Convert DAE to OBJ Online (Free & Secure)
To convert DAE to OBJ, drop your .dae file on this page and download a .obj file seconds later. The route is DAE → GLB → OBJ (parsed into a GLB scene, then exported as OBJ), and geometry and materials are carried across where OBJ allows.
Select .DAE file
or drag & drop .dae file here
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⚡ AI Summary & Quick Answer
To convert DAE to OBJ, drop your .dae file on this page and download a .obj file seconds later. The route is DAE → GLB → OBJ (parsed into a GLB scene, then exported as OBJ), and geometry and materials are carried across where OBJ allows.
Both formats are designed for moving assets between modelling packages, so the differences come down to hierarchy, units and animation. DAE (.dae) is verbose XML following the Khronos COLLADA schema. It holds polygon meshes with scene graph, cameras and lights and is most often opened in SketchUp, Blender, and Google Earth. OBJ (.obj) is plain ASCII text with a companion .mtl material file, holding polygons (triangles, quads and n-gons) with shared UV and normal pools, and is typically used in Blender, Maya, and 3ds Max.
Under the hood, the DAE file is decoded into an in-memory scene, then serialised as OBJ. The axis convention moves from either Y-up or Z-up, as declared in the file to conventionally Y-up, but not enforced. Everything runs in your browser or an isolated, auto-purged instance, so models stay private.
.daeAbout DAE (Collada)
ISO-standard XML schema for exchanging digital assets between graphics software applications.
- Structure: verbose XML following the Khronos COLLADA schema
- Materials: COLLADA effects (Blinn, Phong, Lambert) with image references
- Units: a unit scale declared in the asset header (often meters or inches)
- Axis: either Y-up or Z-up, as declared in the file
- Opens in: SketchUp, Blender, Google Earth, Gazebo or Rviz
.objTarget format: OBJ (Wavefront)
Universal geometry definition format supported by almost every 3D modeling and rendering software.
- Structure: plain ASCII text with a companion .mtl material file
- Materials: Phong-style MTL materials (diffuse, specular, ambient)
- Units: unitless (the importing application decides the scale)
- Axis: conventionally Y-up, but not enforced
- Opens in: Blender, Maya, 3ds Max, ZBrush or MeshLab
What happens to your data in DAE → OBJ conversion
Conversion route: DAE → GLB → OBJ (parsed into a GLB scene, then exported as OBJ).
| Aspect | Result | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Geometry | Preserved | DAE stores polygon meshes with scene graph, cameras and lights; OBJ stores polygons (triangles, quads and n-gons) with shared UV and normal pools. Surfaces are retriangulated where needed and positions, normals and UV coordinates are carried across. |
| Materials | Preserved | DAE uses COLLADA effects (Blinn, Phong, Lambert) with image references and OBJ can represent the same information, so base colour and surface settings are preserved. |
| Textures | Preserved | In DAE, textures are referenced as external image files. OBJ can reference or embed textures too, so images and UV mapping stay linked. |
| Vertex colours | Preserved | Per-vertex colours in DAE are written to OBJ as vertex colour data. |
| Animation | Not supported | DAE provides skeletal animation, controllers and kinematics, but OBJ is a static format and animation is not exported. |
| Units & scale | Adapted | DAE uses a unit scale declared in the asset header (often meters or inches); OBJ uses unitless (the importing application decides the scale). Check the scale in your target application, and use the Scale tool if the model looks too big or too small. |
| Orientation | Adapted | DAE is either Y-up or Z-up, as declared in the file and OBJ is conventionally Y-up, but not enforced. The converter writes a consistent orientation, but verify the up axis in your target software. |
DAE and OBJ produce files of broadly similar size for the same mesh; DAE is large because of XML overhead, while OBJ is large, because every coordinate is stored as text.
Why convert DAE to OBJ?
Why leave DAE
People most often convert from DAE when they are opening a SketchUp or robotics export in a modern pipeline. Other common cases include retiring an XML-heavy archive into a compact format and making a legacy Collada asset viewable on the web. In DAE → OBJ specifically, preserved: geometry, materials, textures, and vertex colours; adapted: units & scale and orientation; not supported by OBJ: animation. DAE and OBJ produce files of broadly similar size for the same mesh; DAE is large because of XML overhead, while OBJ is large, because every coordinate is stored as text.
Why choose OBJ
OBJ is the right target when you are exchanging a mesh with almost any 3D application. It also fits scenarios such as sending geometry to sculpting and texturing software and archiving a model in a simple, inspectable format. Both formats are designed for moving assets between modelling packages, so the differences come down to hierarchy, units and animation.
Where the result opens
After conversion you can open the .obj file in Blender, Maya, 3ds Max, ZBrush or MeshLab.
Step-by-Step Guide: DAE → OBJ
- 1
Upload your .dae file
Drag your DAE model onto the converter or click to browse. Textures are referenced as external image files; zip the model with its textures and companion files if you want them included.
- 2
Check your free quota
Free accounts can run a few conversions per day; signing in unlocks tracking of your remaining uses. No watermark is ever added.
- 3
Convert to OBJ
Press the Convert to OBJ button. The pipeline follows DAE → GLB → OBJ (parsed into a GLB scene, then exported as OBJ), which usually takes a few seconds for models under 100 MB.
- 4
Download the .obj file
Your OBJ file downloads automatically. Open it in Blender and Maya to confirm scale and orientation.
Tips for DAE → OBJ
- External texture paths break when files are moved (DAE source).
- No unit information means scale surprises between applications (OBJ target).
- Always verify real-world size: DAE is a unit scale declared in the asset header (often meters or inches), while OBJ is unitless (the importing application decides the scale).
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert DAE to OBJ without losing quality?
Upload the .dae file and press convert; the route is DAE → GLB → OBJ (parsed into a GLB scene, then exported as OBJ). Geometry is carried over exactly; materials are preserved, and textures stay linked through UV coordinates.
Does DAE to OBJ conversion keep textures?
In DAE, textures are referenced as external image files. OBJ can reference or embed textures too, so images and UV mapping stay linked.
Why does my OBJ model look the wrong size or rotation?
DAE uses a unit scale declared in the asset header (often meters or inches); OBJ uses unitless (the importing application decides the scale). Check the scale in your target application, and use the Scale tool if the model looks too big or too small. DAE is either Y-up or Z-up, as declared in the file and OBJ is conventionally Y-up, but not enforced. The converter writes a consistent orientation, but verify the up axis in your target software.
Will the OBJ file be bigger or smaller than my DAE file?
DAE and OBJ produce files of broadly similar size for the same mesh; DAE is large because of XML overhead, while OBJ is large, because every coordinate is stored as text.
What software can open the converted OBJ file?
OBJ files open in Blender, Maya, 3ds Max, ZBrush or MeshLab. If you need to go back, use the OBJ to DAE converter.
Is it safe to upload my DAE model?
Yes. Files are processed in your browser or on isolated instances and purged right after conversion. They are never used to train AI models, and no watermark is added.