How to convert DXF and DWG files to SVG on a Mac

By Tiago Almeida · Updated 29 October 2026

CAD programs save DXF and DWG files; laser software, vinyl cutters, design apps and web pages prefer SVG. Converting one to the other is mostly about three things: the part keeping its real size, curves staying smooth, and text coming across.

DWG Viewer is our app, so weigh that in. Every option below works; they suit different jobs.

The options compared

Option	Reads DXF	Reads DWG	What you need
DWG Viewer	Yes	Yes	$19 once; macOS 14 or later
Inkscape	Yes, from AutoCAD R13 on	No	Free and open source
CloudConvert	Yes	Yes	Free for 10 files a day; the file is uploaded
QCAD Professional	Yes	Yes	One-off licence
AutoCAD	Opens both, but has no SVG export		Autodesk subscription

1. Export it from DWG Viewer

Open the .dxf or .dwg in DWG Viewer and choose File → Export as SVG. The SVG is made for cutting:

Its width and height are set in millimetres from the drawing's units, so a 120 mm part stays 120 mm.
Arcs and circles stay true arcs, not chains of short lines.
Each line keeps its colour, so laser software that assigns cuts and engraves by colour can tell them apart.
Text becomes outlines, so it doesn't depend on the drawing's fonts.
Layers you've switched off are left out: hide dimensions, centre lines and title blocks before exporting.

Lines come out as separate segments rather than joined shapes, so a rectangle is four lines. That's fine for cutting, but if you want closed shapes to fill or offset, join them in your laser or design software. DWG Viewer costs $19 once and runs onmacOS 14 or later, Apple silicon and Intel. It also reads .dwf and .dwfx files and exports them the same way.

2. Open the DXF in Inkscape

Inkscape is a free vector drawing app with native Apple silicon builds. It opens DXF files from AutoCAD R13 onwards and saves SVG, and once the drawing is in, you can tidy it up before saving. A few things need care:

When it asks how to scale the drawing, use the file's own units or a manual scale in millimetres, not "fit to A4", so the part keeps its size.
Use File → Open rather than Import to keep the drawing's layers.
Blocks are only partly supported, so explode them first if you can.
Solid fills come across, but hatch patterns don't, and text may need rescaling.

Inkscape can't read DWG files, so convert a .dwg to DXF first: DWG Viewer's Export as DXF does it, and so does ODA File Converter, free for non-commercial use. See How to open .dxf files on a Mac for more.

3. Upload it to CloudConvert

CloudConvert converts both DWG and DXF to SVG in the browser. The free tier allows 10 conversions a day. You get few settings, so check the size and the text in the result, and the drawing goes to their servers, which may not suit a client's design. Zamzar, the other well-known converter, doesn't make SVGs from CAD files.

4. Use QCAD Professional or LibreCAD

QCAD Professional opens DWG and DXF files and exports SVG, and its dwg2svg command converts a whole folder from the Terminal. It's a one-off licence. LibreCAD, which is free, has adxf2svg command for DXF files. Both are 2D CAD apps, so you can also fix the drawing before exporting it.

5. Import it into Affinity

Affinity, Canva's design app, is free for individuals. It imports DWG drawings and exports SVG, and turns the drawing into ordinary shapes you can edit, which suits signs and artwork more than precise parts. Check the scale before you rely on it for cutting.

Why not AutoCAD?

Autodesk says AutoCAD can't convert DWG files to SVG. From AutoCAD you'd plot a PDF at 1:1 and open that in Inkscape or another vector app, which works if you keep an eye on the scale. See How to convert a DWG to PDF on a Mac for the PDF side.

Which should I use?

Laser or vinyl cutting from a CAD drawing, at the right size, with colours kept: DWG Viewer.
A DXF, free, and you're happy to check the scale: Inkscape.
One file, now, and you don't mind uploading it: CloudConvert.
Folders of drawings, from a script: QCAD Professional's dwg2svg.

Working with VCarve files? CRV Viewer exports .crv files to SVG and DXF directly.

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