What is a .skp file?
SketchUp Model · 3D model · Trimble (originally @Last Software / Google) · 2000
A .skp file is a SketchUp model, the native format of the popular 3D modelling tool used in architecture, interior design and woodworking. It stores the geometry, materials and components of a design.
What is a .skp file used for?
SketchUp is known for approachable push-pull modelling, so .skp files are common in architecture and DIY design. The format is proprietary and version-specific: a newer .skp may not open in an older SketchUp.
To share a model outside SketchUp, export to a neutral format like COLLADA (.dae), OBJ or glTF. Free viewers and the web-based SketchUp can open .skp files.
How to open a .skp file
The .skp 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 .skp file.
Windows
- SketchUp
- SketchUp Viewer
- Trimble Connect
macOS
- SketchUp
- SketchUp Viewer
Linux
- SketchUp for Web (browser)
Web
- SketchUp for Web
How to convert a .skp file
You can convert a .skp file to dae, obj, gltf, stl using a conversion tool or the export menu of an app that opens it.
.skp file signature (magic bytes)
Programs recognise a .skp file by the bytes at the start of the file, not by its name. These are the signatures for SketchUp.
| Hex signature | Offset | Note |
|---|---|---|
| (no fixed signature) | 0 | no reliable fixed signature |
See the full magic-numbers reference for every format.
Frequently asked questions
What is a .skp file?
A .skp file is a SketchUp model, the native format of the popular 3D modelling tool used in architecture, interior design and woodworking. It stores the geometry, materials and components of a design.
How do I open a .skp file without SketchUp?
Use the free SketchUp for Web in a browser or the SketchUp Viewer. Or ask for an export to .dae, .obj or .gltf, which open in Blender and others.
Why won't my .skp file open?
Often a version mismatch: files saved in a newer SketchUp may not open in an older one. Use a current viewer, or have the file saved in an older version.
Can Blender open a .skp file?
Not directly. Export the model from SketchUp to COLLADA (.dae) or glTF first, then import that into Blender.
Related formats
Sources
Details on this page were checked against authoritative references: