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KML GDB
File conversion

Convert KML to GDB

Verified by Adam B.· reviewed by FE Editorial ·updated Aug 20, 2026
QUICK ANSWER
Is it possible to convert KML to GDB?
Yes - KML converts to GDB.

Open GPSBabel, set input to Google Earth KML and output to Garmin MapSource GDB, choose an output .gdb filename, and click Apply. Open the resulting file in Garmin BaseCamp to send data to your Garmin device. KML styling and polygons are dropped.

5 programs
Also to GDB: GBK · TRK · LAS

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Tested on macOS, Windows & Linux
Last verified Oct 2026

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Why convert KML to GDB?

Garmin GPS devices do not read KML natively. Converting to .gdb lets Garmin BaseCamp import the waypoints, tracks, and routes and push them to supported Garmin units. This is useful when you have planned a route or marked waypoints in Google Earth and want to navigate it in the field on a Garmin device.

How to convert KML to GDB

GPSBabel FREE

Set input format to Google Earth KML, set output format to Garmin MapSource GDB, browse to your .kml, choose an output .gdb filename, and click Apply.

GPSBabel for Mac FREE

Same workflow: set input to Google Earth KML, output to Garmin MapSource GDB, and click Apply.

GPSBabel for Linux FREE

Same workflow: set input to Google Earth KML, output to Garmin MapSource GDB, and click Apply.

Programs that convert KML

GPSBabel
MyGeodata Cloud
GPSBabel for Mac
GPSBabel for Linux
GPS Visualizer

About these formats

.KML Keyhole Markup Language

A KML file stores map data - pins, routes, polygons, image overlays - in plain XML format. The easiest way to open one is Google Earth (free desktop app or earth.google.com in a browser) or…

Open .KML details →
.GDB Garmin MapSource GPS Database

A GDB file from Garmin stores GPS waypoints, routes and tracks created in MapSource or BaseCamp. Open it with the free Garmin BaseCamp (File -> Import), or convert it to GPX or KML with the…

Open .GDB details →

Quality & what to watch

  • The .gdb extension is shared by Garmin BaseCamp's GPS database and Esri's File Geodatabase used in ArcGIS - these are completely different formats; this page covers only the Garmin format.
  • KML-specific styling (colors, icons, ground overlays, polygons) has no equivalent in GDB and is dropped; GDB is a GPS data format, not a full map format.
  • If your file has a .kmz extension, GPSBabel handles it directly - use the same Google Earth KML input format for both .kml and .kmz files.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need Garmin BaseCamp to use the GDB file?
Yes - Garmin BaseCamp is the application that opens .gdb files and transfers data to Garmin devices; it is free to download from Garmin.
Can I convert KML to GDB through GPX as an intermediate?
Yes - convert KML to GPX first with GPSBabel, then import the GPX directly into Garmin BaseCamp, which accepts GPX as a supported import format.
What data transfers from KML to GDB?
Point coordinates (waypoints), line geometry (tracks and routes), and placemark names transfer cleanly; styling, polygons, and overlays are dropped.