SVG to DXF Converter
Convert your SVG designs to a format that laser cutters and CNC routers understand. Scale to exact millimetres, preview every cut path, and download. No Inkscape, no plugins needed.
Drop your SVG file here
or
.svg files only - processed locally, nothing uploaded
Fine precision produces more points for smoother curves; Coarse produces fewer points.
How to convert SVG to DXF
- Drop your SVG file onto the upload area above
- Check the live preview - paths shown exactly as they will cut
- Set the output width in mm to match your design's physical size
- Click Download DXF and open in LightBurn, Inkscape, or your machine's software
Why convert SVG to DXF?
- Laser cutters - Glowforge, xTool, Atomstack, and K40 machines all accept DXF
- CNC routers - Shapeoko, X-Carve, and most CAM software import DXF natively
- CAD software - DXF is the universal exchange format for AutoCAD, Fusion 360, FreeCAD
- No install needed - Inkscape works but requires an extension and fighting with scale settings
- Private - your design files are never uploaded to any server
Learn more: converting SVG to DXF for laser and CNC work
Curves become short straight segments
This converter writes each shape as a polyline, so curves are flattened into short straight segments. The number of segments is not fixed. It depends on the detail slider, which sets how far a segment may sit from the true curve, in the SVG's own units: 2.0 (coarse), 1.0, 0.5 (the default), 0.2 or 0.1 (fine).
That tolerance is measured before scaling, so it matters what one SVG unit means in your file. If your design is drawn in millimetres, 0.5 allows half a millimetre of error, which can show on a tight curve. Use a finer setting for precise parts.
Why a file can fail in the cutting software
Wikipedia's overview of AutoCAD DXF says the format arrived in December 1982 and that "for many years, Autodesk did not publish specifications, making correct creation of DXF files difficult." Some object types are still not documented well enough for other developers to support them.
The tool sticks to one plain entity, the lightweight polyline, to keep files easy for other programs to read. The more common cause of a failed cut is an open path. A shape only counts as closed if its path ends with a Z or finishes exactly where it started, and the tool treats a path that returns to its start point as closed too. A small gap leaves an open polyline that cutting software cannot fill as a solid shape.
Units and layers
The tool writes the drawing in millimetres and flips the Y axis, because SVG counts downward and DXF counts upward. Shapes are placed on layers by stroke colour, which is how many laser programs assign cut and engrave settings.
FAQ
Why does my SVG look fine but fail after converting to DXF?
A renderer can ignore a tiny gap between segments, but cutting software needs a closed loop to know what the inside of a shape is. Check that each outline closes before you export.
Will a finer detail setting fix a rough cut?
Only if the roughness comes from visible facets on a curve. Try the finer setting first. If edges are still rough, look at machine settings such as speed and power.
Can I open the DXF in any CAD program?
Most CAD and vector programs import DXF, and the tool only writes polylines, which are widely supported. Check the scale and units on import, since programs treat DXF units differently.