Convert XLS to XML Online Free
Convert legacy Excel XLS files to structured XML. Each spreadsheet row becomes an XML element with column headers as child tag names — ideal for generating enterprise data feeds, import files, and XML configs from older Excel spreadsheets.
By ChangeThisFile Team · Last updated: March 2026
ChangeThisFile converts your XLS spreadsheet to XML on our server using SheetJS and fast-xml-parser. Each row becomes an XML element with column headers as child tags. Free, no signup, file deleted immediately after conversion.
Convert XLS to XML
Drop your XLS file here to convert it instantly
Drag & drop your .xls file here, or click to browse
Convert to XML instantly
XLS vs XML: Format Comparison
Key differences between the two formats
| Feature | XLS | XML |
|---|---|---|
| Format type | Legacy binary spreadsheet | Plain text markup language |
| Readability | Requires Excel or compatible app | Human-readable in any text editor |
| Enterprise use | Finance and operations data | SOAP, EDI, enterprise integrations |
| Schema validation | None | XSD and DTD supported |
| Version control | Binary, hard to diff | Plain text, line-level diffs |
| Web compatibility | Limited | Native in all enterprise systems |
| File size | Compact binary | Verbose — larger than JSON equivalent |
When to Convert
Common scenarios where this conversion is useful
Legacy system data migration
Convert old XLS data exports from legacy enterprise systems to XML for importing into modern ERP, CRM, or database systems that require XML input.
EDI and B2B data exchange
Transform XLS inventory or order data to XML for Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) workflows and B2B data exchange with trading partners.
SOAP service payload preparation
Convert XLS data tables to XML structures for constructing SOAP request payloads for enterprise web services that predate REST/JSON APIs.
CMS and platform imports
Generate XML import files for content management systems, e-commerce platforms, or databases from XLS data sources, bridging legacy spreadsheets to modern platforms.
How to Convert XLS to XML
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1
Upload your XLS file
Drag and drop your .xls file or click to browse. The first sheet in the workbook is converted.
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2
Server converts to XML
Your file is uploaded securely. SheetJS reads the binary XLS format and fast-xml-parser writes the data as structured XML. The file is deleted immediately after.
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3
Download the XML result
Click Download to get your .xml file. The output wraps all rows in a root element with each row as a child element.
Frequently Asked Questions
Each spreadsheet row becomes an XML element containing child elements named after each column header. All row elements are wrapped in a single root element.
Yes. The output is well-formed XML, fully compatible with XPath, XSLT, and any standard XML parser (DOM, SAX, StAX).
Formulas are resolved to their last computed values. The XML output contains the calculated results, not the formula expressions.
The first (leftmost) sheet is used. Rearrange the sheets in Excel before uploading if you need a different sheet.
Empty cells are omitted. Only cells with values generate child elements in each row's XML element.
The converter produces well-formed XML but does not generate a schema. You can create an XSD based on your column names and validate the output with xmllint or other tools.
Special XML characters (< > & ' ") in cell values are automatically escaped to their XML entities (< > & ' ") to ensure well-formed output.
Yes. Your XLS file is uploaded over encrypted HTTPS, converted, and deleted from our servers immediately after download.
Yes. The XLSX to XML converter handles the newer Excel format. Both produce identical XML structure.
The upload limit is 50 MB. Most XLS files from typical business use are well within this limit.
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