Converting…
Upload your .shp and .dbf files (plus optional .prj and .shx) and click Convert to GeoJSON.
What Is a Shapefile?
A shapefile is a popular geospatial vector data format developed by Esri. Despite the name, a shapefile is not a single file — it is a collection of related files that work together. The .shp file holds the geometry, the .dbf file holds the attribute table, and optional files such as .shx and .prj add a spatial index and coordinate system metadata.
Because shapefiles are a binary format, they cannot be dropped directly into most web mapping libraries. GeoJSON was created to solve this problem. It is a lightweight, text-based format that uses the JSON data interchange standard and is natively supported by Leaflet, Mapbox, QGIS, ArcGIS Online, D3, and virtually every modern GIS tool.
From Shapefile Components to GeoJSON
The converter reads geometry from .shp, attributes from .dbf, and coordinate metadata from .prj, then writes everything into a single GeoJSON FeatureCollection.
What Is GeoJSON and Why Use It?
GeoJSON encodes geographic data structures using JavaScript Object Notation. A GeoJSON file is a FeatureCollection that contains one or more Features. Each Feature has a geometry (Point, LineString, Polygon, or their multi-part variants) and a properties object for attribute data.
Web developers prefer GeoJSON because it loads natively in browsers, is easy to inspect in a text editor, and works with version control systems. GIS analysts prefer it because it removes the multi-file complexity of shapefiles while preserving both geometry and attributes in one portable file.
How to Convert Shapefile to GeoJSON
Upload the required .shp and .dbf files. Add the .prj file if you have it so the converter can detect the coordinate system. The tool reads every feature, extracts its geometry and attributes, and assembles a GeoJSON FeatureCollection. If the coordinate system is WGS84, the output is ready to use in web maps. If another CRS is detected, the metadata is preserved and a warning reminds you to reproject if necessary.
Which Shapefile Files Do You Need?
| Extension | Required | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| .shp | Yes | Geometry: points, polylines, or polygons |
| .dbf | Yes | Attribute table linked to each feature |
| .prj | No | Coordinate system / projection metadata |
| .shx | No | Spatial index that speeds up reading |
Shapefile vs GeoJSON — Key Differences
| Aspect | Shapefile | GeoJSON |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Binary, multiple files | Text, single JSON file |
| Web ready | Needs conversion | Natively supported |
| Attributes | Stored in .dbf dBase file | JSON properties object |
| Coordinate limit | 2 GB file size limit | Limited by memory and browser |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I convert a shapefile to GeoJSON without QGIS?
Yes. This converter runs entirely in the browser interface backed by a Go server, so you do not need to install QGIS, ArcGIS, or GDAL. Upload the shapefile components and download the GeoJSON immediately.
Why do I need the .dbf file for GeoJSON?
GeoJSON stores both geometry and attributes in the same file. The .dbf file contains the attribute table that becomes the GeoJSON properties object, so without it the converted features would have no data fields.
What happens if I don't upload the .prj file?
The converter will still produce valid GeoJSON, but it will mark the coordinate system as unknown. Many web maps assume GeoJSON is in WGS84, so missing projection metadata can place features in the wrong location.
Does this tool reproject my shapefile to WGS84?
No. The current version passes coordinates through unchanged and reports the detected CRS. If your shapefile is in a projected coordinate system, reproject it with QGIS, GDAL ogr2ogr, or ArcGIS before uploading, or convert and reproject afterward.
Is GeoJSON better than Shapefile for web maps?
For web mapping, GeoJSON is usually better because it is text-based, single-file, and natively supported by browsers and JavaScript libraries. Shapefiles remain common in desktop GIS because of their long history and broad software support.
Can I convert large shapefiles with this tool?
The tool accepts files up to 32 MB each. That covers most shapefiles used in web mapping and small-to-medium GIS projects. For very large datasets, use GDAL ogr2ogr locally or split the data into tiles.
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