Convert PDF to XLS
Convert PDF tables into an editable legacy XLS workbook for Excel 97-2003 and older systems, with each PDF page placed on a separate worksheet.
Drop your PDF files here
Up to 50MB per file.
Conversion Settings
Files are encrypted and auto-deleted after conversion
How to Convert
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Upload your PDF files
Drag and drop or select PDF files from your device. You can upload multiple files at once.
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Extract tables into legacy Excel
Start the conversion to detect positioned rows and columns, then create an Excel 97-2003 workbook with one worksheet per PDF page.
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Download XLS files
Once conversion finishes, download your files individually or as a compressed ZIP archive.
Why convert PDF to XLS?
XLS supports older versions of Microsoft Excel and legacy business systems that cannot accept XLSX workbooks.
The converter infers rows and columns from positioned PDF text, recognises common value types, and creates a genuine legacy Excel file. Use XLSX for modern spreadsheet software.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an XLS file?
XLS is the legacy binary workbook format used by Excel 97-2003 and older business software. Choose it when a system specifically requests .xls rather than the modern .xlsx format.
How is a multi-page PDF arranged in XLS?
Each PDF page becomes a separate worksheet named Page 1, Page 2, and so on, keeping different page layouts apart.
Does PDF to XLS create editable spreadsheet cells?
Yes. Positioned PDF text is grouped into inferred rows and columns, then written into editable workbook cells rather than inserted as page images.
Are numbers, percentages, and dates recognised?
Clearly formatted numbers, percentages, and ISO dates are stored as spreadsheet values where they can be recognised safely. Codes with leading zeroes remain text.
Which PDFs convert most cleanly to XLS?
Digital PDFs with selectable text, consistent columns, and clear rows work best. Statements, reports, invoices, and exported tables are good candidates.
Can a scanned PDF become an XLS spreadsheet?
Run OCR on an image-only scan first. Once the document contains recognised text, its rows and values can be extracted into spreadsheet cells.
Does the XLS workbook include table formatting?
Detected headers are emphasised, the first row is frozen, columns are sized to their contents, and filters are included where a suitable table header is found.
Should I choose XLS or XLSX?
Choose XLS only for older software or a legacy import requirement. For current Excel, Google Sheets, Numbers, and LibreOffice, PDF to XLSX is the recommended modern format.
Can I batch convert PDF files to XLS?
Yes. Add several PDFs and convert them together. Each input creates its own XLS workbook, and completed files can be downloaded together as a ZIP.
How can I turn an XLS workbook back into a PDF?
Use the XLS to PDF converter to create a fixed document from a legacy Excel workbook.