Convert legacy Excel XLS spreadsheets to PDF online for free. Fast, secure, browser-based conversion — no signup, no software to install.
Max file size 10MB. Sign up for more.
| File Name | Size | Convert To |
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Checking files and selected output formats.
| File Name | File Size | Download |
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PDF is the universal fixed-layout document format — it renders identically across viewers, preserves fonts and formatting, and is the accepted-by-default format for invoices, contracts, government uploads, academic submissions, and portfolio work. Convert to PDF when the receiving system explicitly wants PDF or when the layout must not shift.
Technical comparison of the two formats — useful for deciding which to use, or for confirming what changes during conversion.
| Property | XLS | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Microsoft Excel (legacy) | Portable Document Format |
| Year introduced | 1987 | 1993 |
| Developer / standard body | Microsoft | Adobe |
| MIME type | application/vnd.ms-excel | application/pdf |
| File extension | .xls | |
| Compression | Binary Interchange File Format | Built-in (FlateDecode, DCTDecode) |
| Color / data depth | N/A | Vector + raster |
| Max dimensions / size | 65,536 rows × 256 columns | 381 km × 381 km (15,000 × 15,000 inches) |
| Transparency | No | Yes |
| Animation | No | No |
| Standard / specification | Microsoft (binary) | ISO 32000 |
| Best for | Excel 97–2003 compatibility | Final-form documents, contracts, archives — looks identical everywhere |
XLS is the legacy spreadsheet format used by Microsoft Excel from version 97 through 2003. It stores data in the Binary Interchange File Format (BIFF), a proprietary binary structure that encodes cell values, formulas, formatting, charts, and macros. XLS files are limited to 65,536 rows and 256 columns per worksheet compared to the million-plus rows in modern XLSX.
Despite being superseded by XLSX, XLS files remain common in legacy enterprise systems, government agencies, and archived business data. The format supports VBA macros, embedded objects, and multiple worksheets. XLS files can be opened in modern Excel, Google Sheets, LibreOffice Calc, and most spreadsheet applications, though converting to XLSX is recommended for better performance, larger data capacity, and improved security.
Quick answers about compatibility, quality, metadata handling, and the most common reasons to convert XLS files to PDF.
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