Convert SHP to DXF online
Convert Esri Shapefile — the Esri format used by ArcGIS and QGIS — really a set of files (.shp, .dbf, .prj, …) bundled in a .zip — into AutoCAD DXF, which is the AutoCAD drawing-exchange format used across CAD and surveying workflows. Drop your SHP file below, DXF is already selected as the output, and download the result. Everything runs in your browser and the cloud; you never install anything.
Upload your file
Drag and drop it into the converter below. A free account comes with three welcome conversions.
Convert in the cloud
MapGO detects the format and produces your download in seconds.
Download & keep it
Files are deleted automatically after 48 hours.
Files are deleted automatically after 48 hours. Your files are never shared.
Why convert SHP to DXF with MapGO?
Most online converters take one file and hand back one file. MapGO is built on a real geospatial engine, so a single upload can do more.
- Several outputs in one upload
Tick DXF and any other formats you need; every selected format is delivered from the same file.
- Files up to 5 GB
Far beyond the browser-based converters that choke past a few hundred megabytes.
- Reproject while you convert
Set a source and target EPSG code and the coordinate system is changed during the conversion, no second tool needed.
- Private by default
Files are deleted automatically after 48 hours.
SHP vs DXF at a glance
| SHP | DXF | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical use | Desktop GIS in ArcGIS/QGIS; the long-time industry exchange format | CAD drawings and surveying deliverables |
| Size on disk | Large — several sidecar files, no compression, 2 GB per-file cap | Text-based, can grow large |
| Attribute support | Limited: column names max 10 characters, no lists or nesting | CAD layers and entities rather than GIS attribute tables |
| Software support | Universal in GIS software; web libraries can’t read it directly | AutoCAD and CAD tools; GIS via GDAL |
| Web-friendliness | Poor — must be converted before use in a web map | Needs conversion for web maps |
Other ways to convert SHP to DXF
You don't need an online tool for this. If you have GDAL installed, one command does it.
In QGIS (free): open your SHP via Layer → Add Layer, then right-click the layer → Export → Save Features As… and pick DXF as the format.
The MapGO converter above is for when you don't want to install anything, need to convert to several formats at once, or are handling files too large for a desktop machine.
ogr2ogr -f "DXF" output.dxf input.shpSHP to DXF: frequently asked questions
Is the SHP to DXF converter free?
Partly. Every new account gets three welcome conversions for free, so you can try SHP to DXF without paying. After that, you can either buy a credit pack and pay per conversion, or take a subscription, which gives you unlimited conversions within the plan's file-size limit. There is nothing to install; the whole conversion runs in the cloud.
Is my data kept private?
Conversion is fully automated and your file is never shared. Files are deleted automatically after 48 hours. Download your DXF result and it's yours to keep.
How do I upload a shapefile?
A shapefile is several files that belong together (.shp, .shx, .dbf, .prj). Zip them into a single .zip and upload that — MapGO reads all the parts and warns you if a required piece (like the .dbf) is missing.
Why are some of my column names cut off after converting a shapefile?
The shapefile’s .dbf table limits column names to 10 characters, so longer names were already truncated when the shapefile was created. The conversion preserves exactly what the shapefile stores — rename the columns in your GIS before exporting if you need the full names back.
Why are my attribute columns missing from the DXF?
A CAD drawing has no attribute table, so only the shapes are written. The finished conversion lists the columns that were left out. Choose a projected coordinate system (in metres) as the target if you will measure in the drawing.
Can I convert DXF back to SHP?
Yes — use our DXF to SHP converter for the reverse direction. MapGO supports conversions in both directions between these formats.
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See it on the map first.
Open your SHP in the workspace, check the shapes and attributes, then convert and download from the same place.