How to Import KML/KMZ into Blender in 2026: The Free, Accurate Way
If you have a KML or KMZ file — a saved place from Google Earth, a map exported from Google My Maps, a dataset shared by a colleague — and you want it in Blender as real 3D geometry, the short answer is: BlenderGIS cannot import KML directly. There is no KML importer in BlenderGIS. This guide gives you the free, honest pipeline that preserves georeferencing: KML/KMZ → QGIS (free and open source) → Shapefile → BlenderGIS.
Why there is no “KML to Blender” button in BlenderGIS
BlenderGIS (latest version v2.2.15, released 2025-12-20; GPL-3.0; maintained on GitHub as domlysz/BlenderGIS) ships importers for Shapefile (io_import_shp), OpenStreetMap data (io_import_osm), GeoTIFF rasters (io_import_georaster), ASC grids and DEMs. KML/KMZ is not among them. Several online converter sites will take your KML and hand you an OBJ or FBX, but most of them:
- Drop the coordinate reference system (CRS), so your model no longer knows where it is on Earth
- Cap file sizes or require an upload of possibly sensitive data
- Merge layers into one undifferentiated mesh, losing point/line/polygon structure
The QGIS route avoids all three problems, costs nothing, and is repeatable if the source KML changes. It also keeps your data local.
What you need
- QGIS — free and open-source desktop GIS (qgis.org)
- Blender + BlenderGIS — see our installation guide if you have not set it up yet
- Your
.kmlor.kmzfile
Step 1 — Open the KML/KMZ in QGIS
Open QGIS
- In QGIS, go to Layer → Add Layer → Add Vector Layer…
- Set the Source Type to File, then browse to your
.kmlor.kmzfile. - Click Add, then Close.
If the KML contains several geometry types (points, lines, polygons), QGIS will prompt you to pick which layer to add. Add them one at a time — you will export each separately. This is actually a feature: unlike most online converters, you keep points, lines and polygons as distinct, correctly-typed layers.
Step 2 — Check (and set) the CRS
KML files are always encoded in WGS 84 (EPSG:4326), i.e. plain longitude/latitude. QGIS usually detects this automatically, but verify: right-click the layer → Properties → Information and confirm it says EPSG:4326. If QGIS shows an unknown CRS, set it to EPSG:4326 explicitly with Layer → Set CRS → Set Layer CRS.
This step is the heart of the whole method. A shapefile carries its CRS with it, which is why georeferencing survives the trip into BlenderGIS. Online converters typically flatten everything into arbitrary model units and the geographic meaning is gone.
Step 3 — Export to Shapefile
Save as Shapefile
- Right-click the layer → Export → Save Features As…
- Set Format to ESRI Shapefile and choose an output file name.
- Make sure CRS is set to the layer’s CRS (EPSG:4326 for KML-sourced data).
- Under Encoding, choose UTF-8 if your data contains non-ASCII characters (place names in other languages, for example). The classic shapefile default encoding (Latin-1/SYSTEM) will garble them.
- Click OK.
Step 4 — Import the Shapefile into Blender with BlenderGIS
BlenderGIS import
- In Blender, go to GIS → Import → Shapefile.
- Browse to the
.shpfile you just exported and confirm. - BlenderGIS imports the geometry in its true geographic position. You can then build terrain under it, extrude building footprints, or drape it on a basemap exactly as described in the QGIS-to-Blender workflow guide.
Because the shapefile carried its CRS, a point that was at longitude −122.41, latitude 37.77 lands in Blender at the correct location relative to any basemap or DEM you import afterwards. That spatial integrity is the reason this route beats one-click converters for any serious work.
Troubleshooting
KMZ won’t open? A KMZ is just a ZIP archive containing a KML (plus optional icons). Rename .kmz to .zip and unzip it if your software complains — then open the extracted .kml.
Attributes show as ??? or boxes? Re-export from QGIS with Encoding: UTF-8 (Step 3). Encoding problems almost always come from the export step, not from BlenderGIS.
Points, lines and polygons all in one file? KML often mixes geometry types. Export each type as its own shapefile and import them separately into BlenderGIS — you can merge or style them independently there.
Model lands in the wrong place? Double-check the layer CRS in QGIS before exporting (Step 2). A mismatched CRS is the most common cause of misplaced geometry.
When an online converter is fine anyway
To be fair: if you only need a quick 3D shape and do not care about real-world coordinates — a stylized rendering, a logo from a KML icon — a web converter is faster. For anything map-accurate (site analysis, terrain overlays, GIS visualization), the QGIS pipeline above is the reliable choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can BlenderGIS import KML files directly?
No. As of BlenderGIS v2.2.15, the addon ships importers for Shapefile, OpenStreetMap, GeoTIFF, ASC and DEM formats, but not KML/KMZ. The standard free workaround is to convert the KML to a shapefile in QGIS first, then import the shapefile with GIS → Import → Shapefile.
What is the difference between KML and KMZ?
A KMZ file is simply a ZIP-compressed archive that contains a KML file (and sometimes supporting icons or images). If a tool accepts KML but not KMZ, rename the .kmz to .zip and extract the .kml inside.
Is QGIS really free?
Yes. QGIS is free and open-source software (GPL) for Windows, macOS and Linux, and it reads KML/KMZ natively without plugins.
How do I keep the geographic coordinates when importing into Blender?
Export the layer from QGIS as a shapefile with the correct CRS (EPSG:4326 for KML-derived data), then import the .shp with BlenderGIS. The shapefile format carries its CRS, so BlenderGIS places the geometry at its true geographic position.
My attribute table shows garbled characters after import. How do I fix it?
This is an encoding issue. In QGIS, right-click the layer → Export → Save Features As…, and set Encoding to UTF-8 before saving the shapefile. Re-import the new file into BlenderGIS.
Can I export a KML from Google Earth and use this method?
Yes. In Google Earth, right-click a place or folder → Save Place As… → choose KML (not KMZ, to skip the unzip step). Then follow the QGIS steps in this guide.
Does this work for large KML files?
Yes. Unlike browser-based converters, which often cap uploads at a few megabytes, the QGIS desktop workflow has no practical file-size limit beyond your computer’s memory.