XLSX to CSV Converter
Convert Excel to CSV without uploading your file. Leading zeros, dates and number formats stay the way Excel displays them.
- Files never uploaded
- All sheets in one go
- Keeps leading zeros and dates
CSV options
Your files are converted on your own device. Nothing is uploaded, stored or seen by us.
- 213402134leading zeros kept
- 4536603/15/2024dates as dates
- 1250$1,250.00formats kept
Left: what converters that ignore Excel's formats write. Right: what you get here. Test it yourself
How it works
How to convert XLSX to CSV in 3 steps
Add your Excel file
Drag an .xlsx file onto the box, or click Choose files. You can add several workbooks at once.
Pick a sheet and check it
Click a sheet tab to see a live preview. Change the separator, encoding or date style if you need to.
Download your CSV
Save one sheet as a CSV, or every sheet at once as a zip. Files land in your Downloads folder.
Every value, side by side
What you see in Excel is what you get in the CSV
An Excel file stores raw values and a separate format that says how to show them. Converters that ignore the format give you the raw value: dates turn into numbers and leading zeros disappear. This converter applies Excel's formats, so the CSV matches the screen.
| In Excel you see | A converter that ignores formats writes | xlsxtocsv.com writes |
|---|---|---|
| Zip code 02134 | 2134 | 02134 |
| Employee ID 000042 | 42 | 000042 |
| Date 03/15/2024 | 45366 | 03/15/2024 |
| Time 2:30 PM | 0.604166666666667 | 2:30 PM |
| Phone (555) 123-4567 | 5551234567 | (555) 123-4567 |
| Price $1,250.00 | 1250 | $1,250.00 |
| Rate 12.5% | 0.125 | 12.5% |
When you add a file, a conversion report under the preview lists what will happen to it: how many dates, leading zeros and currency amounts are kept, which cells get quoted, which sheets are hidden, and any numbers Excel itself has already cut to 15 digits.
Need raw numbers for a database instead? Switch Numbers to Raw values and Dates to ISO in the options. Download our test workbook and try it on any converter.
Converting something sensitive? See the pages for payroll files, customer lists and financial data.
Why this converter
Built to get the CSV right
Most online converters upload your file and hand back whatever their library spits out: dates as 46085, ZIP codes without their zeros, prices as 1249.5. This one reads the number formats inside your workbook and writes what you actually see in Excel.
Private by design
The file never leaves your computer. There's no upload, no server copy and nothing to delete afterward.
Every sheet at once
Excel's Save As CSV saves only the active sheet. Here you get all of them in one zip, each named after its sheet.
Leading zeros kept
ZIP codes, phone numbers and IDs like 00123 come through exactly as they look in Excel.
Dates as you see them
Dates and times are written the way Excel displays them, or as ISO 2026-03-04 if you're importing into a database.
You choose the format
Comma, semicolon, tab or pipe. Formatted or raw numbers. Windows or Unix line endings. Your choices are remembered.
Works offline
Once loaded, the converter works without an internet connection. Install it as an app if you use it often.
6 more features
Any language
Accents, emoji, Chinese, Arabic and Cyrillic are kept. Add a BOM so that Excel opens the CSV without garbling them.
Fast on big files
Conversion runs in a background thread, so the page stays responsive. In our tests a 60,000-row sheet converts in a few seconds.
More than XLSX
XLSX, XLSM, old XLS, XLSB, OpenDocument ODS, Excel 2003 XML and web-page tables saved as .xls. Drop them all in at once.
Password-protected files
Know the password? Type it in and the file is unlocked on your computer. Files Excel encrypted without asking you for a password open automatically, and sheet protection doesn't block conversion.
Damaged files
Some cut-off or partly broken files can still be read. You're told when a file was repaired, and told plainly when it can't be read at all.
No account, no limits
No email, no sign-up, no daily cap and no watermark. Just open the page and convert.
