To convert CSV to XLS, select or drop your .csv file above, check that XLS is chosen as the output, and click Convert. This conversion runs on our server, and your files are deleted 72 hours later.
What is a CSV file?
CSV – Comma-separated values. CSV (comma-separated values) is plain text with one row of a table on each line and the cells separated by commas, semicolons or tabs. Every spreadsheet, database and programming language reads it, but it holds only values: no formulas, formatting or several sheets.
CSV Converter →What is an XLS file?
XLS – Microsoft Excel 97-2003 spreadsheet. XLS is the spreadsheet format of Excel 97 to 2003. Newer programs still open it, but it holds fewer rows and is bigger than XLSX.
XLS Converter →How to convert CSV to XLS
- Click Select File, or drop your .csv files anywhere on this page. You can add several at once.
- Check that XLS is chosen as the output format. On this page it is picked for you.
- Click Convert. When a file has to go to our server, the button says Upload and convert instead.
- Click Download next to each file when it's done.
CSV vs XLS: how they compare
| CSV | XLS | |
|---|---|---|
| Layout | Rows of cells | Cells in sheets |
| Editable | In any text editor | Yes |
| Created by | 1970s | Microsoft, 1990s |
| Best for | Moving tables between programs and databases | Old Excel versions |
Good to know
- The separator (comma, semicolon, tab or pipe) and the text encoding are detected, so files saved by spreadsheet programs in other countries open correctly. Numbers and dates are recognised; leading zeros in numbers are dropped.
- Cells, formulas, formatting and charts are kept where an XLS file has an equivalent; pivot tables, slicers and functions that are newer than the format can be flattened to their values or lose their formula.
Frequently asked questions
Is converting CSV to XLS free?
Yes. Everyone gets 25 free credits a day, with no account needed. Conversions on our server use one credit per started minute of work, so most cost a single credit. Credits reset at midnight UTC.
Are my CSV files uploaded anywhere?
This conversion runs on our server, because reading a CSV file needs LibreOffice, which does not run in a browser. Your file is sent over an encrypted connection, and both it and the result are deleted 72 hours after the conversion. The server has no internet access while it works on your file.
How large can the CSV file be?
Up to 1 GB per file. This conversion runs on our server, which accepts files up to that size.
Will the XLS look the same as the CSV?
The text and structure are kept: headings, lists, tables, bold and italic. Exact page layout, fonts and spacing may differ, because XLS works differently from CSV.
Can I convert several CSV files at once?
Yes. Add as many files as you like; they are converted one after another, and each one gets its own Download button.
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