Convert Excel to ODS — Free Online Converter
Convert Microsoft Excel (.excel) to OpenDocument Spreadsheet (.ods) online for free. Fast, secure document conversion with no watermarks or registration.
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How to Convert
Upload your .xlsx file by dragging it into the upload area or clicking to browse.
Choose your output settings. The default settings work great for most files.
Click Convert and download your .ods file when it's ready.
About XLSX to ODS Conversion
"Excel" refers generically to Microsoft Excel spreadsheets in either .xls or .xlsx format — the dominant spreadsheet files in business computing. ODS (OpenDocument Spreadsheet) is the ISO-standardized open spreadsheet format (ISO/IEC 26300) used natively by LibreOffice Calc, Apache OpenOffice, and supported by Google Sheets. Converting Excel to ODS moves spreadsheet data from Microsoft's proprietary ecosystem to an open standard that guarantees long-term accessibility without vendor lock-in.
Both ODS and XLSX store data as ZIP-compressed XML, but they use different schemas, formula syntax, and feature encodings. The conversion maps Excel elements to their ODS equivalents, preserving cell values, formulas, formatting, and sheet structure while producing a file optimized for open-source spreadsheet applications and government open-standard mandates.
Why Convert XLSX to ODS?
Government agencies in the EU, Brazil, India, South Africa, and many other countries mandate ODS for official document exchange to avoid vendor lock-in to Microsoft. When Excel spreadsheets must be submitted to these organizations, converting to ODS is a compliance requirement, not an optional preference.
LibreOffice and OpenOffice users also get the best editing experience with ODS files — the native format. While these applications can open Excel files, some features render more accurately in ODS. Converting Excel to ODS eliminates the compatibility layer and provides the most reliable editing experience for non-Microsoft users.
Common Use Cases
- Submit Excel spreadsheets to government agencies requiring open document format compliance
- Share Excel files with LibreOffice and OpenOffice users for optimal editing compatibility
- Comply with EU and national open-standards mandates for public sector document exchange
- Migrate corporate Excel archives to vendor-neutral open format for long-term accessibility
- Prepare Excel templates for distribution in organizations standardized on LibreOffice
How It Works
LibreOffice opens the Excel file in headless mode (auto-detecting XLS or XLSX) and re-serializes the workbook as an ODS package conforming to ODF 1.2. Cell values, formulas (mapped from Excel function names to ODF equivalents), number formats, cell styles, sheet names, and basic charts are preserved in the ODS output. Data validation rules, conditional formatting, and protection settings are converted to their ODF counterparts.
Quality & Performance
Cell data and standard formulas convert accurately. Number formatting, cell borders, background colors, and font styles are preserved. Excel-specific features like pivot tables, data validation with complex criteria, and icon-set conditional formatting may have reduced fidelity in ODS. Charts generally transfer but may require minor visual adjustments. VBA macros do not convert — LibreOffice uses its own macro language.
Device Compatibility
| Device | XLSX | ODS |
|---|---|---|
| Windows PC | Partial | Partial |
| macOS | Partial | Partial |
| iPhone/iPad | Partial | Partial |
| Android | Partial | Partial |
| Linux | Partial | Partial |
| Web Browser | No |
Tips for Best Results
- 1Test complex formulas after conversion — some Excel-specific functions may need ODS equivalents
- 2Review chart formatting in LibreOffice after conversion for visual accuracy
- 3Remove VBA macros before converting if they are not needed — they will not transfer
- 4Verify data validation rules after conversion, especially dropdown lists with named ranges
- 5Use this conversion when submitting documents to organizations with open format mandates
Related Conversions
Excel-to-ODS conversion moves any Excel spreadsheet into the open, ISO-standardized format, ensuring compliance with open-document mandates and optimal compatibility with open-source spreadsheet applications.