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Can Shopify Open STL Files? How to Import Them

Shopify lets stores add 3D models to product media, which shoppers can spin on the product page and view in AR.

Short answer · Convert first

Not directly. Shopify doesn't import STL, so convert the file to GLB first and import the GLB.

Open the STL to GLB converter

Getting an STL file into Shopify

  1. 1Check the fileFind out what units the part was designed in. Almost every printable STL is in millimetres, but the file itself doesn't say.
  2. 2Convert STL to GLBDrop the file into our STL to GLB converter. It runs in your browser, so the model never leaves your computer.
  3. 3Import into ShopifyProducts › open the product › Media › Add media, then upload the .glb.
  4. 4Check scale and orientationShopify works in metres (real-world size matters for AR) and is Y-up. STL files are unitless (slicers assume millimetres), so the size depends on what the exporter assumed.
  5. 5Check materialsSTL carries no colour or materials, and no animation. Look at the model under a neutral light before you build on it.

What comes through

ShapeYes, always.
Colours and materialsYes: PBR materials and embedded textures.
TexturesSTL doesn't store texture images.
AnimationShopify doesn't play animation.

Things to watch for

  • Convert STL to GLB before uploading, and add a colour, since STL has none.
  • Model products at real-world size in metres, so they appear life-sized when shoppers use AR.

Questions

Does Shopify support STL files?
Not directly. Shopify doesn't import STL, so convert the file to GLB first and import the GLB.
Why is my STL model the wrong size in Shopify?
STL files are unitless (slicers assume millimetres), while Shopify works in metres (real-world size matters for AR). Model products at real-world size in metres, so they appear life-sized when shoppers use AR.
What is the best 3D format for Shopify?
GLB is the most reliable choice for Shopify. If you have a choice when exporting, pick GLB over STL.

Menu names follow Shopify's current release. Check the official Shopify documentation if your version differs.

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 Spotted something out of date?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.