Convert OBJ to DAE Online (Free & Secure)
iLove3DM converts OBJ files to DAE online and free: .obj in, .dae out. OBJ is plain ASCII text with a companion .mtl material file, while DAE is verbose XML following the Khronos COLLADA schema; the converter bridges the two using GLB as an intermediate scene.
Select .OBJ file
or drag & drop .obj file here
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⚡ AI Summary & Quick Answer
iLove3DM converts OBJ files to DAE online and free: .obj in, .dae out. OBJ is plain ASCII text with a companion .mtl material file, while DAE is verbose XML following the Khronos COLLADA schema; the converter bridges the two using GLB as an intermediate scene.
Both formats are designed for moving assets between modelling packages, so the differences come down to hierarchy, units and animation. OBJ (.obj) is plain ASCII text with a companion .mtl material file. It holds polygons (triangles, quads and n-gons) with shared UV and normal pools and is most often opened in Blender, Maya, and 3ds Max. DAE (.dae) is verbose XML following the Khronos COLLADA schema, holding polygon meshes with scene graph, cameras and lights, and is typically used in SketchUp, Blender, and Google Earth.
Because OBJ uses Phong-style MTL materials (diffuse, specular, ambient) while DAE uses COLLADA effects (Blinn, Phong, Lambert) with image references, the converter reads your scene, applies the mapping described below and writes a clean .dae file. Everything runs in your browser or an isolated, auto-purged instance, so models stay private.
.objAbout 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
.daeTarget format: 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
What happens to your data in OBJ → DAE conversion
Conversion route: OBJ → GLB → DAE (parsed into a GLB scene, then exported as DAE).
| Aspect | Result | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Geometry | Preserved | OBJ stores polygons (triangles, quads and n-gons) with shared UV and normal pools; DAE stores polygon meshes with scene graph, cameras and lights. Surfaces are retriangulated where needed and positions, normals and UV coordinates are carried across. |
| Materials | Preserved | OBJ uses Phong-style MTL materials (diffuse, specular, ambient) and DAE can represent the same information, so base colour and surface settings are preserved. |
| Textures | Preserved | In OBJ, texture images are referenced by file name from the MTL file. DAE can reference or embed textures too, so images and UV mapping stay linked. |
| Vertex colours | Preserved | Per-vertex colours in OBJ are written to DAE as vertex colour data. |
| Animation | Not applicable | OBJ is a static format, so the DAE result is a single static pose. |
| Units & scale | Adapted | OBJ uses unitless (the importing application decides the scale); DAE uses a unit scale declared in the asset header (often meters or inches). Check the scale in your target application, and use the Scale tool if the model looks too big or too small. |
| Orientation | Adapted | OBJ is conventionally Y-up, but not enforced and DAE is either Y-up or Z-up, as declared in the file. The converter writes a consistent orientation, but verify the up axis in your target software. |
OBJ and DAE produce files of broadly similar size for the same mesh; OBJ is large, because every coordinate is stored as text, while DAE is large because of XML overhead.
Why convert OBJ to DAE?
Why leave OBJ
People most often convert from OBJ when they are moving a model out of ZBrush or Blender into a web pipeline. Other common cases include rescuing an old sculpt or archive from a text-based format and turning a vendor download into a modern, textured asset. In OBJ → DAE specifically, preserved: geometry, materials, textures, and vertex colours; adapted: units & scale and orientation. OBJ and DAE produce files of broadly similar size for the same mesh; OBJ is large, because every coordinate is stored as text, while DAE is large because of XML overhead.
Why choose DAE
DAE is the right target when you are archiving a scene with its hierarchy in an open XML standard. It also fits scenarios such as importing into SketchUp, Google Earth or ROS simulations and supplying assets to engines that still expect Collada. 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 .dae file in SketchUp, Blender, Google Earth, Gazebo or Rviz.
Step-by-Step Guide: OBJ → DAE
- 1
Upload your .obj file
Drag your OBJ model onto the converter or click to browse. Texture images are referenced by file name from the MTL file; 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 DAE
Press the Convert to DAE button. The pipeline follows OBJ → GLB → DAE (parsed into a GLB scene, then exported as DAE), which usually takes a few seconds for models under 100 MB.
- 4
Download the .dae file
Your DAE file downloads automatically. Open it in SketchUp and Blender to confirm scale and orientation.
Tips for OBJ → DAE
- Missing .mtl or texture files turn a model grey (OBJ source).
- Z_UP files appear lying on their side in Y-up tools (DAE target).
- Always verify real-world size: OBJ is unitless (the importing application decides the scale), while DAE is a unit scale declared in the asset header (often meters or inches).
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert OBJ to DAE without losing quality?
Upload the .obj file and press convert; the route is OBJ → GLB → DAE (parsed into a GLB scene, then exported as DAE). Geometry is carried over exactly; materials are preserved, and textures stay linked through UV coordinates.
Does OBJ to DAE conversion keep textures?
In OBJ, texture images are referenced by file name from the MTL file. DAE can reference or embed textures too, so images and UV mapping stay linked.
Why does my DAE model look the wrong size or rotation?
OBJ uses unitless (the importing application decides the scale); DAE uses a unit scale declared in the asset header (often meters or inches). Check the scale in your target application, and use the Scale tool if the model looks too big or too small. OBJ is conventionally Y-up, but not enforced and DAE is either Y-up or Z-up, as declared in the file. The converter writes a consistent orientation, but verify the up axis in your target software.
Will the DAE file be bigger or smaller than my OBJ file?
OBJ and DAE produce files of broadly similar size for the same mesh; OBJ is large, because every coordinate is stored as text, while DAE is large because of XML overhead.
What software can open the converted DAE file?
DAE files open in SketchUp, Blender, Google Earth, Gazebo or Rviz. If you need to go back, use the DAE to OBJ converter.
Is it safe to upload my OBJ 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.