OBJ to PLY: How to Convert OBJ to PLY for Free
To convert OBJ to PLY for free, open the OBJ in MeshLab or Blender and export it as PLY. The one catch is colour: OBJ stores it as a texture image, PLY stores it on the vertices, so a textured model needs one extra step. Here are the exact steps for both tools.
Try it with your own photo
Free preview, no account. Pay €1 only for the model you keep: OBJ, STL and GLB in one download.
Or open an example model
OBJ vs PLY at a glance
| OBJ | PLY | |
|---|---|---|
| Shape (mesh) | Yes | Yes, or points only |
| Colour | Texture image, via a separate .mtl file | Per vertex, inside the file |
| Files | 2–3 that must stay together | 1 |
| Encoding | Text | Binary or text |
| Best for | Blender, Maya, Unity, general 3D tools | 3D scanning, MeshLab, CloudCompare, research and point clouds |
Convert OBJ to PLY in MeshLab (free)
- File → Import Mesh and choose the OBJ. Keep the .mtl and texture image in the same folder so the colours load.
- To keep the colours, run Filters → Texture → Transfer: Texture to Vertex Color (1 or 2 meshes). Skip this if you only need the shape.
- File → Export Mesh As, pick PLY, and in the options tick Color under Vert and leave Binary encoding on.
Convert OBJ to PLY in Blender (free)
- File → Import → Wavefront (.obj) and choose the OBJ.
- File → Export → Stanford PLY (.ply), tick Selection Only if there are other objects in the scene, and save.
Blender exports the shape fine, but it only writes colours that are already on the vertices, so for a textured OBJ use MeshLab's transfer step above. More Blender tips are in the Blender guide.
Three things that go wrong
- Grey model. The texture didn't become vertex colours. Run the texture-to-vertex-colour transfer before exporting.
- Blurry colours. Each vertex holds one colour, so a low-polygon mesh can't show fine texture detail. Subdivide the mesh before the transfer if you need it sharper.
- Huge file. ASCII PLY is several times bigger than binary. Export binary unless you need to read the file by hand.
Need STL or GLB instead?
For 3D printing, see how to convert OBJ to STL. For the web and AR, a GLB keeps the texture in one file: see showing a 3D model on your website. Every OBJify download already includes OBJ, STL and GLB.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert OBJ to PLY?+
Open the OBJ in a free tool like Blender (File, Import, Wavefront OBJ) or MeshLab (File, Import Mesh), then export it as PLY: File, Export, Stanford PLY in Blender, or File, Export Mesh As, PLY in MeshLab.
What is the difference between OBJ and PLY?+
Both store a 3D mesh. OBJ keeps colour as a texture image linked through an .mtl file. PLY usually stores colour per vertex inside the file and can also hold point clouds with no faces at all, which is why scanning and research tools like it.
Why did my PLY lose its colours?+
PLY keeps colour per vertex, not as a texture image. When you convert a textured OBJ, the texture has to be baked onto the vertices first. MeshLab does this with Filters, Texture, Transfer: Texture to Vertex Color. A low-polygon mesh will look blurry, because each vertex holds only one colour.
Should I export PLY as binary or ASCII?+
Binary. It is several times smaller and faster to load. Use ASCII only when you want to read or edit the file by hand.
Is there a free OBJ to PLY converter?+
Yes. Blender, MeshLab and CloudCompare are all free and convert OBJ to PLY offline, so your file never leaves your computer.
Try it with your own photo
Free preview, no account. Pay €1 only for the model you keep: OBJ, STL and GLB in one download.
Or open an example model