About XLS to PDF
A spreadsheet on screen and a spreadsheet on paper are different documents: columns that scroll horizontally, rows that continue onto a second page and print areas that were never configured all change what a recipient sees. Sending a workbook as a fixed PDF avoids that ambiguity for invoices, budgets, reports and timesheets. This tool accepts both the older .xls format and the current .xlsx format and converts the whole workbook in one pass.
The workbook is parsed in your browser with a WebAssembly office parser and each worksheet is laid out as PDF pages locally. Nothing is uploaded. Excel's print engine is not replicated, so print areas, scaling and page breaks may differ, wide sheets can split across pages, charts and images are kept where possible, and legacy .xls files get basic text and structure extraction. Files up to 25 MB are supported, and closing the tab clears the workbook and the PDF.
What this tool does
XLS and XLSX input
Both the legacy .xls format and the modern .xlsx workbook format are accepted, including files exported by Excel and Google Sheets.
Every worksheet included
The workbook is parsed as a whole, so its worksheets are laid out as PDF pages rather than only the active tab.
Displayed values rendered
Cells and the values stored in the workbook are drawn on the pages, so totals and percentage columns appear as results rather than raw formulas.
Charts and images kept
Charts, inserted pictures and shapes are rendered where the parser exposes the object; unsupported objects may change appearance or be omitted.
Page layout per sheet
Each worksheet is laid out on its own pages, using the page size and orientation recorded in the workbook where available.
Private browser conversion
The workbook is read in the tab and never uploaded; the working data is discarded when you close or refresh the page.
How to use XLS to PDF
- 01
Add the Excel workbook
Drop a .xls or .xlsx file into the workspace or click to browse. The file stays on your device and can be up to 25 MB.
- 02
Convert the workbook
Click Convert to PDF. The workbook is parsed in this browser tab and its worksheets are laid out as PDF pages.
- 03
Wait for page rendering
The progress indicator reports parsing and rendering. Large or chart-heavy workbooks may take a while on slower devices.
- 04
Check the pages
Review the page count and the inline preview to see whether wide sheets split cleanly or need a narrower column layout.
- 05
Download the PDF
Save the PDF and open it once to confirm that columns, totals and charts fit the pages. The workbook and PDF stay in the tab until you close it.
Supported formats and limits
- Input
- XLSXLSX
- Output
- Processing
- Client-side, in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.
- Maximum size
- Up to 25 MB
- Requirements
- Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari · No upload — the document stays in your browser
Limitations worth knowing
- Layout is approximate compared with the original workbook: column widths, print areas, scaling and page breaks may differ from Excel.
- The output is rendered pages, so text may not be selectable or searchable.
- Legacy .xls support is basic text and structure extraction rather than pixel-perfect Excel rendering.
- Very wide or image-heavy workbooks can be slow, and the file limit is 25 MB.
Privacy and file handling
Your workbook is opened, parsed and rendered entirely inside your browser tab. The file is never uploaded to FormatFlow or anyone else, no copy is stored and nothing leaves your device, and closing or refreshing the tab clears the workbook and the rendered PDF.
Read the full privacy policy