laspy
Native Python ASPRS LAS read/write library
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes. Laspy is the standard Python library for LAS/LAZ file handling, actively maintained, Production/Stable, with minimal dependencies and no known vulnerabilities. Install it if you work with LiDAR data or ASPRS point cloud formats. The only consideration is the Python 3.10+ requirement; if you're on an older version, you'll need to upgrade.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires Python 3.10 or later.
- LAZ support requires optional lazrs or laszip backend installation.
- Low friction: pure Python wheel with only numpy as a runtime dependency.
License · maintenance · safety
BSD-2-Clause (permissive) — BSD-2-Clause permissive license allows commercial and private use with minimal restrictions; suitable for most projects.
last release 2026-01-14 (212 days) · last repo commit 2026-05-30 · 505 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 1,941,539 downloads/mo, #3,417 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install laspy
import laspy
las = laspy.read('filename.las')
las.points = las.points[las.classification == 2]
las.write('ground.laz')- Performance characteristics and memory footprint when processing very large point clouds.
- Compatibility details with specific LAS/LAZ versions and COPC implementations.
- Whether COPC over HTTPS requires requests to be installed as a runtime dependency or only when that feature is used.
What it is and what it does
Laspy is a native Python library for working with ASPRS LAS and LAZ LiDAR point cloud files. It handles the full lifecycle of LAS data: reading files into memory, filtering and modifying point records, and writing results back to disk. The library supports both complete file operations and streamed/chunked processing for handling large datasets that may not fit in memory at once. It can read file headers and metadata without loading all points, and supports COPC (Cloud Optimized Point Cloud) format both from local files and over HTTPS.
The package depends only on numpy for its core functionality, keeping installation simple and lightweight. Optional features like LAZ compression and CRS coordinate transformation require additional packages (lazrs/laszip and pyproj respectively) that can be installed separately. The library is actively maintained, marked as Production/Stable, and widely used in geospatial and LiDAR processing workflows.
Use it for
- Filter and extract specific point classes (e.g., ground, vegetation) from large LAS/LAZ files for analysis.
- Convert between LAS and LAZ formats or reproject point cloud coordinates using CRS support.
- Process multi-gigabyte LiDAR datasets in chunks to avoid loading entire files into memory.
- Read LAS file headers and metadata to inspect point formats and record counts before full processing.
- Build geospatial data pipelines that read, transform, and write LiDAR point clouds programmatically.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes.
Laspy is the standard Python library for LAS/LAZ file handling, actively maintained, Production/Stable, with minimal dependencies and no known vulnerabilities. Install it if you work with LiDAR data or ASPRS point cloud formats. The only consideration is the Python 3.10+ requirement; if you're on an older version, you'll need to upgrade.
Install
laspy on PyPI
Before you install
Low friction: pure Python wheel with only numpy as a runtime dependency. Active maintenance (last commit 2026-05-30), marked Production/Stable, and in the top 5000 PyPI packages by download volume.
Requires Python 3.10 or later. LAZ support requires optional lazrs or laszip backend installation.
License in practice
BSD-2-Clause permissive license allows commercial and private use with minimal restrictions; suitable for most projects.
Quickstart
pip install laspy
import laspy
las = laspy.read('filename.las')
las.points = las.points[las.classification == 2]
las.write('ground.laz')Verify before relying
- Performance characteristics and memory footprint when processing very large point clouds.
- Compatibility details with specific LAS/LAZ versions and COPC implementations.
- Whether COPC over HTTPS requires requests to be installed as a runtime dependency or only when that feature is used.
Package facts
| License | BSD-2-Clause permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.10 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 1 packagenumpy |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 212 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 1,941,539 / month, #3,417 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 5 - Production/StableIntended Audience :: DevelopersIntended Audience :: Science/ResearchLicense :: OSI Approved :: BSD LicenseOperating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: PythonTopic :: Scientific/Engineering :: GIS |
Evidence: laspy-2.7.0-py3-none-any.whl
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