Google Earth: KML Import Guide

 

You can import features like placemarks, lines, and polygons to your Google Earth projects from KML and KMZ files. See the help center to learn how. While we're working to expand KML support, this guide outlines the current import limits. 

 

• Only KML and KMZ files are supported at this time.

• Unzipped KML and KMZ files can be up to 1GB.
• A single import is limited to 10,000 features. Projects are limited to 20,000 features total.
• The maximum number of vertices allowed in a single import is 250,000. Lines and polygons with more than 10,000 vertices will be simplified.
• If more than 100 geometry or geocoding errors are encountered during an import, the import will stop, an error message will be displayed, and no data will be saved.
• Images:
  • Files from the internet (e.g., icons) are limited to 32MB.
  • The maximum icon size is 128x128 pixels. The maximum size for non-icon images is 2048x2048 pixels.
  • The maximum number of unique external images allowed per import is 100 icons, 50 carousel images, and 20 overlays.

 

• Features: Placemark
  • Overlays: GroundOverlay
  • Container: Folder, Document
• Geometry: Point, LineString, LinearRing, Polygon, MultiGeometry
• StyleSelector: Style, StyleMap ("normal" mode only)
• TimePrimitive: gx:TimeStamp on Camera/LookAt
• AbstractView: Camera, LookAt
• LatLonBox
• SubStyle: BalloonStyle
  • ColorStyle: LineStyle, PolyStyle, IconStyle, LabelStyle

 

• Network Links
• KML Tours
• Screen and photo overlays
• Certain fields within supported elements may not be fully supported and will be called out in the error guide after an import. 

 

• Import failures should produce an error guide during the import which can be used to debug issues with the imported file.
• Ensure your file is in the correct KML or KMZ format.
• Verify that your file size is within the limits described above.
• If you receive errors related to geometry, review your data for any malformed or invalid geometries.
• If you exceed the project or import limits, consider splitting your data into smaller files.