STL to OBJ Converter
Need to convert this file type? Drop it below — or drop any other file and we'll auto-switch. Outputs are auto-deleted after 2 hours; share links expire after 4.
Or paste a link to a file
Drop multiple images to combine them into one PDF, Word document, or PowerPoint presentation — or convert each image separately.
Drop
Drag your STL file or click to browse.
Convert
OBJ is preselected, or pick a different format below.
Download
Get your file or share a 1-hour link.
Convert STL to OBJ online
Convert STL to OBJ to move a mesh from a 3D-printing format into one that modelling and rendering software prefer. Both describe geometry; OBJ additionally supports material references, which STL has no concept of.
When should you convert STL to OBJ?
- Import a printable model into Blender, Maya, or 3ds Max
- Prepare a mesh for texturing and rendering
- Use a format that modelling tools handle more naturally
- Add materials to a model that arrived as bare geometry
Before you convert
No materials appear from nowhere
STL carries only triangles. The OBJ will have the same geometry and no materials — the format now supports them, but there is nothing in the source to carry across.
Check the scale
Neither format records units. A model exported in millimetres and read as metres is a thousand times too small. Verify the bounding box after converting.
What happens to your file
The STL mesh is loaded and re-exported as OBJ. Straight geometry conversions go through trimesh; when textures and materials need to survive the trip, the job is handed to Blender instead.
Settings this conversion runs with
| Loader | trimesh |
|---|---|
| Textured path | Blender (GLB, glTF, OBJ) |
| Materials | Preserved |
What changes
- OBJ normally stores its materials and textures in separate sidecar files. When the model is textured, the export is packaged as a ZIP so those files stay with the mesh instead of arriving alone and broken.
About STL and OBJ files
STL model
Strengths
- the 3D printing standard
- simple and widely supported
Limitations
- no color or texture
- triangles only
OBJ model
Strengths
- supports color and texture
- widely supported
Limitations
- no animation
- uses separate material files
STL vs OBJ
| Format | STL | OBJ |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | — | — |
| Transparency | — | — |
| Best for | 3D printing, CAD exports | 3D modeling, interchange between tools |
Guides for this conversion
- STL vs OBJ vs GLB: choosing a 3D format
Which 3D format carries geometry, which carries materials, which carries a whole scene — and why your textured model arrived grey.
Related tools
Frequently asked questions
- What survives when you convert STL to OBJ?
- The STL mesh is loaded and re-exported as OBJ. Straight geometry conversions go through trimesh; when textures and materials need to survive the trip, the job is handed to Blender instead.
- What should you know before converting STL to OBJ?
- OBJ normally stores its materials and textures in separate sidecar files. When the model is textured, the export is packaged as a ZIP so those files stay with the mesh instead of arriving alone and broken.
- Is this STL to OBJ converter free?
- Yes. You can convert STL to OBJ online for free, with no account and no watermark.
- Do I need to install software or sign up?
- No. Use the converter from your browser without installing software or creating an account. Files are uploaded to our servers for processing.
- Are my files safe?
- Yes. Files are processed only to complete the conversion and are auto-deleted after 2 hours. We never share them.
- Can I convert multiple STL files at once?
- Yes. Drop several files to convert them in a batch and download the results as a single ZIP.