What a CSV keeps, and what it doesn't
A CSV is plain text: one line per row, values separated by commas. That makes it readable by almost any program, but it can only hold values.
| Kept in the CSV | Not possible in a CSV |
|---|---|
| Every cell value, row and column | Formulas (you get their last saved result) |
| Numbers and dates as Excel displays them, or raw if you choose | Colors, fonts, borders and conditional formatting |
| Text in any language | Charts, images and comments |
| Commas, quotes and line breaks inside cells (quoted) | Several sheets in one file (you get one CSV per sheet) |
| Merged cells as their value, optionally repeated | Merging, data validation and hidden-column settings |
The conversion report under the preview tells you what happened to your own file before you download it.
How private is this?
| Where your file is processed | In your browser, on your device |
| File uploaded | Never. The page sends no request at all while it converts |
| Copy kept on a server | None |
| Account | Not needed |
| Third-party scripts, ads or trackers | None. Every file the page loads comes from xlsxtocsv.com |
| Offline | Works once the page has loaded, including after a refresh |
| Where the CSV goes | Straight to your Downloads folder |
Want to check? Disconnect from the internet and convert a file, or watch the Network tab in your browser's developer tools (F12). Details in the privacy policy.
Settings for where the CSV is going
Why convert Excel to CSV?
Almost every app that imports data takes CSV. Here are the most common destinations, and which settings above to pick for each.
Mailchimp, HubSpot and other email tools
Contact lists import as CSV. Keep the header row, use comma separators and UTF-8 so names with accents come through.
Salesforce, Pipedrive and other CRMs
Data Loader and import wizards map columns from a CSV header row. One sheet per file keeps the mapping clean.
Shopify, WooCommerce and Google Merchant
Product and inventory imports use CSV. Leading zeros in SKUs and barcodes stay intact here.
MySQL, PostgreSQL and SQL Server
LOAD DATA, COPY and BULK INSERT all read CSV. Pick ISO dates and raw numbers so the database parses them without fuss.
Python pandas and R
pandas.read_csv() and read.csv() need no Excel libraries. Raw numbers give you clean floats instead of "$1,249.50".
BigQuery, Snowflake and Redshift
Cloud data warehouses load CSV directly. Use Unix line endings and UTF-8 without a BOM for the smoothest load.
QuickBooks, Xero and bank uploads
Accounting imports usually expect CSV with a fixed column order. Check the date style matches what the import asks for.
Git and long-term archives
CSV is plain text, so Git shows real line-by-line changes, and it will still open decades from now.
Compared with Excel, Google Sheets and upload sites
Other ways to turn XLSX into CSV
You don't need a converter if Excel is open and you only need one sheet. Here's how the usual options compare, including the paid desktop converters that charge for features this page gives you free.
| Feature | This converter | Excel "Save As" | Google Sheets | Upload sites | Paid desktop software |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Needs Excel | Free | Free, paid for big files | About $50–$60 |
| Size limit | Your computer's memory | None | 10 million cells | Often 1–50 MB | None |
| All sheets at once | Yes | One at a time | One at a time | Some | Yes |
| File stays on your computer | Yes | Yes | Uploaded to Google | Uploaded | Yes |
| Needs Excel installed | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Choose separator and BOM | Yes | Partly | No | Rarely | Yes |
| Dates and zeros as shown | Yes | Yes | Yes | Often not | Varies |
| Opens .xls, .xlsb and .ods | Yes | Yes | Not .xlsb | Some | Yes |
| Works offline | Yes, once loaded | Yes | Limited | No | Yes |
| Account needed | No | Excel licence | Google account | Often for big files | Licence key |
| Several workbooks at once | Yes | No | No | Some | Yes |
| Password-protected files | Yes, on your device | Yes | No | Rarely | Some |
Prefer to do it yourself? See how to convert XLSX to CSV in Excel, in Google Sheets or on a Mac.
FAQ
Questions about converting XLSX to CSV
I typed “xlxs” or “xslx”. Is that the same as XLSX?
Yes. “xlxs” and “xslx” are common typos for .xlsx, the Excel workbook format. If your file really ends in .xlxs or .xslx, it was probably renamed by mistake: drop it on the converter anyway, and it will be recognized by its contents and converted to CSV.
How do I convert XLSX to CSV?
