What is an SVGZ file?
SVGZ stands for Compressed Scalable Vector Graphics. It was created by the World Wide Web Consortium and first released in 2001. An SVGZ is an ordinary SVG compressed with gzip, which often shrinks it to a fifth of its size or less, because SVG is repetitive text. Unpacking it gives back the SVG exactly, byte for byte.
| Type | image |
|---|---|
| Compression | Lossless |
| Colour | any colour, described as shapes rather than pixels |
| Transparency | Yes |
| Animation | Yes |
| In a browser | Inkscape and Illustrator open it; browsers only show it when a web server sends it with gzip encoding |
| Common uses | Inkscape drawings and SVG files compressed for storage |
| MIME type | image/svg+xml |
Which format should you convert SVGZ to?
- SVGZ to PNG for screenshots, logos and anything with transparency.
SVGZ is lossless, so converting it to a lossy format is where the file gets much smaller.
How to open an SVGZ file
An SVGZ file does not open in a web browser, and only some devices have a program for it. Here is what works on each. If none of these is to hand, converting the file to PNG here is the quickest way to see what is inside it.
| Windows | Inkscape (free) and Illustrator open it. |
|---|---|
| Mac | Inkscape (free) and Illustrator open it. |
| iPhone and iPad | iPhone and iPad cannot show SVGZ. Convert it to SVG or PNG here. |
| Android | Android cannot show SVGZ. Convert it to SVG or PNG here. |
Want the technical details? See what a .svgz file is, with its MIME type, file signature and a viewer.
SVGZ compared with other image formats
How SVGZ stacks up against the formats people most often convert it to or from:
| Format | Compression | Transparency | Released | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SVGZ | Lossless | Yes | 2001 | Inkscape drawings and SVG files compressed for storage |
| SVG | Lossless | Yes | 2001 | logos, icons, charts and illustrations on the web |
| EPS | Lossless | No | 1987 | logos and artwork for print, and stock vector graphics |
| Either | No | 1993 | documents, forms, invoices and print-ready files | |
| AI | Lossless | Yes | 1987 | logos, illustrations and print artwork made in Illustrator |
How to use the SVGZ converter
- Choose the format you want in the Convert to menu.
- Drop your SVGZ files on the box, or press Choose SVGZ files. Several files can go in at once.
- Adjust the settings if you need to; the defaults suit most people.
- Press Convert and save each file with its Download button. The file is converted on our server and deleted as soon as the result is sent back.
Tips for converting SVGZ files without losing quality
SVGZ is a vector format, so it is a good source for any conversion. Converting it to another vector format keeps shapes as shapes; converting it to PNG or JPG draws it at one fixed size.
- Keep the original drawing as the master copy; it is the file you can edit and convert again.
- Converting between vector formats keeps shapes as shapes. Converting to PNG or JPG fixes the drawing at one size, so pick the largest size you will need.
- Each vector format supports different effects: gradients, transparency and filters are where results differ most, so check them after converting.
- For laser cutters and CAD programs, DXF is the usual format; for Office documents, EMF; for the web, SVG.
Convert SVGZ files from the command line
librsvg does the same on your own computer:
rsvg-convert -d 300 -p 300 --background-color=white input.svgz -o output.pngConverting on your own computer keeps the file entirely local, which is worth it for very large or very sensitive documents. For everything else, the converter on this page does it without installing anything.
SVGZ converter FAQ
What is an SVGZ file?
SVGZ stands for Compressed Scalable Vector Graphics, an image format created by the World Wide Web Consortium in 2001. An SVGZ is an ordinary SVG compressed with gzip, which often shrinks it to a fifth of its size or less, because SVG is repetitive text. Unpacking it gives back the SVG exactly, byte for byte.
How do I open an SVGZ file?
Inkscape and Illustrator open SVGZ; browsers only show it when a web server sends it with gzip encoding. If the program you need will not open it, convert it to a more widely supported format above.
What is the most common SVGZ conversion?
SVGZ to PNG is the conversion people search for most. The SVGZ is unpacked and drawn by librsvg, the SVG renderer used across Linux desktops, and MuPDF renders the drawing at 300 dpi on our conversion server, so a drawing 10 cm wide becomes about 1,180 pixels wide.
Does converting SVGZ files here upload them?
Yes. SVGZ conversions need librsvg and MuPDF, open-source programs that cannot run in a browser, so they run on our conversion server. The file is uploaded, converted, and deleted together with the result as soon as the result has been sent back to you. Nothing is kept.
Is the SVGZ converter free?
Yes. There is no sign-up and no watermark. Conversions that use our server accept files up to 25 MB, with a fair-use limit per hour. The site is supported by advertising.
Can I convert SVGZ files on iPhone or Android?
Yes. Open this page in Safari on iPhone and iPad, or in Chrome on Android, choose your SVGZ files and download the results to your Downloads folder.
Can I convert several SVGZ files at once?
Yes. Drop as many as you like; they are converted one after another, each with its own download button.