Convert CSV to Shapefile Online — Free & Instant
Converting CSV data with coordinates to Shapefile format lets you load spreadsheet-based location data into QGIS, ArcGIS, and other desktop GIS software. This is a common need when working with location data exported from Excel, Google Sheets, or survey tools like Kobo Toolbox. Maparz detects latitude and longitude columns automatically and produces a complete Shapefile ZIP archive.
File converter
When to convert CSV to Shapefile
- Loading Excel or Google Sheets location data into QGIS or ArcGIS
- Converting survey point data exported as CSV into a GIS Shapefile
- Importing business or facility location CSVs into desktop GIS tools
- Converting OpenStreetMap POI data exported as CSV to Shapefile
- Transforming address-geocoded CSVs into Shapefiles for spatial analysis
How to convert CSV to Shapefile
- 1
Prepare your CSV
Ensure your CSV has columns for latitude (lat, latitude, y) and longitude (lon, lng, longitude, x). Column names are case-insensitive.
- 2
Upload the CSV
Drop your .csv file on the upload zone.
- 3
Select Shapefile
Click Shapefile .zip in the format panel.
- 4
Download and unzip
Unzip the downloaded file and open the .shp in QGIS, ArcGIS, or any GIS application.
About CSV
CSV (Comma-Separated Values) files containing geometry data typically include latitude and longitude columns (or X/Y columns for projected data). Many data providers distribute point datasets as CSV because they are easy to open in Excel, Python, and R. When converting from a vector format to CSV, Maparz outputs an X (longitude) and Y (latitude) column along with all attribute data. To convert CSV to GeoJSON, your file must have columns identifiable as longitude (x, lon, lng, longitude) and latitude (y, lat, latitude).
Strengths
- +Opens in Excel, Google Sheets, any spreadsheet
- +Human-readable and editable
- +Lightweight for point data
About Shapefile
Shapefile (SHP) is the de-facto standard vector format developed by Esri. A shapefile is actually a collection of at least three files: .shp (geometry), .dbf (attributes), and .shx (index). Despite its age, it remains the most widely-supported format across GIS desktop software including ArcGIS and QGIS. Shapefiles support points, lines, and polygons but are limited to 2 GB in size and 10-character field names. When sharing shapefiles, always bundle them into a .zip archive.
Strengths
- +Universal compatibility with all GIS software
- +Stable, well-documented format
- +Supported natively by QGIS, ArcGIS, GRASS
Frequently asked questions
Q.Which column names does Maparz recognise as coordinates?
Latitude: lat, latitude, y. Longitude: lon, lng, longitude, x. Column names are case-insensitive.
Q.Why is the Shapefile output a ZIP file?
A Shapefile consists of multiple files (.shp, .dbf, .shx, .prj). Maparz bundles them into a single .zip for easy download.
Q.Can I convert a CSV with projected coordinates (e.g. UTM)?
Maparz treats the coordinate columns as geographic (WGS 84). For projected coordinates, use QGIS's Delimited Text import with CRS specification.
Q.What if my CSV uses semicolons instead of commas?
For best results, save the CSV with comma delimiters. Most spreadsheet tools offer this option in the Save As dialog.