STL to SVG Converter
Turn a 3D model into a flat SVG at its real size, right in your browser. Choose the outline of the part seen from the top, front or any side, or a slice: the cross-section where a flat plane cuts the part at the height you pick. Holes that go right through stay holes, written as inner paths with the even-odd fill rule, so the SVG cuts and fills correctly. The SVG gets its width and height in millimetres or inches, so a 20 mm cube comes out as a 20 × 20 mm square. You can also put the top, front and side views on one sheet, or make a slice every few millimetres for layered models cut from card or plywood. Pick a red cut line for a laser or plotter, or a filled black shape for vinyl and stencils. It reads binary and ASCII STL, and nothing is uploaded.
100% private — everything runs in your browser. Everything runs in your browser; your STL files are never uploaded.
This STL is not watertight (its surface has gaps or extra faces). Outlines still work; a slice may give open lines where the surface is missing.
What to draw
Size
Style
Runs in your browser: the STL is read and turned into SVG by our own code, with no upload and nothing saved. You may use what you make here, including commercially, with no credit needed. The rights in your own models stay as they were.
How to convert an STL to SVG
- Drop an STL on the box, or click Try a sample.
- Check the model size under the 3D view. If it looks wrong, change STL units.
- Choose Outline and the side, or Slice and the height of the cut; or Three views or Slices every few mm.
- Pick SVG units, scale and style, then download the SVG or copy its code.
What you can use it for
- Laser-cut a flat copy of a 3D part’s outline
- Cut a vinyl sticker or stencil in the shape of a model
- Get the footprint of a part to design a mounting plate or tray
- Make a layered model from slices cut out of card or plywood
- Put a true-size profile of a part into a design app that opens SVG
- Check a cross-section of a print for wall thickness
Outline or slice: which one you need
| Shape | What you get | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Outline | The outer edge of the part as seen from one side, with any hole that goes right through | A cut-out, sticker or stencil of a part; a footprint for a mounting plate |
| Slice (cross-section) | The shape where a flat plane cuts the part at the height you choose, with inner holes | A profile for a laser-cut copy of a part; checking wall thickness |
| Three views | Top, front and side outlines on one sheet, top above front and the side to its right | A quick flat drawing of a part for a client or a workshop |
| Slices every few mm | A cross-section every sheet thickness, laid out in a grid | Layered models cut from card, plywood or acrylic and stacked |
Pick the view (top, bottom, front, back, left or right) or the cut direction (across the height, front to back or side to side) and the height of the cut with the slider. The 3D view under the preview shows the cutting plane so you can see where it goes.
What the sample bracket gives
| Shape | Size at 1:1 | Outlines | Holes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outline, top | 60 × 40 mm | 1 | 2 |
| Outline, front | 60 × 46 mm | 1 | 0 |
| Outline, right side | 40 × 46 mm | 1 | 0 |
| Slice across the height at 3 mm (through the base) | 60 × 40 mm | 1 | 2 |
| Slice across the height at 20 mm (through the upright) | 60 × 6 mm | 1 | 0 |
| Three views on one sheet | 109 × 95 mm | 3 | 2 |
| Slices every 6 mm (7 slices) | 189.6 × 129.6 mm | 7 | 2 |
Computed by the converter itself from its Try a sample bracket (60 × 40 × 46 mm: a base with two 6 mm holes and an upright). The top outline keeps both holes because they go right through; the front outline has none because the holes are not visible from the front.
SVG style options
| Setting | Choices | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Look | Cut line (red, no fill), Filled black shape, Filled with an outline | Laser and plotter; vinyl, stencils and print; both |
| Line width | 0.025 mm hairline, 0.1, 0.25 or 0.5 mm | Hairline for laser cutting; thicker lines to see the shape |
| Units and scale | Millimetres or inches; 1:1, 1:2, 1:5, 1:10, 2:1, 5:1, 10:1 | 1:1 for cutting; a scale to fit a big part on a sheet |
| Margin | None, 2, 5 or 10 mm | Space around the shape on the page |
Every part is one closed path; the even-odd fill rule makes inner rings show as holes in any SVG program. Each view or slice is a named group (for example OUTLINE_TOP or SLICE_003) that design apps show as a layer.
STL units and the size of the result
| STL units chosen | 1 STL unit = | A 20-unit cube becomes |
|---|---|---|
| Millimetres | 1 mm | 20 × 20 mm |
| Centimetres | 10 mm | 200 × 200 mm |
| Inches | 25.4 mm | 508 × 508 mm |
| Metres | 1000 mm | 20000 × 20000 mm |
An STL file stores only numbers for its triangle corners and has no field for the unit, so the converter asks. Almost every model made for 3D printing uses millimetres, which is the default; choose inches for models drawn in inches. The model size is shown in mm so you can check it before you download.
Next steps
See the model in 3D and measure it in the STL viewer. Edit the SVG in the SVG Editor or tidy it with the SVG Optimizer. Going the other way? SVG to STL turns a flat shape into a printable part. For a full drawing with hidden lines, try Orthographic Drawing.
Sources
Sources: Library of Congress: STL (STereoLithography) File Format Family; Library of Congress: STL File Format, Binary; W3C SVG 2: the fill-rule property (evenodd); W3C CSS Values and Units Level 3: absolute lengths (1 in = 25.4 mm).
More free tools
Making parts for a 3D printer, laser or CNC?
View, convert and design parts with free maker tools that run privately in your browser, with no sign-up and no watermark.
Frequently asked questions
Is this STL to SVG converter free?
Yes. There is no sign-up, no watermark and no limit on how many files you convert. The conversion runs in your browser, so your STL never leaves your device.
Will the SVG be the right size?
Yes, as long as the STL units are right. The SVG gets a width and height in millimetres (or inches) that match the part at the scale you pick, and its viewBox uses the same units, so a 20 mm cube is a 20 × 20 mm square.
What is the difference between an outline and a slice?
An outline is the edge of the whole part seen from one side, like its shadow. A slice is the shape where a flat plane cuts through the part at one height, so it shows inner holes and walls at that height only.
Are holes kept?
Yes. A hole that goes right through the part stays a hole in the outline, and a slice keeps every inner hole at that height. Each part is one path with the outer edge and the holes as inner subpaths, using the even-odd fill rule.
Can I get several slices at once?
Yes. Choose Slices every few mm and enter your sheet thickness: you get one cross-section per layer on one sheet, or each slice as its own SVG in a ZIP. The most is 200 slices.
Which style should I use for a laser cutter?
Cut line draws a red outline with no fill, and the 0.025 mm hairline is a common choice because many laser programs treat very thin lines as cut lines. Check your machine’s own guide.
Why is my result the wrong size?
STL files have no units. If the model was drawn in inches and read as millimetres it comes out 25.4 times too small; choose Inches under STL units. Check the model size line under the 3D view.
What if my STL is not watertight?
Outlines still work, because every triangle is used. A slice through a part with gaps in its surface can give lines that do not close; they are kept as open lines (on their own layer in a DXF) and the page tells you, rather than guessing a shape.
Does it make a picture of the 3D model?
No. It makes clean 2D vector shapes (an outline or a cross-section) at the real size of the part, which is what cutters and CAD programs need. For a shaded 3D view, use the STL viewer.
Is my STL uploaded?
No. The STL is read and converted by JavaScript in your browser, so it never leaves your device. There is no sign-up, no watermark and no limit on the number of files.