mapverter

KMZ to SHP Converter

Convert KMZ to a Shapefile ZIP without unpacking it first. mapverter reads the doc.kml inside, keeps folder names and splits points, lines and polygons.

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Drag your map file here

SHP (zip, or .shp with .shx, .dbf, .prj), KML, KMZ, GeoJSON, GPX, CSV

Free · one dataset at a time · up to 20 MB

Converting several datasets at once?

No need to unzip

A KMZ is a ZIP archive with a KML document inside. mapverter opens it directly and reads doc.kml wherever it sits in the archive; if there is no doc.kml, it uses the first .kml file in name order. Other files in the KMZ, such as icon images, are not used, because a Shapefile cannot show them anyway.

How placemarks become Shapefiles

  • When the KMZ mixes points, lines and polygons, each type goes into its own Shapefile in the ZIP, named with a _point, _line or _polygon ending.
  • The folder path of each placemark is stored in a folder field, and ExtendedData values become fields of their own.
  • Field names are cut to the 10-byte DBF limit, so description becomes descriptio. field_names.csv lists every renamed field.
  • Placemarks without coordinates and all styling are left out, and the conversion report counts them. Altitudes are removed too and only reported when a height was not zero.

Coordinates and text

The KML inside a KMZ is always WGS 84, and the Shapefile starts in WGS 84 as well. For projected output, pick Web Mercator (EPSG:3857) as the target, or start from a coordinate system page that presets another system. Attributes are written as UTF-8 by default, and CP949 is available for Korean software.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to unzip the KMZ first?
No. Add the .kmz file as it is. mapverter opens the archive in your browser and reads the KML document inside.
What happens to the icons inside my KMZ?
They are not copied. Shapefiles store geometry and attributes only, so icon images and colors are dropped, and the report lists how many placemarks had styling.
Which KML is used if the KMZ contains several?
The file named doc.kml, in any folder of the archive. If there is none, the first .kml file in name order is used.
Is my KMZ uploaded anywhere?
No. The archive is opened and converted inside your browser, and nothing is sent to a server.