Add your GPX file
Drop one or more .gpx files onto the converter above, or browse for them. They load into browser memory only — nothing is uploaded, so there is no size-based pricing and no server queue.
GPX to KML
Converting a .gpx font to .kml repackages the same glyphs and metrics for a different delivery target. Free, private, and validated — the file never leaves your browser.
Private for supported formats — processed in your browser
Runs on your deviceConvert supported files
Drop GPX files here
Batch files can each use a different output. Nothing uploads for local conversions.
Working inputs include camera RAW, browser-local audio/video, PDF, CBZ/CBR comics, office documents, ebooks, markup, 3D models, structured text, images, and archives.About converting GPS Exchange Format to Keyhole Markup Language
Converting a .gpx font to .kml repackages the same glyphs and metrics for a different delivery target. A .gpx file is the GPS Exchange Format: an XML schema for waypoints, routes and recorded tracks, where every point carries a latitude and longitude and may carry elevation and a timestamp. It is what a GPS watch or handheld exports.
A .kml file is Keyhole Markup Language: an XML format describing geographic features together with how they should look and how a camera should view them — placemarks, paths, polygons, styles, icons and overlays. It carries presentation, which is what separates it from GPX and GeoJSON. For this route the practical draw is carries presentation, not just geometry — the only one of these three that does and an OGC standard rather than a vendor format — balanced against verbose, and mixing styling with data makes documents large, which is worth knowing before you commit a large batch.
Why convert GPX to KML?
The practical trigger for this conversion is usually a mismatch: with .gpx, verbose XML — large for the number of points it carries. Switching to .kml buys you carries presentation, not just geometry — the only one of these three that does, which is why it is the better fit for displaying geographic data in Google Earth or Google Maps. Because the conversion runs locally, trying it costs nothing but a few seconds of compute on your own machine.
GPX vs KML at a glance
| Aspect | GPS Exchange Format (.gpx) | Keyhole Markup Language (.kml) |
|---|---|---|
| Format type | Text-based — characters and structure, so there is no visual quality loss | Text-based — characters and structure, so there is no visual quality loss |
| How it stores data | three distinct concepts: wpt waypoints, rte planned routes, and trk recorded tracks made of trkseg segments | placemark elements pair a geometry with a name, description and style reference |
| Strongest at | exporting a recorded run, ride or hike from a watch or phone | displaying geographic data in Google Earth or Google Maps |
| Weak spot | verbose XML — large for the number of points it carries | verbose, and mixing styling with data makes documents large |
| Metadata | coordinates, elevation, timestamps and point names are preserved. Vendor extension data such as heart rate is not carried into targets with no equivalent field | geometry, names and descriptions are preserved. Styling, icons and camera viewpoints have no equivalent in GeoJSON or GPX and are not carried across |
Pick KML as the output
Select .kml in the output menu next to each file. The menu only offers targets this engine can genuinely produce, so if KML is selectable, the route is real and validated.
Convert on your device
Press Convert. The font tables are parsed and rewritten locally with fonteditor-core; glyph outlines, hinting, and kerning survive the trip.
Verify and download
Each result is signature-checked before the download unlocks, so a failed encode can never masquerade as a valid KML file. Outputs keep the original filename with the .kml extension.
GPX to KML questions, answered
Will converting GPX to KML lose quality?
There is no visual quality to lose — gpx is text-oriented and kml is text-oriented, so the question is structural fidelity. Text, ordering, and basic structure are preserved; complex layout, embedded objects, and styling beyond the target's model are simplified.
Is it private to convert GPX files here?
Yes — the .gpx file is processed inside your browser tab and never uploaded. The font tables are parsed and rewritten locally with fonteditor-core; glyph outlines, hinting, and kerning survive the trip. Close the tab and the file is gone from memory.
Where will the KML file work?
Native to Google Earth and Google My Maps, and supported by QGIS, ArcGIS and GDAL. Web mapping libraries usually want GeoJSON instead. Novus Convert parses placemarks and geometry locally — without following NetworkLink references — and converts to GeoJSON and GPX.
Will the KML file be bigger or smaller than my GPX?
It depends on the content: placemark elements pair a geometry with a name, description and style reference. Convert one representative file first and compare before batch-processing a large set.
What happens to the metadata in my GPX file?
In .gpx, coordinates, elevation, timestamps and point names are preserved. Vendor extension data such as heart rate is not carried into targets with no equivalent field. Re-encoding through the browser pipeline does not carry embedded metadata into the output, which doubles as a privacy scrub — check the exported file if you specifically need tags preserved.
Can I convert KML back to GPX?
Yes — the reverse route exists as a separate tool. Bear in mind that round-tripping .gpx → .kml → .gpx is not a perfect undo when any lossy step is involved; keep your original if fidelity matters.