Reference

SKP (SketchUp)

SKP is the native file format of SketchUp, a 3D modeling app popular in architecture, interior design, and woodworking. A .skp file stores the model’s geometry, components, materials, and scenes.

Files & formatsGeneral

SKP (SketchUp)

Also known as: .skp file, SketchUp model, Trimble SketchUp

SKP is the native file format of SketchUp, a 3D modeling app popular in architecture, interior design, and woodworking. A .skp file stores the model’s geometry, components, materials, and scenes.

Native model format of SketchUp
Stores geometry, components, materials, scenes
Export to OBJ, FBX, or DWG to share

What an SKP file holds

A .skp saves a SketchUp model: surfaces and edges, reusable components and groups, materials, and saved camera scenes. SketchUp’s push-pull modeling makes it a favorite for buildings and furniture.

SKP files are tied to the SketchUp version that made them, so very old files may need a newer SketchUp to open.

Sharing SKP models

Opening SKP natively requires SketchUp or a compatible viewer. To use a model elsewhere, export to OBJ, FBX, DAE, or DWG/DXF for CAD workflows.

Related terms

Keep reading the reference.

Files & formatsOBJ (3D model)OBJ is a plain-text 3D geometry format that stores a model’s vertices, faces, and texture coordinates. It is one of the most widely supported interchange formats, but it carries no animation and stores materials in a separate .mtl file.General Files & formatsFBX (3D)FBX is a rich 3D interchange format owned by Autodesk that can carry geometry, materials, textures, rigs, and animation in a single file. It is the common pipeline format for games and film, and files tend to be large because they bundle so much.General Files & formatsDWG (AutoCAD drawing)DWG is the native binary format for AutoCAD drawings. It stores precise 2D and 3D CAD geometry plus layers, blocks, dimensions, and metadata. Because it is proprietary to Autodesk, opening it outside AutoCAD relies on compatible apps or DWG viewers.General