Convert GeoJSON to Shapefile Online — Free & Instant
Converting GeoJSON to Shapefile is necessary when working with legacy GIS tools or organisations that require Shapefile delivery. Maparz converts your GeoJSON file to a ZIP archive containing all required Shapefile components (.shp, .dbf, .shx, .prj) ready to open in ArcGIS, QGIS, or any compatible software.
Converter
When to convert GeoJSON to Shapefile
- Submitting spatial data to agencies or clients that require Shapefile format
- Loading web-sourced GeoJSON data into ArcGIS Desktop
- Converting OpenStreetMap GeoJSON exports for use in legacy GIS workflows
- Archiving GeoJSON data in the industry-standard Shapefile format
How to convert GeoJSON to Shapefile
- 1
Upload your GeoJSON
Drop your .geojson or .json file onto the upload zone.
- 2
Select Shapefile output
Click 'Shapefile .zip' in the format selector. Maparz bundles all required files into a single ZIP.
- 3
Download the ZIP
The downloaded ZIP contains .shp, .dbf, .shx, and .prj files.
- 4
Extract and use
Unzip and open the .shp in QGIS, ArcGIS, or any GIS application.
About GeoJSON format
GeoJSON is an open standard geospatial data format based on JSON, defined in RFC 7946. It supports all geometry types (Point, LineString, Polygon, MultiPolygon, etc.) and arbitrary properties per feature. GeoJSON is the preferred format for web mapping because browsers can parse it natively and libraries like Leaflet, Mapbox GL, and D3 consume it directly. GitHub renders GeoJSON files on a map automatically. It uses WGS 84 (EPSG:4326) as its coordinate reference system.
Strengths
- +Native browser support (JSON)
- +Human-readable and editable
- +Single file — easy to share
- +First-class support in web mapping libraries
About Shapefile format
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
Why is the output a ZIP file?
A Shapefile consists of multiple mandatory files (.shp, .dbf, .shx at minimum). Maparz bundles them into a .zip for easy download and sharing.
Will field names be truncated?
Shapefile field names are limited to 10 characters. GDAL automatically truncates longer GeoJSON property keys to fit this limit.
What CRS will the Shapefile use?
GeoJSON always uses WGS 84 (EPSG:4326), so the output Shapefile will be in WGS 84 with a matching .prj file.
Can I convert a GeoJSON FeatureCollection with mixed geometry types?
Shapefiles require a single geometry type per file. GDAL will use the geometry type of the first feature. For mixed-geometry GeoJSON, use GeoPackage instead.