Free online DWG to SVG converter

A browser, web page, vector editor, or laser cutter may require an SVG instead of a CAD file. Converting a DWG makes its selected 2D geometry easier to share, display, edit, or embed without CAD software.

What the DWG format is

DWG is a binary CAD format associated with Autodesk AutoCAD and used for precise 2D and 3D design data. A file can contain lines, arcs, polylines, text, dimensions, blocks, layers, hatches, layouts, external references, and model-space or paper-space settings.

Architects, mechanical designers, civil engineers, surveyors, manufacturers, and contractors commonly use DWG. AutoCAD creates it, while compatible applications such as BricsCAD, DraftSight, ZWCAD, and nanoCAD can also read or write it. DWG is designed for CAD workflows, not direct browser display or general-purpose illustration.

What the SVG format is

SVG is an XML-based vector format for two-dimensional graphics. It describes paths, shapes, text, fills, and strokes, so browsers and vector editors can render the artwork at different sizes without raster pixelation.

SVG works well for web graphics, technical diagrams, documentation, signage, plotting, and editing in applications such as Inkscape or Illustrator. It does not preserve the complete DWG data model: 3D solids, parametric constraints, associative CAD objects, and some annotation or reference data must be flattened, converted, or omitted.

How to convert DWG to SVG

Using 101convert.com

1. Open the DWG-to-SVG converter on 101convert.com. The conversion can be performed free without installing software.
2. Upload the source file, such as floor-plan.dwg.
3. Select SVG as the output format and start the conversion.
4. Download floor-plan.svg, then open it in a browser or vector editor.
5. Check the drawing extents, scale, text, line weights, colors, and visible geometry before using the file.

Do not upload confidential designs, client drawings, or export-controlled data unless the service's handling and retention policies meet your requirements. Use local CAD software for files that must remain on your computer.

Using AutoCAD

1. Open the DWG in AutoCAD and activate the model-space view or paper-space layout to export.
2. Set the required view, drawing extents, layer visibility, annotation scale, and units. Turn off construction layers and remove stray objects outside the intended drawing area.
3. Run SVGOUT. In AutoCAD versions that expose the command through the interface, use Output → Export → SVG.
4. Choose the whole drawing or selected objects, specify the output filename, and save the SVG.
5. Open the result in a browser or vector editor and verify its appearance and dimensions.

SVG export commands and options vary by AutoCAD release and by CAD product. If SVGOUT is unavailable, export a PDF or DXF only as an intermediate workflow in software that supports SVG; neither route preserves the DWG data model as well as a direct export, and PDF-to-SVG conversion commonly requires cleanup.

Quality and compatibility limits

• 3D drawings are flattened: select a viewing direction before export. Solids, hidden-line settings, shaded materials, lighting, and camera information may not transfer as expected.
• Units and scale require checking: SVG uses a viewBox and may use CSS units or physical units such as millimeters. Confirm the document size in the target application, especially for cutting, CNC, or printing.
• Text depends on fonts: a missing font can change spacing or appearance. Convert text to outlines when visual fidelity matters, but retain a text-preserving version when searchability or text editing is required.
• CAD objects may become paths: dimensions, leaders, associative hatches, dynamic blocks, annotative objects, constraints, proxy objects, and external references can be simplified or omitted.
• External references need special handling: referenced drawings and images may not be embedded automatically. Bind or embed supported content, or include it in the export workflow.
• Line styling can change: CAD plot styles, transparency, layer properties, colors, and line weights do not map directly to SVG in every converter. Inspect the output at high zoom.
• Large drawings can create heavy SVG files: remove unused layers, duplicate geometry, excessive hatches, and distant stray objects before exporting. Path simplification can reduce size but may reduce precision.