Convert XLS to CSV
Convert XLS files to CSV locally, completely free and with maximum privacy.
Drag and drop your files here
or click to browse local files (large files supported, limited only by browser RAM)
Upload FilesPlatform Statistics
How to convert XLS to CSV
- Drop your .xls files above, or click Upload Files. You can add many files at once.
- CSV is already selected as the output. Open the settings (gear icon) to fine-tune the result.
- Click Convert All. SheetJS runs inside your browser through WebAssembly; nothing is uploaded.
- Download your .csv files as soon as each one finishes.
What to know about XLS to CSV conversion
- CSV holds a single table: convert the active sheet only, or all sheets at once (as a ZIP with one file per sheet).
- Cell values are exported as they were last calculated; formulas, formatting and charts are not part of the output.
- The CSV file includes a UTF-8 byte order mark so Excel opens accented characters correctly.
- CSV is best for importing data into databases, CRMs and apps, and opens in any spreadsheet, database or text editor.
XLS vs CSV
| Feature | XLS (Excel 97-2003 Workbook) | CSV (Comma-Separated Values) |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple sheets | Yes | No |
| Formulas and formatting | Yes | No |
| Best for | compatibility with Excel 97–2003 and legacy systems | importing data into databases, CRMs and apps |
| Opens in | Excel, LibreOffice and Google Sheets | any spreadsheet, database or text editor |
XLS (Excel 97-2003 Workbook): The legacy binary Microsoft Excel format (BIFF8), still common in older systems.
CSV (Comma-Separated Values): A plain-text tabular format where each line is a row and values are separated by commas.
Conversion options
- Active sheet only or all sheets
- Custom output file name
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to convert XLS to CSV here?
Yes. Your files are processed entirely on your own device by WebAssembly code running in the browser. They are never uploaded, so nobody else can see them, and the converter keeps working even if your connection drops after the page loads.
Is there a file size limit?
There is no server-side limit. The only limit is the memory available to your browser, typically 1.5–4 GB on desktop computers.
Can I convert several XLS files at once?
Yes. Add as many files as you like; they are converted in parallel according to your device's CPU cores, and you can apply the same settings to all of them.
Related conversions
Need the opposite? Convert CSV to XLS.
Convert XLS to other formats
Convert other formats to CSV
See every XLS converter and CSV converter, or browse the full converter directory.