To convert XLS to ODS, select or drop your .xls file above, check that ODS 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 an ODS file?
ODS – OpenDocument spreadsheet. ODS is OpenDocument Spreadsheet, the open standard spreadsheet format of LibreOffice Calc and OpenOffice. Excel and Google Sheets open it too.
ODS Converter →How to convert XLS to ODS
- Click Select File, or drop your .xls files anywhere on this page. You can add several at once.
- Check that ODS 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 ODS: how they compare
| XLS | ODS | |
|---|---|---|
| Layout | Cells in sheets | Cells in sheets |
| Editable | Yes | Yes |
| Created by | Microsoft, 1990s | OASIS (OpenDocument), 2005 |
| Best for | Old Excel versions | Spreadsheets that should stay open and portable |
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.
- Cells, formulas, formatting and charts are kept where an ODS 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 XLS to ODS 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 ODS 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 ODS 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 CSV Converter
- XLS to HTML Converter
- XLS to JPG Converter
- XLS to PDF Converter
- XLS to PNG Converter
- XLS to XLSX Converter
- XLS to XPS Converter
Convert other spreadsheets to ODS
All spreadsheet formats
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