Free online STL to DXF converter

Dratting STL models to DXF format. Viable STL to DXF conversion solutions.

Convert STL to DXF online - free

.stl .dxf

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How to convert stl to dxf file

July 12, 2026
CAD formats
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STL format is typically used for 3D printing, and it is not surprising that sometimes users require these simple models to be recovered back to 2D CAD format via a process often labeled as 'drafting'. Drafting essentially translates specific views or aspects of a 3D model and saves these as 2D drawings, often to DXF, DWG, or any of the proprietary 2D CAD formats used in various professional CAD tools.

Such stl to dxf conversion can be done with pretty much every modern 3D CAD modeling tool (many are listed here), but it is not limited to just professional and expensive tools and can be made using open source solutions, such as FreeCAD.

How to draft STL models to DXF format using FreeCAD

Converting STL file to a DXF file using FreeCAD involves several steps. The process includes importing the STL file, creating a 2D projection or section of the 3D model, and then exporting that 2D representation to a DXF file. Here’s how you can do it:

Step 1: Import the STL File

Open FreeCAD
Go to File ► Import and select your STL file to import it into FreeCAD.
The STL will appear as a mesh in FreeCAD.

Step 2: Convert the Mesh to a Solid (optional)

To work with the mesh more effectively in FreeCAD, you might need to convert it to a solid.
Switch to the Part workbench. Select the mesh object in the model tree and go to Part ► Create shape from mesh...., select the mesh and click Create.
This will create a new shape, which you can then convert to a solid by selecting it and using Part ► Convert to solid option.

Step 3: Create a 2D Projection or Section

Switch to the Draft or TechDraw workbench, depending on whether you want a more schematic or a more precise technical drawing.
For a simple projection (Draft workbench), select the solid and use Draft ► Shape2DView to create a 2D projection of the shape.
For a technical drawing (TechDraw workbench), use the various tools in TechDraw to create views and sections of the solid.

Step 4: Export to DXF

Once you have the 2D representation, select it and go to File ► Export option and choose DXF as the file format to export the selected 2D view.
After exporting, it's a good idea to open the DXF file in another program to ensure the result

STL vs DXF: format comparison

How the STL and DXF formats compare on the properties that matter most for this conversion.

Comparison of the STL and DXF file formats
Property	.STL Stereolithography	.DXF Drawing Exchange Format
Open standard	Partly open	Partly open
Compression	Uncompressed	Uncompressed
Typical file size	Small	Large
Opens in a web browser	No	No
Further editing	Not directly editable	Limited
Metadata support	None	Basic
Plain-text readable	Yes	Yes
Best used for	Embedding in applications	Data exchange
Introduced	1987	1982
Developer	3D Systems	Autodesk
MIME type	model/stl	application/dxf

Open STL file Open DXF file

Frequently asked questions

Is the STL to DXF converter free?

Yes, converting STL to DXF on 101convert.com is completely free. No registration, email address or installation is required. If you need a higher file size limit or want to convert more files at once, see our plans.

How large can my STL file be?

You can upload STL files up to 500 MB and convert up to 5 files at once in a single batch.

What happens to my uploaded files?

Files are processed automatically and deleted from our servers within a few minutes after conversion. We never view or share your files.

Do I need to install any software to convert STL to DXF?

No. The STL to DXF conversion runs entirely online in your browser and works on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iPhone.

Did the conversion fail?

In most cases, the cause is an incorrect file format. Please upload a valid STL file for this STL to DXF conversion. Occasionally, the issue may be on our side. We analyze recurring conversion failures and disable or fix the converter if we detect a defect.

Will converting STL to DXF make the model editable CAD geometry?

No, an STL mesh usually remains a collection of triangular faces in the DXF rather than becoming a clean solid, parametric feature, or smooth surface. Editing it as a proper CAD model may require rebuilding the geometry.

Does STL to DXF preserve the 3D shape and detail?

It can preserve the triangulated 3D shape, but the result remains faceted and its detail depends on the original STL mesh. Some conversions create a 2D projection instead, so the selected DXF output type matters.

Why does my STL to DXF conversion look flat or show only one view?

This happens when the conversion produces a 2D drawing or projection rather than 3D faces. STL stores a surface mesh, so it does not contain natural DXF drawing views, layers, or dimension information to preserve.

Why is my STL to DXF file much larger or difficult to open?

A detailed STL can produce a DXF with a very large number of individual faces or line segments, making it larger and slower to open. Reducing the mesh detail before conversion can help, but it may remove visible shape detail.

stl to dwg stl to e3d

Additional formats for
stl file conversion

Reverse conversion

dxf to stl

Convert to dxf from
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