Converting DXF to KMZ produces a compact, zipped Google Earth file from a CAD drawing.
What is DXF?
DXF (Drawing Exchange Format) is an open CAD data format created by Autodesk for exchanging drawings between AutoCAD and other CAD applications.
DXF stores CAD entities — points, lines, polylines, arcs, circles, text and blocks — organized on named layers. Unlike GIS formats it has no attribute table, so geometry and layer names come across but arbitrary feature attributes do not. It is the common interchange format for survey drawings, site plans, and engineering geometry moving between CAD tools such as AutoCAD, and into GIS via GDAL. GeoConvert reads and writes DXF entirely in your browser.
What is KMZ?
KMZ is a ZIP archive that packages a KML document (conventionally named doc.kml) together with any assets it references, such as icons, images, and overlays.
Structurally a KMZ is just a compressed container: unzip it and you get a main doc.kml plus an optional folder of supporting files. Zipping typically shrinks verbose KML text substantially and keeps a placemark set and its custom icons together as one shareable file, which is why Google Earth exports KMZ by default. Everything true of KML applies to the KML inside a KMZ; the wrapper only adds compression and asset bundling.
Why convert DXF to KMZ?
KMZ is the smaller, shareable form of KML — ideal for emailing a site plan or opening a survey directly in Google Earth without a separate CAD viewer.
Coordinate systems
DXF is a CAD format and carries no coordinate reference system — coordinates are plain model units. When converting to or from GIS formats you often need to know (or assign) the drawing’s real-world CRS; GeoConvert assumes WGS84 (EPSG:4326) only if you ask to reproject.
Because the payload is ordinary KML, a KMZ is inherently WGS84 (EPSG:4326) longitude/latitude/altitude, with no projection metadata and no possibility of reprojection inside the format.
What to watch out for
- KMZ/KML are WGS84; DXF has no CRS, so georeference the drawing correctly or it will appear in the wrong location.
- Only geometry and layer names convert — CAD drawings have no attribute table.
- A KMZ is simply a zipped doc.kml, so the same KML limitations apply.
How to convert DXF to KMZ
- Drag your DXF file (.dxf) into the converter above, or click to browse.
- Confirm the source is DXF and choose KMZ as the output format.
- Optionally pick a target coordinate system (EPSG) to reproject.
- Click Convert and download your KMZ file. Everything runs in your browser.
Frequently asked questions
- What’s inside the KMZ?
- A single doc.kml holding the converted geometry, zipped for a smaller download.
- Are attributes included?
- No — DXF has no attributes, so only geometry and layers are exported.