To convert XLS to XLSX, select or drop your .xls file above, check that XLSX 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 XLSX file?
XLSX – Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. XLSX is the spreadsheet format of Microsoft Excel since 2007: a ZIP of XML files with the sheets, cells, formulas, formatting and charts. Excel, LibreOffice Calc, Google Sheets and Numbers open it.
XLSX Converter →How to convert XLS to XLSX
- Click Select File, or drop your .xls files anywhere on this page. You can add several at once.
- Check that XLSX 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 XLSX: how they compare
| XLS | XLSX | |
|---|---|---|
| Layout | Cells in sheets | Cells in sheets |
| Editable | Yes | Yes |
| Created by | Microsoft, 1990s | Microsoft (Office Open XML), 2007 |
| Best for | Old Excel versions | Tables you want to calculate with |
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 XLSX 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 XLSX 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 XLSX 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 XLSX 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 ODS Converter
- XLS to PDF Converter
- XLS to PNG Converter
- XLS to XPS Converter
Convert other files to XLSX
All spreadsheet formats
Updated