Convert DAE to STL
Convert DAE files to STL in your browser. Free, no upload, no sign-up.
Convert DAE files to STL directly in your browser. The converter parses the DAE mesh, rebuilds it in memory and writes it out as STL, triangle for triangle. STL records shape and nothing else, so the colors, textures, materials, the unit definition and separate objects (they are merged into one mesh) in the DAE file do not come across. The DAE format also fixes its own axes and scale — Y-up, measured in metres — so the model is rotated and rescaled to land the way STL tools expect it. Nothing is uploaded, there is no file size limit beyond your computer's memory, and the result downloads instantly. STL is accepted by every slicer and 3D printer, so it is the safest format to hand to anyone who needs to print your model.
How to convert DAE to STL
- 1Drop your DAE file
Drag a .dae file onto the box above or click to choose one. Geometry and node transforms are read; external textures are ignored.
- 2Check the preview
The model renders in 3D so you can confirm it loaded correctly. Dimensions, volume and triangle count are shown next to it; open edges are flagged if the mesh is not watertight.
- 3Download the STL
Adjust the export options if needed and click download. Colors, textures and materials are dropped because STL cannot store them. Multiple objects are merged into one triangle soup; units are not recorded, so make sure the model is already in millimeters.
What are DAE files?
COLLADA (.dae) is an XML-based interchange format standardised by the Khronos Group in the 2000s. It was the default export of SketchUp and many older tools; today it has largely been replaced by glTF, but a lot of existing models are still distributed as .dae.
Commonly used by: SketchUp, Google Earth, older game pipelines, Blender
Geometry and node transforms are read; external textures are ignored.
What are STL files?
STL is the oldest and most widely supported 3D printing format. It stores nothing but a list of triangles, with no color, texture, unit or scale information. Every slicer and almost every 3D tool can read it, which is why it is still the default exchange format for printable models.
Commonly used by: 3D printer slicers (Cura, PrusaSlicer, Bambu Studio), CAD export, Thingiverse / Printables
STL is accepted by every slicer and 3D printer, so it is the safest format to hand to anyone who needs to print your model.
DAE vs STL
| DAE | STL | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | COLLADA | Stereolithography |
| Encoding | Text | Text or binary |
| Geometry type | Triangle mesh | Triangle mesh |
| Colors | Yes | No |
| Textures | Yes | No |
| Materials | Yes | No |
| Stores units | Yes | No |
| Multiple objects | Yes | No |
| Typical use | SketchUp, Google Earth, older game pipelines | 3D printer slicers (Cura, PrusaSlicer, Bambu Studio), CAD export, Thingiverse / Printables |