Free online SHP.ZIP to KMZ converter

Source format: shp.zip

shp.zip is a compressed archive that usually contains an ESRI Shapefile dataset. A shapefile is one of the most common GIS vector formats and is widely used by cartographers, surveyors, planners, engineers, and GIS analysts. It is not a single file: a valid shapefile set typically includes .shp for geometry, .shx for shape index, .dbf for attribute data, and often .prj for coordinate system information. The ZIP wrapper is commonly used to keep all required companion files together for sharing and upload.

Typical use cases include storing boundaries, roads, parcels, points of interest, utility networks, and other map features in desktop GIS software such as QGIS, ArcGIS, and similar tools.

Target format: kmz

KMZ is a compressed KML file used by Google Earth and many other mapping applications. It can store geographic features, styles, labels, and sometimes linked images or icons inside a single package. KMZ is convenient for sharing map data because it is easy to open, portable, and often simpler for non-GIS users to view than a shapefile.

Its main advantages are single-file portability, broad support in Earth-viewer software, and good compatibility for visualizing points, lines, polygons, and overlays on a globe or map.

How to perform the conversion

The best approach is to use a desktop GIS tool that understands both shapefiles and KML/KMZ. QGIS is a strong free option, and ArcGIS also supports this workflow.

1. Unzip shp.zip if needed, or open the ZIP directly if your GIS software supports it.
2. Make sure the shapefile set is complete: .shp, .shx, .dbf, and ideally .prj.
3. Open the dataset in QGIS.
4. Right-click the layer and choose Export → Save Features As...
5. Set the format to KML.
6. Choose an output filename ending in .kml.
7. Save the file, then compress it into KMZ by renaming or packaging it as .kmz if your software does not create KMZ directly.

If your GIS software can export directly to KMZ, use that option instead. In QGIS, the usual path is Layer → Export → Save Features As..., then select KML-compatible output and ensure the result is saved as .kmz if supported by the exporter.

For a quick online option, you can convert the file on 101convert.com for free without installing any software.

Notes on quality, compatibility, or limitations

Coordinate reference systems matter. Shapefiles often use projected coordinate systems, while KML/KMZ expects geographic coordinates in WGS 84. A good converter will reproject automatically, but if the source data lacks a proper .prj file, the output may be misplaced.

Some shapefile features do not translate perfectly to KMZ. For example, advanced symbology, complex attribute tables, multi-part styling, and certain GIS-specific field types may be simplified or lost. Large datasets can also become heavy in Google Earth, so simplifying geometry before conversion may improve performance.

If the shapefile contains multiple layers or related tables, remember that KMZ is primarily a visualization format, not a full GIS database. It is best for sharing and viewing map features rather than preserving every analytical detail.