How to convert SVG to DXF
- Choose, drop or paste one or more SVG files. A sample lettering cut file loads first so you can try it.
- Pick the units your cutter or CAD program uses — mm for most lasers, inches for many US machines — and keep the file's size or set a width.
- Leave curve smoothness on Normal (0.05 mm), or choose Fine for small jewellery-size parts. Choose one layer per colour to give each colour its own cut setting.
- Check the DXF preview and the size line, then Download DXF (or All as ZIP) and import it.
How SVG becomes DXF
SVG and DXF both describe shapes as coordinates, but DXF has no Bézier curves the way SVG uses them, no CSS and no viewBox. So this converter reads every path, rectangle, circle, ellipse, line, polygon and <use> copy in the SVG, applies the group transforms and CSS classes, and converts the drawing from SVG pixels (96 per inch) to the physical size — the width and height saved in the file, or the width you type. Curves and arcs are then split into short straight segments using Wang's formula, so no point on a segment is more than your tolerance away from the true curve: 0.05 mm is finer than a laser beam. Each closed shape becomes a closed POLYLINE, holes stay as their own shapes, and shapes are put on a layer per colour with the nearest AutoCAD colour number. The file is written as AutoCAD R12 DXF with its units set, the oldest and most widely read version.
Facts at a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Price | Free — no credits, no daily limit |
| Sign-up | Not needed |
| Upload | None — converted in your browser |
| Input | .svg files (choose, drop or paste code); broken or AI-written SVG code is repaired first |
| Units | mm, cm, inches or px, written into the file header ($INSUNITS) |
| Size | As saved in the SVG (width/height or viewBox at 96 px per inch), or any width you type — height follows |
| Curve smoothness | Fine 0.01 mm · Normal 0.05 mm · Coarse 0.2 mm (maximum gap from the true curve) |
| Layers | One per colour (named COLOR_RRGGBB, nearest AutoCAD colour) or a single CUT layer |
| Entities | Closed / open POLYLINE, or individual LINE segments for older software |
| Format | AutoCAD R12 (AC1009) ASCII DXF |
| Not converted | Text (convert to outlines first) and embedded photos (trace them first) — the page tells you if any were skipped |
Settings for your machine or program
| Program | Units | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| LightBurn (CO₂ / diode laser) | mm | Layers by colour map straight onto LightBurn's colour layers for cut / engrave / score |
| xTool Creative Space | mm | Import the DXF, then set each layer's process |
| Silhouette Studio (Basic edition) | mm or in | Basic opens DXF but not SVG — this is the usual reason to convert |
| Cricut Design Space | in | Accepts DXF uploads; SVG works too, so convert only if your file needs fixing or resizing |
| Fusion 360, FreeCAD, LibreCAD, AutoCAD | mm | Insert as a sketch / drawing at 1:1; polylines keep shapes closed for extrude |
| CNC router / plasma (CAM software) | mm or in | Use Fine smoothness for small parts; a single layer is often simplest |
If the import is the wrong size, the program probably ignored the units — check its import scale is 1:1 and that it uses the same units you chose here.
Turning a ChatGPT or Claude SVG into a cut file
AI chats can draw simple icons and logos as SVG code. To cut one: paste the whole reply here (the SVG is pulled out and repaired automatically — missing xmlns, code fences, stray & characters), set the width you want in mm or inches and download the DXF. Two things to know:
- Lines drawn with a stroke become their centre line, which is right for engraving, scoring or a pen. For a cut outline around a thick line, outline the stroke in Inkscape (Path → Stroke to Path) first.
- Text in the SVG isn't converted. Convert text to paths in your editor, or ask the chat to write the letters as paths.
Have a PNG or JPG instead of SVG? Trace it with Image to SVG first, then convert here.
SVG to DXF converters compared
| Feature | This page | CloudConvert | Convertio | AutoDWG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Where the SVG is processed | In your browser — never uploaded | Uploaded to a server | Uploaded to a server | Uploaded to a server |
| Limits | No fixed file count, size or daily cap | Not shown before upload | 1 GB, more with sign-up | 10 MB, 1 file at a time, 5 files a day |
| Choose units (mm / in) | Yes, written into the file | No visible option | No visible option | No visible option |
| Set the output size | Yes | No visible option | No visible option | No visible option |
| Curve smoothness | 3 levels | No visible option | No visible option | No visible option |
| Layer per colour | Yes | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Preview of the DXF paths | Yes, with size and counts | No | No | No |
| Repairs broken / AI-written SVG | Yes | No | No | No |
| Batch + ZIP | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Competitor details are as shown on their own pages on 5 November 2026; options that only appear after uploading aren't counted. Tools change, so check before you rely on a feature.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert an SVG to DXF for free?
Choose the SVG here, pick mm or inches and press Download DXF. There's no sign-up, no watermark and no daily limit, and the file never leaves your browser.
Why is my DXF the wrong size?
DXF needs real units, and many converters guess. Here you choose mm, cm or inches, the unit is written into the file, and you can type the exact width. In your program, import at 1:1 scale in the same units.
Will curves be smooth?
Yes. Curves are split into straight segments no more than 0.05 mm from the true curve on Normal — finer than a laser kerf. Pick Fine (0.01 mm) for tiny parts, Coarse for fewer points.
Does it keep holes in letters?
Yes. Inner outlines (the middle of an o, a, e) are separate closed polylines, so lasers and cutters treat them as holes.
Can I convert SVG to DXF for Silhouette Studio Basic?
Yes — that's one of the most common reasons to convert, because Basic edition opens DXF but not SVG. Choose mm or inches to match your Silhouette settings.
Why is my text missing?
Text elements aren't converted, because a DXF has no fonts that match. Convert text to paths (outlines) in Inkscape, Illustrator or your design app first; the page warns you when text was skipped.
What are the layers by colour for?
Each fill or stroke colour goes on its own layer with the nearest AutoCAD colour, so in LightBurn or CAD you can give each colour its own cut, engrave or score setting, or hide it.
Polylines or lines — which should I pick?
Polylines, unless your software is old or only reads LINE entities. Polylines keep each shape in one piece, which is better for cutting order and for extruding in CAD.
Is my file uploaded?
No. The SVG is read and converted by JavaScript in your browser.
Can I convert a PNG to DXF?
Not directly on this page. Trace the PNG to SVG with Image to SVG (it also offers DXF), then fine-tune the size and layers here.
Updated · By the imagetojpg.app team