When you want to use SketchUp with other modeling programs or tools, that typically means you need to either
- Import a file from another program into SketchUp.
- Export your SketchUp model into a file format that works with another program.
Tip: When this article refers to other modeling programs or tools, that means programs outside the SketchUp family of software and tools. If you want to open a 3D model as a document in LayOut, create your own styles in Style Builder, or share models on SketchUp Mobile Viewer or the 3D Warehouse, these programs and tools are designed to work directly with SketchUp. Each of the these applications has its own section in the Knowledge Center, which can help you get up to speed quickly and easily.
Here, you find subarticles about working with CAD files, different types of image files, and other file formats designed for sharing 3D modeling data between applications. To import or export some of these files, you need a SketchUp Pro license or active SketchUp for Web, Go Edition subscription. The following table has a full list of the different types of files you can import into and export from SketchUp.
Note: The SketchUp Subscriptions have additional import and export options as well.
| File Type | File Extension(s) | SketchUp Pro and Go Only? | Learn More Here |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAD files | .dwg, .dxf |
PRO and Go only | Importing and Exporting CAD Files and Starting with a CAD File in SketchUp |
| Image files | .jpg, .png, .tif, .bmp, .psd, .tga, .pdf, .eps |
Some file types are PRO and Go only | Importing and Exporting Image Files |
| COLLADA files | .dae |
Importing and Exporting COLLADA Files | |
| 3D Studio (3DS) files | .3ds |
PRO and Go needed for export | Importing and Exporting 3DS Files |
| Digital elevation models (DEM files) | .dem, .ddf |
Importing DEM Files for Terrain | |
| FBX files | .fbx |
PRO and Go only | Exporting FBX Files |
| Google Earth files | .kmz |
Exporting KMZ Files for Google Earth | |
| OBJ files | .obj |
PRO and Go only | Exporting OBJ Files |
| VRML files | .wrl |
PRO and Go only | Exporting VRML Files |
| XSI files | .xsi |
PRO and Go only | Exporting XSI files |
| IFC files | .ifc |
PRO only | Exporting IFC files |
Tip: If you export your SketchUp model to another file type and receive an error, the article Solving a Blank Dialog or SDK Error When Exporting may help you resolve the problem.
