DXF stands for Drawing Exchange Format. It is Autodesk's open, text-based file format for 2D and 3D CAD drawings, storing entities such as lines, polylines, circles, arcs and text, organized into named layers with their own colors. Unlike DWG, AutoCAD's closed binary format with no published specification, DXF's structure is openly documented, which is why almost every CAD, GIS and design program on the market can read and write it.
What is a DXF file?
DXF (Drawing Exchange Format) is Autodesk's open, text-based file format for 2D and 3D CAD drawings. It stores entities like lines, polylines, circles, arcs and text, organized into layers, and is readable by almost every CAD and GIS program.
Is this the same as a DWG viewer?
No. DWG is AutoCAD's closed, proprietary binary format with no published specification, so there is no reliable way to read it directly in a web browser. DXF is Autodesk's open exchange format for the same kind of drawing data, and most CAD programs can export a DWG file as DXF.
Which DXF entities are supported?
Lines, polylines (including curved segments with bulge), circles, arcs, ellipses, points, text, multiline text, splines, solids, 3D faces, and blocks inserted with INSERT entities, including nested blocks and layer colors.
Is there a file size limit?
Yes, files up to 25 MB are supported, which comfortably covers the vast majority of real-world DXF drawings.
Does the PNG export include hidden layers?
No. Both the SVG and PNG exports only include the layers currently visible in the viewer, so you can hide anything you don't want in the exported image first.
Can I upload a DWG file instead?
Not directly. Export or "Save As" your drawing as DXF from AutoCAD or any CAD program first, then upload the resulting .dxf file here.
Why do some text labels look slightly different from AutoCAD?
This viewer uses a standard monospace font for all text and multiline text entities rather than the exact fonts referenced in the original file, since custom AutoCAD fonts can't be loaded in a browser. Positions, rotation and layout are still accurate.
What can I do with the SVG export?
The SVG export is a scalable vector file of your whole drawing that you can open in a browser, import into design software like Illustrator or Inkscape, or embed directly on a web page.
Can I view a specific layer only?
Yes. Use the Layers panel to hide any layer you don't need, so you can focus on just the walls, just the dimensions, or any other part of the drawing.
Is my drawing uploaded to a server?
No. The DXF file is parsed and rendered entirely in your browser using JavaScript. Nothing is ever sent anywhere, which makes this safe for confidential architectural or engineering drawings.
Autodesk introduced DXF in 1982 alongside the very first release of AutoCAD, specifically so drawings could move between different programs at a time when DWG's binary format was undocumented and changed with nearly every AutoCAD version. Decades later, DXF still fills that same role: it is the common bridge format engineers, architects and GIS professionals use to move drawings between CAD software, GIS platforms and rendering tools that would otherwise have no way to talk to each other.
This viewer reads and renders your DXF file entirely inside your browser using JavaScript. The file is never uploaded to a server, which matters if your drawing is a confidential architectural plan, an unreleased product design or any other CAD work you would rather not send anywhere.
Prefer to watch instead of read? This short walkthrough covers uploading a DXF drawing, viewing it rendered on the map, and exploring its layers.
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Mechanical & Engineering Drawings
Review part drawings and technical schematics shared by a supplier or colleague.
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Students & Learning CAD
Open sample DXF drawings to study how CAD entities, layers and blocks are structured.
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Real Estate & Property Listings
View a property's architectural drawings to confirm room layouts and dimensions before a purchase.
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Architecture & Floor Plans
Quickly check a floor plan a contractor or architect sent you without installing AutoCAD.
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Archiving Historic Drawings
View old DXF drawings pulled from an archive without needing legacy CAD software installed.
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GIS & Survey Data Interop
Inspect CAD-based survey or site plan drawings before importing them into a GIS workflow.
