What is a .ply file?
Polygon File Format · 3D model · Stanford University · 1994
A .ply file is a Polygon File Format model, also called the Stanford Triangle Format. It stores 3D geometry as a list of vertices and faces, often from 3D scanners, and can carry colour and normals.
What is a .ply file used for?
PLY files begin with the word ply and a header that declares the properties of each vertex and face. They come in ASCII (readable) and binary variants, and are a favourite for scanned point clouds and meshes.
It is common in 3D scanning, photogrammetry and research. MeshLab and Blender open it; convert to OBJ or glTF for wider use.
How to open a .ply file
The .ply format opens in the following apps, grouped by operating system. If one app does not work, try another from the same list. For a step-by-step walkthrough, see how to open a .ply file.
Windows
- MeshLab
- Blender
- CloudCompare
macOS
- MeshLab
- Blender
- Preview
Linux
- MeshLab
- Blender
- CloudCompare
How to convert a .ply file
You can convert a .ply file to obj, stl, gltf using a conversion tool or the export menu of an app that opens it.
.ply file signature (magic bytes)
Programs recognise a .ply file by the bytes at the start of the file, not by its name. These are the signatures for PLY. For a full breakdown, see the PLY file signature page.
| Hex signature | Offset | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 70 6C 79 0A | 0 | 'ply' then a newline |
See the full magic-numbers reference for every format.
Frequently asked questions
What is a .ply file?
A .ply file is a Polygon File Format model, also called the Stanford Triangle Format. It stores 3D geometry as a list of vertices and faces, often from 3D scanners, and can carry colour and normals.
How do I open a .ply file?
Use MeshLab or Blender, both free, or CloudCompare for point clouds. They can convert it to OBJ, STL or glTF.
What is a PLY file used for?
Storing 3D meshes and point clouds, especially output from 3D scanners and photogrammetry, often with per-vertex colour.
Is PLY text or binary?
Both exist. ASCII PLY is human-readable; binary PLY is smaller and faster. The header states which, right after the ply marker.
Related formats
Sources
Details on this page were checked against authoritative references: