Maya 3D file formats: what opens and how
Autodesk Maya is the industry-standard animation and modelling package in film and games studios. It opens 2 of the 9 common 3D formats below without conversion; for the rest, convert to OBJ first.
Format support at a glance
| Format | Support | How |
|---|---|---|
| GLB | Convert first | Convert to OBJ |
| glTF | Convert first | Convert to OBJ |
| OBJ | Built in | File › Import…, file type OBJ (the objExport plug-in must be loaded) |
| STL | Convert first | Convert to OBJ |
| FBX | Built in | File › Import…, file type FBX |
| PLY | Convert first | Convert to OBJ |
| 3MF | Convert first | Convert to OBJ |
| DAE | Convert first | Convert to OBJ |
| USDZ | With add-on | File › Import… with the Maya USD plug-in (bundled with recent Maya versions) |
Which format to choose
FBX and OBJ are the most dependable choice for Maya. Meshes, skeletons, skin weights and animation come in; the FBX import options control unit conversion and animation baking. If a model arrives as GLB, glTF, STL, convert it to OBJ so materials survive the trip.
Units and orientation
Maya works in centimetres and is Y-up. Most problems after an import, such as a model that is invisible, enormous or lying on its side, come from a mismatch with the exporting app rather than a broken file.
- Check Windows › Settings/Preferences › Plug-in Manager if an import file type is missing; fbxmaya and objExport must be loaded.
- Set the scene's working units before importing so FBX unit conversion lands the model at the right size.
Questions
- What 3D formats can Maya open?
- Without conversion: OBJ, FBX. With an add-on: USDZ.
- How do I get an unsupported format into Maya?
- Convert it to OBJ with one of our in-browser converters, then import the OBJ. In Maya: File › Import…, file type OBJ (the objExport plug-in must be loaded).
- Does Maya keep textures and animation?
- Yes, when the format carries them. GLB and FBX keep the most; STL and PLY carry no textures.
Source: the official Maya documentation. Menu names can move between versions.
Written with AI assistance by the Renderlyst team in October 2026. Format support reflects each app's current release as we understand it, and we link the official documentation so you can confirm it for your version. Spotted something out of date? Email alishbakhalid766@gmail.com.