When GLB to OBJ makes sense
GLB is the binary container of glTF: one compact file that a web page loads in a single request. OBJ is plain text with vertices, faces and texture coordinates, and modeling programs import it readily.
You convert .glb to .obj when an asset from a web store, a configurator or a scan service has to be edited or merged into a scene. A Draco-compressed file is the usual stumbling block, and this page unpacks it first.
What the OBJ gets from the GLB
| GLB content | OBJ result |
|---|---|
| Mesh geometry, plain or Draco | Same triangles and same size |
| Numbers in meters | Copied as they are; OBJ records no unit |
| Animation, skins, cameras | Not carried: OBJ stores static geometry |
| Materials and textures | Not covered by our tests; check them in the target program |
The test compares geometry. If the look of the asset matters, plan to reassign the texture images by hand after import.
Tested with Blender gears
The automated suite converted two GLB files to OBJ: a cube and a Draco-compressed gears model exported from Blender with 21,696 triangles. Both OBJ files re-opened with the same size, volume and triangle count as the GLB.
The Draco decoder (337 KB, 100 KB gzip) is fetched from this domain only when a compressed file arrives. A plain GLB never loads it.
Convert GLB to OBJ in four steps
- Press Open File and pick the .glb, or drop it here. A .gltf with its .bin works as well.
- Look at the result bar:
name.objand the file size. - Open Info and count the parts, so you know how many objects to expect after import.
- Press Download OBJ, or Convert another file for the next asset.
A bought or client asset stays on the computer. The GLB is unpacked by JavaScript in the tab, and the test run recorded no requests to other domains and no uploads.
Check the OBJ before you import it
Info shows triangles, vertices and the number of separate parts, so you can see whether a model arrived as one mesh or as twelve pieces. Dimensions are listed in mm or inches.
A GLB built in meters reads as a fraction of a millimeter here. That is expected, because the numbers are copied as they are and glTF counts in meters. Your modeling program will place it at the right size if its scene also uses meters.
If the OBJ looks wrong in your modeling program
- Flat gray model. The texture images were not linked. Assign them again to the material in your program.
- A character stands in a T-pose. OBJ has no animation, so the rest shape is written. Pose it again after import.
- The model lies on its back. Your program expects Z-up. Rotate it 90° about X in Edit before converting, then save again.
- Too many files to do by hand. Batch conversion is not offered; press Convert another file for each GLB.
Related GLB and OBJ tools
To return the edited model to the web, use OBJ to GLB. If the asset is headed for a printer, GLB to STL adds the Y-up to Z-up option. Look inside a file before converting it in the GLB viewer, and check the result in the OBJ viewer. Background on the target format is in the OBJ file guide.
Questions and answers
Can I convert .glb to .obj with textures?
The geometry is tested; material and texture transfer to OBJ is not. Expect to reconnect texture images in your modeling program.
Does the converter handle Draco-compressed GLB?
Yes. The mesh is decoded in the tab, and a 21,696-triangle Draco file converted with its full triangle count.
Will the animation of the GLB survive in OBJ?
No. OBJ holds one static mesh, so the model is written in its rest shape.
Is the size of the model kept?
Yes. The numbers are copied 1:1, and the tests compare size and volume before and after.
Can I convert a whole folder of GLB files to OBJ?
Not in one go. Batch conversion is not offered, so drop the files one after another.
What is the difference between GLB and glTF input?
GLB packs everything into one binary file; glTF is text with separate .bin and images. Both open here.
Why is the OBJ file much larger than the GLB?
GLB is binary and may be Draco-compressed, while OBJ writes every vertex and face as a line of text. The geometry is the same; only the way it is stored changes. Reduce triangles in Edit if the OBJ is too heavy for your program.