Tools › Erase

Cut an area out of your map data — free

Need everything except what is inside a zone? Drop your data in box 1 and the zone in box 2. DropMaps removes whatever falls inside the zone and keeps the rest.

1

The data to cut

Drop a map file here, or

    2

    The area to remove

    Drop a map file here, or

      Both layers in one file? Just fill box 1 — you can pick the second layer in DropMaps.

      By opening your file you agree to the DropMaps Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

      ✓ Opened in a new tab

      Your files stay on your computer — they open in your browser, not on our servers.

      Free · No signup · Nothing to install

      What it does

      Before Erase, before: Buildings (purple) and a study area (orange).
      Buildings (purple) and a study area (orange).
      After Erase, after: Erased: the study area is cut out and only the buildings outside it are left.
      Erased: the study area is cut out and only the buildings outside it are left.

      How to do it

      1. Any map file works: a zipped shapefile, KML or KMZ, GeoJSON, GeoPackage, GPX, a CSV with coordinates or a zipped .gdb.
      2. Drop the data to cut into box 1 and the area to remove into box 2. You can also drop both at once, then use “Swap” if they landed the wrong way round.
      3. Click “Set up Erase”. DropMaps opens in a new tab with your data on the map and the Erase tool open, your layers already picked.
      4. Check the two layers are the right way round, then click Run.
      5. The result appears on the map as a new layer. Click “Save result…” to download it as a shapefile, KML, GeoJSON, GeoPackage or CSV.

      Questions

      What if I want to keep what is inside instead?

      Use the Clip tool. It keeps what is inside the area and removes the rest.

      What if both layers are in one file?

      Drop the file into box 1 only. Once DropMaps opens, pick the second layer from the list in the tool.

      How do I get the result?

      The result appears on the map as a new layer. Click “Save result…” under the Run button and choose a shapefile, KML, GeoJSON, GeoPackage or CSV.

      Is my data uploaded anywhere?

      No. The tool runs inside your browser, on your own computer. Nothing is sent to us unless you choose to save the map to a DropMaps account.

      Other free tools

      Viewers

      Shapefile viewerKML / KMZ viewerGeoJSON viewerCSV to mapGeoTIFF viewerGPX viewerGeoPackage viewerFile Geodatabase viewer

      Converters

      Shapefile to GeoJSONShapefile to KMLKML to shapefileKML to GeoJSONGeoJSON to shapefileGeoJSON to KMLCSV to KMLCSV to shapefileGPX to KMLKML to CSVGeoPackage to shapefileFile Geodatabase to shapefile

      Map functions

      BufferDissolveMerge layersClipSimplifyCentroidsCount points in polygonsJoin by locationFix geometry

      See what else DropMaps can do

      It’s a full map maker in your browser — colour and label your data, draw and edit shapes, measure, stack files on top of each other, and share a map with a link anyone can open.

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