Drop your .xlsx file onto the converter at the top of this page (or click Choose files). Pick the sheet you want, check the preview, and click Download CSV. If the workbook has several sheets, click Download all sheets to get every sheet as its own CSV in one zip file.
Is this XLSX to CSV converter free?
Yes. There's no sign-up, no watermark, no daily limit and no file size cap. Because the conversion runs on your computer, it costs us nothing extra when you convert a big file, so there's no reason to charge for it.
Are my files uploaded anywhere?
No. The converter is JavaScript that runs inside your browser tab. Your file is read from your disk into the tab's memory, converted there, and saved back to your Downloads folder. It is never uploaded, which makes it a good fit for customer lists, payroll exports and other files you would rather not send to a conversion service. You can even disconnect from the internet after the page loads, and it still works.
Can I convert all sheets in a workbook at once?
Yes. When a workbook has more than one sheet, click Download all sheets (.zip). Each sheet becomes its own CSV file named after the sheet. Hidden sheets are left out unless you check Include hidden sheets. Excel itself can only save the sheet you're looking at.
Why does my CSV show strange characters like é when I open it in Excel?
The CSV is fine, but Excel guessed the wrong encoding when it opened it. Choose UTF-8 with BOM in the options and convert again. The BOM is a tiny invisible marker that tells Excel the file is UTF-8, so accents, emoji and non-Latin text show correctly.
More questions (9)
Will leading zeros be kept, like ZIP codes 00501?
Yes. If Excel shows 00501, the CSV contains 00501. The catch is that Excel strips leading zeros again when you double-click a CSV to open it. Our guide on fixing broken characters and lost zeros shows how to open the CSV without losing them.
Should I use a comma or a semicolon?
Use a comma unless the program you're importing into expects something else. Excel in many European countries uses a semicolon, because the comma is their decimal mark. If your CSV opens in Excel as one long column, convert again with Semicolon.
Does it convert formulas?
A CSV can't hold formulas, so the converter writes each formula's last calculated result, just like Excel does when you save as CSV. If a result looks out of date, open the file in Excel, let it recalculate, save it, and convert again.
Can it open .xls, .xlsb or .ods files?
Yes. Besides .xlsx and .xlsm it opens old Excel 97–2003 .xls files, .xlsb binary workbooks, OpenDocument .ods files from LibreOffice, Excel 2003 XML files, and the web-page tables some systems save with an .xls name. You don't need to convert them to .xlsx first.
Can it convert a password-protected Excel file?
Yes, if you know the password. The converter asks for it and unlocks the file on your own computer, so the password and the file never leave your device. Files that Excel protects with its built-in default password open without asking. It can't guess or remove a password you don't have.
What happens to merged cells?
By default, a merged cell's value goes in its top-left cell and the rest stay empty, which is what Excel does when it saves a CSV. Check Fill merged cells to repeat the value in every cell the merge covers, which is handy for grouped reports.
Which encoding should I choose?
UTF-8 suits almost everything: databases, email platforms, Google Sheets and code. Choose UTF-8 with BOM if the CSV will be opened in Excel by double-clicking. Pick Windows-1252 or ISO-8859-1 only if an old program asks for it, because they can't store characters such as emoji or Chinese text. UTF-16 matches Excel's “Unicode Text” format.
How big a file can it handle?
There's no set limit. It depends on your computer's memory. A typical laptop handles workbooks with hundreds of thousands of rows. In our tests a 60,000-row sheet opens in about two seconds and saves as CSV in about one.
Does it work offline?
Yes. After your first visit the converter is saved in your browser, so it opens and works without an internet connection. You can also install it as an app from your browser's menu.
More free tools
Guides
- Dates turned into numbers
- CSV opens in one column
- Excel to CSV without Excel
- What is an XLSX file?
- What is a CSV file?
- How to convert XLSX to CSV in Excel
- How to convert XLSX to CSV in Google Sheets
- How to convert XLSX to CSV on a Mac
- How to convert every sheet in an Excel file to CSV
- Fix garbled characters, lost leading zeros and other CSV problems
- XLSX vs CSV: what's the difference?
- How to convert XLSX to CSV in Python
- How to convert XLSX to CSV from the command line
- How to convert CSV to Excel properly