Convert DAE to USDZ
Free DAE to USDZ converter that runs in your browser. See real dimensions before you download.
How to convert DAE to USDZ
- Drop your DAE file (with its textures, if separate) onto the converter — it opens in your browser, nothing is uploaded.
- Check the preview and the dimensions in mm; fix units or the up axis in “Units & orientation” if the size or orientation looks wrong.
- Choose USDZ as the output and click Convert. Several files download as one ZIP.
What carries over from DAE to USDZ
| DAE | USDZ | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colour / materials | Yes | Yes | Kept |
| Textures | Yes | Yes | Kept |
| Units stored in file | Yes | Yes | Written as mm → metres |
| Separate parts | Yes | Yes | Kept |
| Usual up axis | Y | Y | Unchanged |
About DAE files
COLLADA, short for COLLAborative Design Activity, was started by Sony Computer Entertainment and handed to the Khronos Group, which published it as an open XML standard; it became ISO/PAS 17506. Files use the .dae extension. The goal was a neutral format that let different content-creation tools exchange assets without losing information, so it is broader than a mesh format: it describes geometry, materials and effects, images, cameras, lights, skeletons, skin controllers, animations and even physics. It declares its own unit with a meter attribute and an up_axis setting, which is more than OBJ or STL offer. Because it is verbose XML, files are large, and glTF has since taken over the role of Khronos's recommended runtime format. DAE still turns up in SketchUp downloads, Google Earth content, robotics (ROS) and older game and simulation assets.
About USDZ files
USD, Universal Scene Description, was created at Pixar for film production and released as open source in 2016. USDZ was introduced by Apple and Pixar in 2018 as a single-file, uncompressed and unencrypted zip archive that packs a USD scene with its textures so it can be delivered and displayed without extra files. Apple built USDZ into iOS, iPadOS, macOS and visionOS: tapping a .usdz link in Safari or Messages opens AR Quick Look, where the object can be placed in the room at real-world scale. The file format is aligned with USD's metersPerUnit and upAxis metadata, and uses physically based UsdPreviewSurface materials. Retailers use it for product previews, and the format also appears in Reality Composer, Xcode and Blender's USD exporter. It is a viewing and AR format, so it plays no role in slicing.
3D printing notes
Slicers do not open DAE, so models are converted to STL or 3MF. SketchUp users run into this often, because SketchUp exports DAE and its models are drawn in inches. Since the file records its unit scale, a correct importer gets the size right, though SketchUp-style models are also built from many separate faces and groups, with duplicated or internal geometry that can confuse slicers. Check the reported dimensions and the watertight status after conversion. MeshShift reads DAE in the browser, applies the unit and up axis from the file, and can save the result as STL, 3MF, OBJ or GLB. It does not write DAE.
Frequently asked questions
Is this DAE to USDZ converter free and private?
Yes. The conversion runs in your browser with JavaScript and WebAssembly, so your DAE file is never uploaded to a server. There is no sign-up, no watermark and no daily limit; very large files are limited only by your device's memory.
What is a DAE file?
A DAE file is a COLLADA 3D scene saved as XML. It can hold meshes, materials, textures references, cameras, lights, rigs and animations. SketchUp, Blender and many older game tools export it, and Google Earth models also used it.
How do I view a USDZ file on iPhone?
Open it from Files, Messages, Mail or a Safari link and tap it; AR Quick Look starts, and you can place the model in your room at real-world scale with the camera. No app install is needed on supported iPhones and iPads.