PBF Converter
Convert PBF files online for free
Drop or upload your .PBF file
How to convert your PBF file
- Click Select File above, and choose your PBF file.
- You'll see a preview.
- Click the "Convert file to..." button to save your file in the format you want.
Convert PBF to another file type
The converter easily converts your PBF file to various formats—free and online. No Media Player or extra software needed.
- PBF to OSM
- PBF to MBTILES
- PBF to GEOJSON
- PBF to SHP
- PBF to CSV
- PBF to JSON
- PBF to XML
- PBF to IMG
- PBF to MP3
- PBF to WAV
- PBF to AAC
- PBF to FLAC
Convert a file to PBF
The converter also works in reverse, allowing you to convert your file into the PBF file type—in the best quality.
- MIDI to PBF
- AAC to PBF
- TTA to PBF
- AU to PBF
- WV to PBF
- DTS to PBF
- MID to PBF
- FLAC to PBF
- RA to PBF
- MP3 to PBF
- PCM to PBF
- WAV to PBF
About PBF files
PBF files, or Protocolbuffer Binary Format files, are primarily used to store OpenStreetMap (OSM) data efficiently. They offer a compact and fast solution for handling large geographical datasets. However, dealing with PBF files can present challenges, especially when converting them to other formats due to their complexity and specific use case.
When converting PBF files, several important considerations should be kept in mind. The conversion process can be resource-intensive, requiring significant computational power and memory. Additionally, not all software supports PBF files natively, making the conversion process tricky for users unfamiliar with command-line tools or specialized software.
For those looking to convert PBF files, popular software options include Osmconvert and Osm2pgsql, which are robust tools designed for handling OSM data. These tools can convert PBF files to formats such as XML, SQL, or even directly import them into a PostgreSQL database with PostGIS extension. However, these methods might require technical know-how and are not always user-friendly.
Despite their advantages, PBF files have drawbacks, such as limited accessibility and complex handling requirements. These challenges underscore the importance of using a reliable conversion platform. Therefore, we recommend using the free and easy-to-use Convert.Guru website. Simply drag-and-drop your PBF files onto the webpage to seamlessly convert them into various formats without the hassle of technical tools.
The PBF Converter Story
The history of Convert.Guru began more than 25 years ago in California, when Tom Simondi published the most comprehensive database of file formats on his website. Before that, Tom had worked on Space Shuttle development at the Air Force Systems Command’s Space Division in Los Angeles. He is known as one of the top programmers of the late 1980s.
When Microsoft integrated Tom’s Filext database into Windows XP, it became the leading platform for analyzing and processing file types and formats.
Today, we use the latest technologies to analyze, process, and convert one of the world's largest collections of file formats. We are committed to developing the best PBF converter by continuously improving quality, usability, and reliability.