Convert PLY to STL
Convert a PLY file to STL in your browser. Free, no upload, no sign-up.
Convert PLY files to STL directly in your browser. The converter parses the PLY mesh, rebuilds it in memory and writes it out as STL, keeping every triangle. 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 PLY to STL
- 1Drop your PLY file
Drag a .ply file onto the box above or click to choose one.
- 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 is a PLY file?
PLY was designed at Stanford to store 3D scanner output. It supports per-vertex colors and arbitrary custom properties, in either ASCII or binary encoding, which is why scanning and photogrammetry software prefers it over STL.
Commonly used by: 3D scanners, photogrammetry (Meshroom, RealityCapture), MeshLab, research tools
What is a STL file?
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.
PLY vs STL
| PLY | STL | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Polygon File Format | Stereolithography |
| Encoding | Text or binary | Text or binary |
| Geometry type | Triangle mesh | Triangle mesh |
| Colors | Yes | No |
| Textures | No | No |
| Materials | No | No |
| Stores units | No | No |
| Multiple objects | No | No |
| Typical use | 3D scanners, photogrammetry (Meshroom, RealityCapture), MeshLab | 3D printer slicers (Cura, PrusaSlicer, Bambu Studio), CAD export, Thingiverse / Printables |