Limits by device and app
Checked in November 2026. Only some of these are published by the maker, so the last column says where each one comes from.
| Device or app | Limit | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Polar Flow | Imported routes are compressed to 500 waypoints, or 1500 on models such as Grit X2, Street X, Vantage M3 and Vantage V3. | Polar support |
| Google My Maps | 5 MB for unzipped KML and KMZ, 40 MB for other file types, and files with more than 2,000 rows should not be imported. | Google help |
| Older Garmin handhelds | The GPSMAP 76CSx stores 50 routes of up to 250 points each. Tracks have their own, larger limit. | Garmin manual |
| Garmin Edge and fēnix | Owners report a limit of 200 course points, fewer on some models. Those are turn cues, not the points that draw the line, and a GPX has none of them. | Reported by users |
| Garmin Connect | Owners report that an imported GPX can come back with fewer points. One saw 6,000 become about 1,500. | Reported by users |
| Wahoo | We found no published limit. | None found |
How many points to choose
Use the limit of your device or app, minus a little room. If you cannot find one, start at 1,000 and go lower only if the file is still refused. A twisty route needs more points than a straight one of the same length.
What happens to the distance
Removing points straightens small zigzags, so the route gets a little shorter. We ran a real 8.64 km hiking track with 358 points through this tool and added up the distance between the points left. For comparison, we also tried keeping every Nth point.
| Points kept | This tool | Every Nth point |
|---|---|---|
| 300 | 8.62 km (-0.2%) | 8.58 km (-0.6%) |
| 200 | 8.50 km (-1.6%) | 8.44 km (-2.3%) |
| 100 | 8.24 km (-4.6%) | 8.18 km (-5.2%) |
| 50 | 8.00 km (-7.3%) | 7.88 km (-8.8%) |
The total climb fell faster, from 552 m to 513 m at 300 points and 334 m at 50, because small ups and downs disappear along with their points. This is one track, and yours will differ, so the tool shows the change on your own route.
Why not just keep every Nth point?
This tool scores each point by the area of the triangle it forms with its two neighbors and removes the smallest first. Nearly straight stretches lose points and real bends keep them. Keeping every Nth point ignores the shape, so it can cut a corner right where the turn is.
What the simplified file keeps
Kept
The first and last point of every segment, the elevation of each point that stays, your tracks and routes, and your waypoints with their names and descriptions.
Left out
Times, heart rate, cadence and other sensor data. Keep your original file if you need them.
- The result has the number of points you chose, or slightly fewer.
- If your GPX already has no more points than you chose, it is refused and does not use a conversion.
- No turn prompts are added. It is the same line with fewer points.
When the limit is on file size
A GPX is text, so its size follows its number of points. In the example above, a 31 KB file came to 18 KB at 200 points and 5 KB at 50. Keep reducing the points until the file fits.
Check the result before you rely on it
Open the new file in the viewer and compare it with your original, above all at junctions and hairpins. Then load it on your device and look at it there before you set off.
More tools for your route
- Open it in the free GPX viewer to see the distance, the climb and the elevation profile.
- Cut a long GPX into several parts instead.
- To make a course from a GPX, use the GPX to FIT converter.
- Turn it into a Google Maps link you can share.
Frequently asked questions
How many points can my device handle?
It varies, and many brands do not publish a number. Check the table above and your manual, and start at 1,000 points if you find nothing.
Will simplifying change the distance?
A little. On our 8.6 km test track it came out 0.2% shorter at 300 points and 7.3% shorter at 50. The tool shows the change on your own route.
Does it keep my waypoints and times?
Waypoints yes, with their names and descriptions. Times and sensor data are removed, so keep your original file if you need them.
Is simplifying a GPX free?
You can start for free: each month you get 2 free conversions with a free account, or 1 without one. Pro Lifetime is a one-time payment for unlimited conversions in both directions.
Do you keep my file?
No. The file is sent to our server, read once to build the new file and not stored. We keep no copy of the file or the route.