Shapefile to CSVConverter
Convert complex GIS Shapefiles (.shp) to simple CSV files instantly. No software installation, no account required.
All data is processed locally on your browser and is never uploaded to any server.
How It Works
Upload Shapefile
Upload your .shp file and associated files (.dbf, .shx, etc.) using the converter below
Convert
Our tool will instantly process your shapefile and prepare it for download as CSV
Download CSV
Get your data in CSV format, ready to use in Excel, Google Sheets, or any spreadsheet tool
Shapefile (.shp) to CSV Converter
What is a Shapefile (.shp)?
A Shapefile (.shp) is a popular geospatial vector data format developed by Esri for geographic information system (GIS) software. It's widely used for storing the location, shape, and attributes of geographic features.
While powerful for spatial analysis, Shapefiles can be challenging to work with if you don't have specialized GIS software like ArcGIS or QGIS. That's where our converter comes in - it transforms complex spatial data into simple CSV spreadsheets that you can open with Excel, Google Sheets, or any spreadsheet software.
Why Convert Shapefile to CSV?
- Accessibility: Work with geospatial data without needing expensive GIS software
- Data Analysis: Perform statistical analysis on geographic data using familiar spreadsheet tools
- Integration: Import location data into business intelligence tools, databases, or custom applications
- Sharing: Share geospatial data with colleagues who don't have GIS expertise
- Visualization: Create charts and graphs based on spatial attributes
Shapefile Components
A Shapefile isn't actually a single file, but a collection of related files that work together:
- .shp - The main file that stores the geometric features
- .dbf - The database file that stores attribute information
- .shx - An index file for shape features
- .prj - Optional file that stores coordinate system information
Our converter handles all these components automatically, extracting both the geographic features and their associated attributes to create a comprehensive CSV file.
Pro Tip: When uploading your shapefile, make sure to include all associated files (.dbf, .shx, .prj) for the most accurate conversion. You can upload all files at once by selecting them together in the file dialog.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens to my geometry data when converting to CSV?
The converter extracts point coordinates (latitude and longitude) for each feature in your Shapefile. For polygons and lines, it includes coordinates for each vertex. All attribute data from the .dbf file is preserved in the CSV.
Is there a file size limit for conversion?
Since all processing happens in your browser, the practical limit depends on your device's memory. Most modern browsers can handle files up to 50MB without issues. For larger files, consider using our desktop application.
Can I convert multiple Shapefiles at once?
Currently, the online tool processes one Shapefile at a time. For batch conversions, you might want to try our desktop application or sign up for our API service.
How do I open a Shapefile in Excel without conversion?
Unfortunately, Excel cannot directly open .shp files. That's exactly why this converter is useful - it transforms the data into a format Excel can understand. After conversion, you can simply open the resulting CSV file in Excel.
What coordinate system does the converter use?
The converter respects the original coordinate system defined in the .prj file. If your Shapefile uses a projected coordinate system, the CSV will contain those projected coordinates. For best compatibility with mapping tools, we recommend using WGS84 (EPSG:4326).
Who can I reach out to if I have questions or issues
If you have any questions or encounter issues with the converter, please contact us. As this is a free tool we can't offer a guaranteed level of assistance, but we'll try to help!
Other Conversion Tools
Want to build a secure interactive map with your data?
This free converter is just one of many tools offered by Honeycomb Maps. Our core product is a powerful map application builder, used by companies like GLS Studio to share geospatial data within their organizations.