Free online OBJ to DAE converter

A game engine, CAD package, or 3D editor may require COLLADA instead of Wavefront OBJ for a model import. Converting to DAE is also useful when the receiving workflow needs a scene hierarchy, cameras, lights, or animation support that OBJ does not provide.

What the OBJ format is

OBJ is a text-based 3D geometry format developed for Wavefront applications and now supported by most modeling and asset tools. It stores vertex positions, polygon faces, texture coordinates, vertex normals, and material assignments. Material definitions are normally kept in a separate .mtl file, which can reference image textures.

Blender, Autodesk Maya, 3ds Max, Cinema 4D, SketchUp, ZBrush, CAD applications, and game-asset utilities use OBJ for exporting or exchanging meshes. OBJ is common when a model must move between unrelated programs without depending on a proprietary project file.

What the DAE format is

DAE is the file extension for COLLADA, an XML-based 3D interchange format used by modeling applications, game engines, visualization software, and digital-content pipelines.

Unlike a basic OBJ file, COLLADA can describe a multi-object scene with node hierarchies, transforms, cameras, lights, materials, skinning, and animation. It can also reference textures and represent more complex scene relationships, although individual programs support different subsets of the COLLADA specification.

DAE is appropriate when the destination specifically supports COLLADA or needs scene structure, rigging, or animation. It is not automatically smaller than OBJ: XML tags and additional scene metadata can make a DAE file larger.

How to convert OBJ to DAE

The most controllable method is Blender, because it lets you inspect the imported mesh and correct scale, axes, materials, and transforms before export.

1. Put the .obj file, its matching .mtl file, and referenced image textures in an accessible folder. Preserve the original filenames and relative paths during import.
2. In Blender, choose File → Import → Wavefront (.obj) and select the OBJ. Enable import options such as splitting by object or group only when the source file requires them.
3. Check the result in the 3D Viewport. Inspect scale, axis orientation, face normals, smoothing, UV coordinates, object names, and material assignments. Apply rotation and scale with Object → Apply → Rotation & Scale if the destination expects baked transforms.
4. Choose File → Export → COLLADA (.dae). Enable selected objects, UV textures, materials, or animation only when those elements are needed. Export to a separate folder so the source assets remain unchanged.
5. Open the DAE in the target application and verify units, up-axis orientation, texture paths, normals, hierarchy, and animation playback.

For a conversion without installed software, use the free converter on 101convert.com. Provide the OBJ and, when supported by the upload form, its MTL and texture files; then download the DAE and test it in the intended application.

Batch conversion with Assimp

Open Asset Import Library (Assimp) is suitable for scripted or repeated conversions. A typical command is:

assimp export model.obj model.dae

Review the output in a 3D application after conversion. Assimp may not reproduce renderer-specific shaders, complex node materials, custom normals, or every COLLADA feature exactly, so Blender is preferable when visual inspection and manual correction are required.

Quality and compatibility limits

• OBJ normally contains no animation, skeleton, lights, or cameras. Converting an ordinary OBJ cannot recover data that was never stored in it. The DAE will contain only the imported geometry, material references, and available texture resources.
• OBJ and COLLADA files can use different unit scales and coordinate conventions. The converted model may appear too large, too small, rotated, or mirrored; correct the scale and axis settings during import or export and verify them in the destination program.
• Basic diffuse color, opacity, UV mapping, and bitmap textures transfer more reliably than procedural shaders, PBR node graphs, reflections, and renderer-specific effects. Material definitions may need rebuilding after export.
• DAE commonly references texture images as external files. Keep those images with the DAE, preserve relative paths, and avoid renaming or moving them after export.
• Import and export can alter triangulation, smoothing groups, custom normals, modifiers, and non-manifold geometry. Compare the converted mesh with the source and repair topology before export when the asset will be used in real-time rendering.
• COLLADA implementations differ between applications. Retain the original OBJ, MTL, and texture files so you can repeat the conversion with different axis, material, or export settings.