software | AutoCAD, Civil 3D, MicroStation, BricsCAD, surveying tools |

KML format

KML (Keyhole Markup Language) is an XML-based format developed by Keyhole Inc. and adopted by Google, now an OGC standard. All coordinates in KML are in WGS 84 (longitude, latitude, optional altitude). KML supports placemarks, paths, polygons, ground overlays, and folders for organizing features. It is the native format for Google Earth and is directly importable into Google Maps, ArcGIS, and QGIS.

| Property | Value | |---|---| | Extension | .kml | | Type | Vector, single file (XML) | | Coordinate system | Always WGS 84 (EPSG:4326) | | Geometry types | Point, LineString, LinearRing, Polygon | | Common software | Google Earth, Google Maps, ArcGIS, QGIS |

Frequently asked questions

Do DXF layers become folders in the KML output?

Yes. Each DXF layer is mapped to a KML <Folder> element with the same name, so the layer structure is preserved when you open the file in Google Earth. You can toggle individual layers on and off in the Google Earth sidebar.

My DXF uses arcs and splines — will they look correct in Google Earth?

Arcs, splines, and curves are approximated as densified polylines before output, which preserves visual shape at typical viewing scales. KML has no native arc primitive, so this approximation is unavoidable in any DXF-to-KML conversion.

Can I apply custom colors or icons from the DXF layer colors in the KML?

Yes. geodata.plus maps DXF layer color indices (ACI colors) to equivalent KML <Style> elements, so features that were red, blue, or green in AutoCAD will carry corresponding colors into Google Earth. You can further customize styles inside Google Earth after import.

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