How to Convert a KMZ File to GeoJSON Online for Free

If you exported a placemark, path, or region from Google Earth, there's a good chance you ended up with a .kmz file rather than a .kml — KMZ is Google Earth's default save and share format. The problem is that most GeoJSON converters only accept plain KML, leaving you to manually unzip the archive first. This guide explains what KMZ actually is and how to convert one to GeoJSON in one step using the GeoDataTools KML to GeoJSON converter, which accepts KMZ files directly.

What Is a KMZ File?

KMZ is nothing more than a ZIP archive containing a KML file — usually named doc.kml — plus, optionally, any images, icons, or overlays the KML references. Compressing the KML and bundling its assets into one file is why Google Earth uses KMZ as its default export format: it keeps everything in a single, smaller download instead of a loose KML file with separate image files that could get misplaced.

For pure geometry and attribute data — the part that matters for GeoJSON conversion — the bundled images and overlays aren't relevant. What you actually need is the .kml file sitting inside the archive.

How to Convert KMZ to GeoJSON

• Step 1 — Open the tool. Go to the KML to GeoJSON converter and make sure the "KML → GeoJSON" tab is selected.
• Step 2 — Upload your KMZ file. Drag and drop your .kmz file directly, or click to browse. There's no need to rename it or extract anything first — the tool detects the .kmz extension, unzips the archive in your browser, and pulls out the KML automatically.
• Step 3 — Convert and download. Click Convert to GeoJSON, then download the result. All Placemarks, geometry, and ExtendedData from the KML inside the archive are converted the same way a plain KML file would be.

The whole process takes a few seconds and never requires a separate archive utility.

Going the Other Way: GeoJSON to KMZ

The same tool works in reverse. Convert GeoJSON to KML as usual, then use the Download as KMZ button instead of the plain KML download — it packages the generated KML into a .kmz archive, matching the format Google Earth expects and producing a smaller file for large datasets.

Where KMZ Files Come From

• Google Earth (desktop and web): Right-click any placemark, path, or folder in the Places panel and choose Save Place As — KMZ is the default file type.
• Google My Maps: Exports are offered as KML or KMZ; KMZ is typically the default when a map includes custom icons or images.
• GPS and survey software: Many GIS and drone-mapping tools export flight paths or survey boundaries as KMZ specifically because it bundles reference imagery with the geometry.

Your Data Stays Private

Like every tool on GeoDataTools, KMZ unzipping and conversion happen entirely in your browser using JavaScript. Your file is never uploaded to a server — the archive is opened, the KML extracted, and the conversion run all locally, and everything is discarded the moment you close the tab.