OpenStreetMap to DXF (AutoCAD) converter
Upload your OpenStreetMap file and get DXF, which opens in AutoCAD in a couple of minutes: osm2cdr reads the geometry of your file and hands you a ready DXF straight away. Processing runs on our servers, the result is ready to download as soon as it finishes, and files up to 50 MB are supported. And if you have no file of your own, or need a fresh map of an area, osm2cdr builds DXF straight from the OpenStreetMap map: you simply pick an area on the map, choose the DXF format and download the result with up-to-date OSM data — with layers for buildings, roads, water and features.
How OpenStreetMap differs from DXF
| Format | Extension | Type | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| OpenStreetMap | .osm / .pbf | OSM geodata | Map source: roads, buildings, POI, boundaries |
| DXF | .dxf | CAD | Site plans, engineering surveys, importing maps into AutoCAD, land planning |
How to get DXF on osm2cdr
- 1Select an area on the map on the osm2cdr home page
- 2Choose the DXF format and, if needed, a style and CRS
- 3Click Export and download the ready DXF file
DXF format properties
| Extension | .dxf |
| Type | CAD |
| Purpose | Site plans, engineering surveys, importing maps into AutoCAD, land planning |
When you need DXF
The main scenario is simple: you already have a OpenStreetMap file — upload it and osm2cdr returns DXF, ready to use in a dedicated program (editing, printing, analysis, embedding in a project). The alternative is for when you have no file at hand or need a fresh map of an area: the same DXF is then built straight from up-to-date OpenStreetMap data for your chosen area, split into layers for buildings, roads, water and features.
What changes when going OpenStreetMap → DXF
Drop in a OpenStreetMap file and osm2cdr reads its geometry and returns DXF; and with no file of your own, the same DXF is built straight from the OpenStreetMap map for your chosen area. Either way the data model changes. Here the first source is connected OpenStreetMap geodata: tagged buildings, roads, water and features. The map is built straight to DXF, with no loss on an intermediate OpenStreetMap file: geometry is laid out across named drawing layers (buildings, roads, water), coordinate accuracy is kept, and attribute tables are not carried into DXF — the result is meant for CAD work, not attribute analysis.
Upload your OpenStreetMap extract → DXF
Upload your OpenStreetMap extract — an .osm or .pbf dump — in the form above and osm2cdr will convert it to DXF for you. Files up to 50 MB are supported. If your file is too large, or you just want a fresh map of an arbitrary area, you can skip the upload entirely: pick an area on the home page and download DXF with up-to-date OSM data right away.
Import OpenStreetMap into AutoCAD
To import OpenStreetMap into AutoCAD you need neither a plugin nor a live connection between AutoCAD and OpenStreetMap: pick the area here, export it as DXF and open the file in AutoCAD like any other drawing. Layers come named and separated — buildings, roads, water, landuse — in metric coordinates, so OpenStreetMap data lands in AutoCAD ready to work with.
OpenStreetMap and KML to AutoCAD: three ways
A ready drawing from this page is not the only route. The guide compares three: a DXF export from the map builder, import in AutoCAD Map 3D and Civil 3D, and QGIS with ogr2ogr — plus KML and KMZ to DWG.
FAQ: OpenStreetMap → DXF
Can I upload my OpenStreetMap file?
Yes, now you can: upload your OpenStreetMap file right on this page and osm2cdr will read the geometry and convert it to DXF. Files up to 50 MB are supported. If the data comes from OpenStreetMap, you can skip the upload entirely — we'll export the map straight into DXF.
Is it free?
Yes, exporting an OpenStreetMap map to DXF on osm2cdr is free. Select an area, the DXF format and download the result.
Which programs open DXF?
The DXF format opens in dedicated programs for its category. See the DXF format page for the full list and details.
Why is this better than an online OpenStreetMap → DXF converter?
An online converter caps the result quality at the quality of the source OpenStreetMap file. osm2cdr takes data from the OpenStreetMap source and builds DXF with correct layers directly — with no loss on an intermediate OpenStreetMap file.
How do I import OpenStreetMap into AutoCAD?
Pick the area on the map, export it as DXF and open the file in AutoCAD, DWG TrueView or BricsCAD. No OSM file and no plugin are needed — osm2cdr builds the drawing from OpenStreetMap for you, with layers already separated.
Can I connect AutoCAD to OpenStreetMap directly?
Plain AutoCAD geolocation only gives you a map background, not editable geometry. AutoCAD Map 3D and Civil 3D can import raw OSM data, but you have to fetch the file and set the layers up yourself. A DXF export skips both steps: named layers, metric coordinates, ready to draw on.