Convert Shapefile to KML Online — Free GIS Converter
Convert Shapefile to KML for Google Earth, Google Maps, and ArcGIS — automatic reprojection to WGS 84, browser-based, free, no install required.
Updated May 2026
Shapefiles are the workhorse of desktop GIS, but when you need to share geographic data with stakeholders who use Google Earth, create a Google My Maps layer, or publish a visual map for a non-technical audience, KML is the format they need — convert your Shapefile .zip to .kml instantly with geodata.plus.
Why convert Shapefile to KML?
KML is the native format for Google Earth and Google My Maps, two of the most widely used tools for non-GIS audiences to view geographic data. If a planner, executive, journalist, or community member needs to open your data without installing any GIS software, sending them a KML file that opens directly in Google Earth or imports into My Maps is the easiest path. Shapefile's multi-file bundle (.shp, .shx, .dbf, .prj) is confusing for non-GIS users and impossible to open without dedicated software.
KML also supports embedded styling — polygon fill colors, line widths, point icons — making it suitable for presentation-ready outputs where visual meaning matters, not just raw geometry.
Why use geodata.plus
- Free tier — convert up to 3 files per month at no cost, no credit card required
- Automatic CRS detection — reads the
.prjfile and reprojects from any source CRS to WGS 84 (required by KML) automatically - Optional reprojection — full EPSG support ensures accurate coordinate transformation regardless of your Shapefile's projection
- Browser-based — no Google Earth Pro, QGIS, or ArcGIS 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
- Upload your Shapefile as a
.ziparchive containing at minimum the.shp,.shx, and.dbffiles (include.prjfor correct CRS) - geodata.plus detects the format, reads the CRS from the
.prjfile, and transforms coordinates to WGS 84 as required by KML - Select KML as the output format
- Download your
.kmlfile, ready to open in Google Earth or import into Google My Maps
Shapefile format
Shapefile is a multi-file vector format developed by Esri in the early 1990s that became the universal standard for GIS data distribution. Its DBF attribute table stores feature properties as fixed-width columns with a 10-character name limit and a 2 GB per-file size ceiling. The .prj file stores the CRS definition as Well-Known Text. Despite its limitations, Shapefile is accepted by more software than any other vector format.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Extension | .shp + .shx + .dbf + .prj (delivered as .zip) |
| Type | Vector, multi-file bundle |
| Coordinate system | Any CRS (stored in .prj) |
| Geometry types | Point, Polyline, Polygon, MultiPoint (one type per file) |
| Common software | ArcGIS, QGIS, Tableau, AutoCAD Civil 3D, government portals |
KML format
KML (Keyhole Markup Language) is an OGC-standardized XML format originally developed by Keyhole Inc. and made famous by Google Earth. It encodes geographic features as <Placemark> elements with embedded geometry and optional style definitions. KML always uses WGS 84 coordinates in longitude/latitude/altitude order. The format supports rich display properties — colors, icons, labels, camera viewpoints, time animations — that Shapefile cannot express natively.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Extension | .kml |
| Type | Vector, single file XML |
| Coordinate system | Always WGS 84 (EPSG:4326) |
| Geometry types | Point, LineString, Polygon, MultiGeometry |
| Common software | Google Earth, Google Maps, ArcGIS, QGIS, many mobile/GPS apps |
Frequently asked questions
Will the DBF attribute table from my Shapefile be visible in Google Earth?
Yes. geodata.plus maps all DBF column values to KML <ExtendedData> elements, which Google Earth displays as a table in the feature's pop-up balloon when clicked. Column names from the DBF (which may be truncated to 10 characters) are used as the KML data field names. All rows and columns are preserved in the output.
Does the KML output include any styling based on my Shapefile symbology?
No. Shapefiles store no styling information — symbology is defined in the GIS application's layer style, not the file itself. The KML output uses Google Earth's default styles: yellow pushpins for points, solid yellow lines for lines, and semi-transparent yellow polygons. To add custom colors or icons, open the KML in Google Earth and edit the style properties, or use QGIS's KML export options to apply symbology before conversion.
My Shapefile is in a state plane or national grid CRS — will the KML coordinates be correct?
Yes. geodata.plus reads the CRS definition from your .prj file and performs a full coordinate transformation to WGS 84 geographic coordinates before writing the KML. This includes proper datum transformation (e.g., NAD83 to WGS84, or OSGB36 to WGS84) where required. If your .prj file is missing or malformed, you will be prompted to enter the source EPSG code manually to ensure the transformation is accurate.