To convert XLS to CSV, select or drop your .xls file above, check that CSV is chosen as the output, and click Convert. This conversion runs on our server, and your files are deleted 72 hours later.
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 →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 →How to convert XLS to CSV
- Click Select File, or drop your .xls files anywhere on this page. You can add several at once.
- Check that CSV 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.
XLS vs CSV: how they compare
| XLS | CSV | |
|---|---|---|
| Layout | Cells in sheets | Rows of cells |
| Editable | Yes | In any text editor |
| Created by | Microsoft, 1990s | 1970s |
| Best for | Old Excel versions | Moving tables between programs and databases |
Good to know
- The XLS file is opened by LibreOffice, not by Microsoft Office. Text, tables, pictures and ordinary charts convert accurately; effects such as SmartArt, animations, some chart styles and fonts LibreOffice does not have can look different from Office, so check a complex file before relying on it.
- Only the values are kept, as shown in the cells: formulas are saved as their results, and formatting, charts and pictures are not. The file is UTF-8 with commas. Each sheet is saved as its own CSV file, so a workbook with several sheets comes back as a ZIP.
Frequently asked questions
Is converting XLS to CSV 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 XLS files uploaded anywhere?
This conversion runs on our server, because reading an XLS 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 XLS file be?
Up to 1 GB per file. This conversion runs on our server, which accepts files up to that size.
Will the CSV look the same as the XLS?
The text and structure are kept: headings, lists, tables, bold and italic. Exact page layout, fonts and spacing may differ, because CSV works differently from XLS.
Can I convert several XLS 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.
Convert XLS to other formats
- XLS Converter
- XLS to HTML Converter
- XLS to JPG Converter
- XLS to ODS Converter
- XLS to PDF Converter
- XLS to PNG Converter
- XLS to XLSX Converter
- XLS to XPS Converter
Convert other spreadsheets to CSV
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