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HomeGoogle Earth & KML › Shapefile to KMZ

Convert Shapefile to KMZ

Convert Shapefile files to KMZ, online and free. GISConverter reads your Shapefile data locally in the browser and writes a KMZ file so you can share it as a single, compact Google Earth file — nothing is uploaded, and your data never leaves your computer.

Drop a file here, or click to browse

KML, KMZ, SHP (.zip), GeoJSON, GPKG, GML, GPX, DXF, GeoTIFF, and more

No uploadNo trackingOpen standards (GDAL/OGR)Works offline once loaded
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How to convert Shapefile to KMZ

  1. Drop your Shapefile file into the box above (or click to browse). For a shapefile, drop the .zip that contains its .shp/.dbf/.shx/.prj parts.
  2. The GDAL engine loads once and reads the file right in your browser.
  3. Pick KMZ as the output, set a coordinate system if you need one, and click Convert, then download the result.

Why convert Shapefile to KMZ?

Shapefile is a vector GIS format, so it isn't always the format the next tool expects. Converting it to KMZ lets you share it as a single, compact Google Earth file without redrawing or re-collecting anything. Because GISConverter runs a full GDAL engine in your browser, the geometry and attributes carry across faithfully, and the file never leaves your device.

About the formats

Shapefile (.shp): The Shapefile is the long-standing Esri vector format and remains the lingua franca of desktop GIS. A single “shapefile” is really a set of files that must travel together — at minimum .shp (geometry), .dbf (attributes) and .shx (index), usually with a .prj that records the coordinate system.

KMZ (.kmz): A KMZ file is simply a KML document compressed into a ZIP archive, optionally bundling icons, images and overlays alongside it. It is smaller than raw KML and is the format Google Earth exports by default, which makes it the usual way to hand a finished map to someone else.

Tips & things to know

Frequently asked questions

Is the Shapefile to KMZ converter free?

Yes. GISConverter is completely free and runs in your browser — no signup, no watermark, and no daily limit.

Are my files uploaded to a server?

No. Your Shapefile file is read and converted locally on your device with a GDAL engine compiled to WebAssembly, so it never leaves your computer.

What is KMZ?

A KMZ file is simply a KML document compressed into a ZIP archive, optionally bundling icons, images and overlays alongside it.

What is a Shapefile file?

The Shapefile is the long-standing Esri vector format and remains the lingua franca of desktop GIS.

Why is the shapefile a .zip?

A shapefile is really several files (.shp, .dbf, .shx, .prj) that must stay together, so GISConverter bundles them into a single .zip for download — and reads a zipped shapefile the same way on input.

Can I set the coordinate system?

Yes. Output defaults to EPSG:4326 (WGS84 longitude/latitude). Enter any EPSG code, such as EPSG:3857, in the coordinate-system box to reproject on the way out.

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