Format at a glance
- Full name
- Office Open XML Workbook
- File extensions
- .xlsx
- MIME types
- application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet
- Category
- Spreadsheets
- Compression
- ZIP-based container
- Transparency
- Not applicable
- Animation
- Not applicable
- Properties
Suitable tools
What is this format?
XLSX is part of Office Open XML and consists of a ZIP package containing XML files and optional embedded resources. Cell values, formulas, shared strings, styles and worksheet relationships are stored in separate parts.
The file stores formulas but does not calculate them by itself. Each spreadsheet application supplies its own calculation engine, so specialized functions and external data connections may behave differently.
What is it used for?
- Budgets, calculations and financial models
- Lists, inventories and structured data entry
- Analysis using formulas, filters and pivot tables
- Data exchange that requires multiple worksheets and cell formatting
Which programs can open it?
- Microsoft Excel
- LibreOffice Calc and OnlyOffice
- Apple Numbers through import and export
- Google Sheets after importing the workbook into that service
Support across devices and browsers
Excel provides the broadest feature support; LibreOffice and other spreadsheet tools also open XLSX.
Excel, Numbers and LibreOffice can edit XLSX workbooks.
LibreOffice Calc and OnlyOffice support many XLSX features, although complex models may differ.
Excel, Google Sheets and compatible spreadsheet apps open XLSX.
Excel, Numbers and other spreadsheet apps support XLSX.
Browsers do not render XLSX natively; a spreadsheet web app or local conversion is needed.
Advantages
- Multiple worksheets, formulas and cell formatting in one file
- Broad support in spreadsheet applications
- Structured, documented and ZIP-based package
Disadvantages
- Macros require the separate XLSM format
- Specialized formulas and charts can vary between applications
- CSV or TSV is simpler for raw tabular data
Comparison with alternatives
CSV stores one plain table without formulas, multiple sheets or formatting; XLSX preserves much more workbook structure.
ODS is an open spreadsheet standard, while XLSX is especially common in Microsoft Office workflows.
XLS is the older binary Excel format; XLSX is newer, ZIP-based and generally easier to exchange.
LocalFileLab support
Worksheets and supported cell values can be read locally.
Structured spreadsheet and data files can be written as XLSX.
XLSX is already ZIP-compressed, so placing it in another archive often saves little space.
A full Excel-style preview with formula calculation is not currently available.
Workbook metadata and specialized Excel features are not preserved completely.
Related formats
Frequently asked questions
Can XLSX contain macros?
The regular XLSX format does not store VBA macros. Macro-enabled Excel workbooks normally use the XLSM extension.
Do formulas survive conversion?
That depends on the target and conversion path. Plain data formats such as CSV cannot retain the complete Excel formula model.
When should I use CSV instead of XLSX?
CSV is appropriate for one simple table without layout or formulas. Use XLSX when multiple sheets and workbook features need to remain.