Convert ODS to XLS

Convert ODS to XLS instantly in your browser. Your spreadsheet data is processed on your device and never uploaded.

Your file never leaves your device.

How to convert ODS to XLS

XLS is the legacy Excel format still required by some older systems and upload portals. This tool reads the ODS with SheetJS, a proven spreadsheet engine, directly in your browser and writes a correct XLS file with the right encoding, escaping and structure. There are no rows to copy by hand and no data leaves your computer.

Step 1: Choose your ODS file
Drag and drop a .ods file onto the converter or click to browse. It works on desktop, tablet and phone.
Step 2: Automatic conversion
Rows and columns are read and written as XLS in a fraction of a second.
Step 3: Download the XLS
Save each result individually, or download everything as a single ZIP when you convert several files.

Good to know

All sheets, values, formulas, number formats and column widths are carried over. Charts, pivot tables and macros are not converted.

Why use this ODS to XLS converter?

XLS is the legacy Excel format still required by some older systems and upload portals.
Handles large files with thousands of rows.
Correct quoting and UTF-8 encoding.
100% local: spreadsheets often contain personal or financial data, and here it never leaves your device.

Is it free?

Yes. Converting ODS to XLS is free, with no watermark, signup or email required. Local conversions have no artificial file-size or daily cap; the practical limit is your device.

Is my file uploaded?

The ODS file is processed entirely in your browser. It is never uploaded, never stored and never seen by anyone, so this is safe for confidential files.

About the formats

What is ODS?

ODS is the spreadsheet format of the OpenDocument standard (ODF), an open, ISO-standardised format. It is the native format of LibreOffice Calc and Apache OpenOffice Calc. Like XLSX, an ODS file is a ZIP archive containing XML, with sheets, formulas, styles and charts. Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets can also open and save it.

Use ODS when you work with LibreOffice or when an open, vendor-independent format is required, as is common in public administrations. If your recipients mostly use Excel, XLSX avoids small formatting differences; for plain data exchange, CSV is enough.

ODS (OpenDocument spreadsheet)

What is XLS?

XLS is the binary workbook format used by Microsoft Excel up to version 2003. It stores sheets, formulas, formatting, charts and macros in a single file. Each sheet is limited to 65,536 rows and 256 columns, a limit that the XML-based XLSX, the default since Excel 2007, raised considerably.

Use XLS only when an old version of Excel or a legacy system requires it. For new work, XLSX handles far larger sheets and is less prone to corruption, and CSV is the simpler choice when you only need to move raw data.

XLS (Excel 97-2003 workbook)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is ODS to XLS conversion free?

Yes. It is free, with no watermark, signup or email required. Local conversions have no artificial file-size or daily cap; the practical limit is your device.

What happens to formulas when converting ODS to XLS?

Formulas are preserved together with their last calculated values.

Is it safe to convert ods to xls here?

Yes. The work happens on your own device with WebAssembly and browser APIs, so the file is not uploaded at all. You can even disconnect from the internet once the page has loaded.

Do I need to install anything?

No. Everything runs in a modern browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari) on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS. There is no app, plugin or account.

Can I convert XLS back to ODS?

Yes, there is a dedicated XLS to ODS converter linked in the related tools below. Keep in mind that information dropped in one direction cannot always be restored in the other.

Need the opposite? Convert XLS to ODS

ExcelProcessed locally