TopoJSON to Shapefile Converter
Convert TopoJSON (.topojson) files to Shapefile (.zip) 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 .topojson file
or click to browse
How to convert TopoJSON to Shapefile
- 1
Add your TopoJSON file
Drag and drop your .topojson file onto the box above, or click to browse — you can also paste the raw text directly.
- 2
Convert in your browser
GeoMaps reads the TopoJSON and rewrites it as Shapefile locally, on your device. The conversion is instant and your file is never sent anywhere.
- 3
Download your Shapefile
Click download to save the converted .zip file. That's it — no account, no watermark, no limits.
TopoJSON is an extension of GeoJSON that encodes topology: shared boundaries between features are stored once as 'arcs' instead of being duplicated. The result is dramatically smaller files — often 80% smaller than the equivalent GeoJSON — which makes it popular for web visualizations (notably D3.js) where download size matters. It converts losslessly back to GeoJSON for editing.
Need the other direction instead? Shapefile is esri's classic GIS format — the desktop-GIS workhorse. 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.
Shapefiles are exchanged as a .zip bundle (.shp/.shx/.dbf/.prj). Upload the zipped shapefile, and converted output downloads as a .zip.
What is TopoJSON?
.topojsonTopoJSON is an extension of GeoJSON that encodes topology: shared boundaries between features are stored once as 'arcs' instead of being duplicated. The result is dramatically smaller files — often 80% smaller than the equivalent GeoJSON — which makes it popular for web visualizations (notably D3.js) where download size matters. It converts losslessly back to GeoJSON for editing.
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.
TopoJSON to Shapefile — FAQ
- How do I convert TopoJSON to Shapefile?
- Upload your .topojson file using the converter above (drag & drop or click to browse). GeoMaps converts it to Shapefile instantly in your browser and gives you a .zip file to download. No software to install and no signup required.
- Is the TopoJSON to Shapefile 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 Shapefile back to TopoJSON?
- Yes. Use our Shapefile to TopoJSON converter for the reverse conversion — every format on GeoMaps converts both ways.
- Anything to know about Shapefile output?
- Shapefiles are exchanged as a .zip bundle (.shp/.shx/.dbf/.prj). Upload the zipped shapefile, and converted output downloads as a .zip.
- 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.