Shapefile to WKT Converter
Convert Shapefile (.zip) files to WKT (.wkt) right in your browser — free, instant and private. Drop a file below and download the result in seconds. Nothing is uploaded to a server, so your data never leaves your device.
Drag & drop your .zip file
or click to browse
How to convert Shapefile to WKT
- 1
Add your Shapefile file
Drag and drop your .zip file onto the box above, or click to browse.
- 2
Convert in your browser
GeoMaps reads the Shapefile and rewrites it as WKT locally, on your device. The conversion is instant and your file is never sent anywhere.
- 3
Download your WKT
Click download to save the converted .wkt file, or copy the output text. That's it — no account, no watermark, no limits.
The Esri Shapefile is the long-standing standard format for desktop GIS (ArcGIS, QGIS). A 'shapefile' is actually a set of files — .shp (geometry), .shx (index), .dbf (attributes) and .prj (projection) — which is why it's exchanged as a single .zip. Despite its age it remains the most widely accepted format for serious geospatial analysis, so converting to or from it bridges web data and professional GIS.
Need the other direction instead? WKT is well-Known Text — the geometry syntax used by spatial databases. WKT (Well-Known Text) is the OGC standard text representation of geometry — POINT, LINESTRING, POLYGON and their multi- variants — used throughout spatial databases like PostGIS, MySQL and SQL Server, and in SQL queries. It describes geometry only, one shape per line, which makes it perfect for pasting features into a database or pulling geometry out of one.
Shapefiles are exchanged as a .zip bundle (.shp/.shx/.dbf/.prj). Upload the zipped shapefile, and converted output downloads as a .zip.
WKT encodes geometry only — feature attributes/properties are not part of the format and are dropped on conversion to WKT.
What is Shapefile?
.zipThe Esri Shapefile is the long-standing standard format for desktop GIS (ArcGIS, QGIS). A 'shapefile' is actually a set of files — .shp (geometry), .shx (index), .dbf (attributes) and .prj (projection) — which is why it's exchanged as a single .zip. Despite its age it remains the most widely accepted format for serious geospatial analysis, so converting to or from it bridges web data and professional GIS.
What is WKT?
.wktWKT (Well-Known Text) is the OGC standard text representation of geometry — POINT, LINESTRING, POLYGON and their multi- variants — used throughout spatial databases like PostGIS, MySQL and SQL Server, and in SQL queries. It describes geometry only, one shape per line, which makes it perfect for pasting features into a database or pulling geometry out of one.
Shapefile to WKT — FAQ
- How do I convert Shapefile to WKT?
- Upload your .zip file using the converter above (drag & drop or click to browse). GeoMaps converts it to WKT instantly in your browser and gives you a .wkt file to download. No software to install and no signup required.
- Is the Shapefile to WKT converter free?
- Yes — it's completely free with no usage limits, watermarks or account needed. We offer it as a free tool from GeoMaps, the platform for turning your data into interactive maps.
- Is my data private? Are my files uploaded to a server?
- No. The conversion runs entirely in your web browser using JavaScript — your file is never uploaded to any server. Because nothing leaves your device, it's safe for sensitive or confidential data and works even offline once the page has loaded.
- Can I convert WKT back to Shapefile?
- Yes. Use our WKT to Shapefile converter for the reverse conversion — every format on GeoMaps converts both ways.
- Anything to know about Shapefile input?
- Shapefiles are exchanged as a .zip bundle (.shp/.shx/.dbf/.prj). Upload the zipped shapefile, and converted output downloads as a .zip.
- Anything to know about WKT output?
- WKT encodes geometry only — feature attributes/properties are not part of the format and are dropped on conversion to WKT.
- How large a file can I convert?
- Because conversion happens in your browser, the limit is your device's memory rather than a server quota — files up to tens of megabytes convert comfortably on a typical laptop. Very large datasets may be slower depending on your machine.