LAS Heightmap Generator
LocalConvert LAS to a heightmap PNG online — highest point per grid cell, full traversal, optional .pgw world file. Free, in-browser, no upload.
Drag files here, or click to browse
Supports LAS
Choose filePreview first: dropping a file renders the in-page preview only — the PNG (and .pgw) download starts after you click the button above.
Large files show progress while parsing and rasterizing; Cancel stops the work and keeps the preview.
Renders a heightmap (top surface per cell) from LAS. Uncompressed LAS only. The file is traversed in full — no subsampling — so the extent and per-cell tops cover every point record; common uncompressed LAS up to a few hundred MB typically finish in seconds to tens of seconds.
Mobile works the same and runs locally; the PNG and .pgw download via your browser for use in GIS apps.
What is it? LAS Heightmap renders a LAS point cloud to a heightmap PNG, storing the top surface elevation per grid cell — a grayscale PNG form of a DEM (highest point per cell, canopy included). The file is traversed in full (no subsampling), so the extent and per-cell tops cover every point record; for GeoTIFF or interpolated DEMs use desktop tools.
TL;DR: LAS Heightmap renders an uncompressed LAS cloud to a grayscale PNG — it traverses every point record and keeps the highest point per grid cell, at 512/1024/2048 resolution, with an optional .pgw world file. Drop a .las, preview, then Convert & download; change the resolution and regenerate without re-dropping. Free with no sign-in; local, nothing is uploaded.
How to use
- Pick the grid resolution and whether to include a .pgw world file.
- Drop a .las file — the page immediately shows its size, declared points and a time expectation, then renders the in-page preview; nothing downloads until you click Convert & download (large files show progress and can be cancelled).
- Adjust the resolution and click Regenerate to re-render without re-dropping.
FAQ
What does each pixel represent?
The elevation of the highest point in that grid cell.
Is it local?
Yes.
How is a heightmap different from a DEM?
It is a grayscale PNG of the highest point per cell (canopy and building tops included), not an interpolated bare-earth DEM; grayscale is 8-bit elevation quantization.
Is it free?
Yes — rendering a single LAS file uses the free daily allowance and needs no sign-in. The file is processed in your browser and is never uploaded.
What is the .pgw world file for?
It georeferences the PNG: six lines that map pixels to world coordinates, so GIS software such as QGIS or ArcGIS can place the heightmap over your scan's extent. Keep it next to the PNG with the same base name.
Can I use the PNG as a displacement or height texture in a game engine?
Yes — import it as a grayscale height or displacement texture. Note that elevation is quantized to 8-bit (256 levels), so smooth terrain can show stepping; rescale the contrast in your engine or an image editor if you need a stronger height range.
Does it work with LAZ?
No — uncompressed LAS only. Decompress your LAZ to LAS first (for example with las2las); the heightmap reads the point records directly.
How long does a large file take?
Rendering traverses every point record, so time grows roughly linearly with point count. The page shows a time expectation when you drop the file and live progress while it runs, and you can cancel at any time.
Why do some preview cells show a checkerboard pattern?
Those grid cells contain no points — the preview marks empty cells so you can spot coverage gaps before you download.
Examples
- Drop in a .las → in-page preview (size / declared points / time expectation shown on drop) → click Convert & download for the PNG + .pgw world file
Supported formats
Limitations
- Uncompressed LAS only (decompress LAZ first).
- Highest point per cell — canopy and building tops included, not a bare-earth DEM.
- Full traversal of every point record (no 4M-point subsampling) — the extent and per-cell tops cover the whole file; tens of millions of points scale linearly in time.
- Grayscale is 8-bit elevation quantization.
- Raster output loses point detail.
Privacy
Privacy first: this tool runs entirely in your browser — your input and files never leave your device, and everything is cleared when you close the page.