Documents conversion
Convert XLS to PDF
XLS is an older spreadsheet file format, and PDF is a fixed, read-only document that looks the same on any device. To convert XLS to PDF, open the file in a converter and export it as PDF. Doing it on your own computer keeps the spreadsheet's numbers, and any author or company details stored inside it, off other people's servers.
All 2,748 conversions verified on macOS, Windows, and Linux against the shipping release, this one included. Every conversion runs entirely on your own computer.
- Extension
- .xls
- Type
- Documents
- Typically
- Old Excel files
- Metadata
- Carries EXIF
- Extension
- Type
- Documents
- Typically
- The universal document format
- Metadata
- Carries EXIF
Convert XLS to PDF on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
One-time purchase, no subscription. 14 days to change your mind.
How to convert XLS to PDF
- Open Morphjet and drag in the XLS file you want to convert. Add one file or a whole folder at once.
- Choose PDF as the output format.
- Convert. The PDF is written next to your original, and nothing leaves your machine.
XLS vs PDF: what actually changes
| XLS | ||
|---|---|---|
| Editable | Yes, cells and formulas | No, fixed and read-only |
| Formulas | Live, recalculates when data changes | No, saved as flat text and numbers |
| Opens everywhere | No, needs a spreadsheet app that can open the format | Yes, opens on almost any device |
| Layout | Reflows to fit the window and column widths | Fixed, looks the same everywhere it's opened |
| Multiple sheets | Tabs within one file | Usually one sheet per page, in page order |
| Keeps author and company info | Yes | Yes, unless you strip it |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert XLS to PDF when you're sending a spreadsheet to someone who shouldn't edit it, printing a report, or archiving a snapshot of the numbers as they stood on a given day.
Keep the XLS if you or the recipient still need to change the data or use the formulas, because a PDF freezes the values and can't be recalculated.
Why not just use an online converter?
Old spreadsheet files often carry more than the visible cells, including the author's name, company, and edit history saved in the file's metadata. An online converter receives all of that along with your numbers when you upload the file. Converting on your own computer means the spreadsheet, and everything saved inside it, never leaves your machine.
Questions
Does converting XLS to PDF keep the formulas?
No. Formulas are calculated one last time and saved as plain text and numbers. The PDF shows the results, but it can't recalculate if the underlying data changes.
What happens if my spreadsheet has multiple sheets or tabs?
Each sheet typically becomes its own page or set of pages in the PDF, in the order the tabs appear in the file.
Will wide spreadsheets get cut off in the PDF?
They can, if the sheet is wider than the page and no print area was set in the original file. Checking the print layout before converting avoids columns running off the page.
Does the PDF keep the author and company metadata from the XLS?
Usually yes, that information carries over unless it's deliberately removed. Worth knowing if you're sending the file outside your company.
Can I convert XLS to PDF without uploading it anywhere?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet converts the file on your own computer, so the spreadsheet never travels over the internet.
Morphjet runs this conversion and 2,747 others, all on your machine. Available now.
One-time purchase, no subscription. 14 days to change your mind.