What happens when you convert DOCX to XLSX
- Each table in the DOCX becomes its own sheet, named Table 1, Table 2 and so on. Numbers are stored as numbers.
- Text outside tables, such as headings and paragraphs, is left out, because a spreadsheet only holds the tables. A DOCX with no tables gives a clear message rather than an empty file.
- The Word document is read by mammoth.js and the tables by SheetJS, both running in your browser; nothing is uploaded.
How to convert DOCX to XLSX online
- Press "Choose DOCX files" and select one or more files, or drag them onto the box. You can add files of any size your device can hold in memory.
- There are no settings to choose: the converter keeps everything the target format can hold.
- Press "Convert to XLSX". The spreadsheet library, about 900 KB, and the Word reader load the first time, and then documents convert in a moment.
- Save each XLSX with its download button. Close the tab and every trace of the files is gone from memory.
Why convert DOCX to XLSX?
DOCX files usually come from letters, reports, CVs and most documents shared at work. People convert them to XLSX because XLSX is what Excel, Google Sheets and most business tools expect, and it keeps every sheet and formula.
In short, DOCX is good at what it was made for, and XLSX is the more practical choice when the file has to open, upload or print somewhere else. DOCX opens in Word, Google Docs, Pages and LibreOffice Writer, while XLSX opens in Excel, Google Sheets, Numbers and LibreOffice Calc.
How to convert DOCX to XLSX on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android
On Windows
Open this page in Chrome, Edge or Firefox, drag your DOCX files in from File Explorer, and press Convert. Each XLSX is saved to your Downloads folder.
On a Mac
Safari, Chrome and Firefox all work. Drag the DOCX files from Finder onto the drop zone and the XLSX files land in Downloads.
On iPhone and iPad
Open the page in Safari and tap Choose DOCX files. You can pick from Photos or from the Files app. The converted XLSX appears in Files, in the Downloads folder.
On Android
Open the page in Chrome, tap Choose DOCX files and pick them from Files or your gallery. The XLSX is saved to the Download folder, where any file manager can find it.
Best settings for DOCX to XLSX
There are no settings: every table is read with its rows and columns as they are, and numbers are stored as numbers.
Each table has its own sheet, in the order the tables appear in the DOCX. Rename the sheets in your spreadsheet program if Table 1, Table 2 are not clear enough.
DOCX vs XLSX: the differences
| DOCX | XLSX | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Word document | Excel workbook |
| Type | document | spreadsheet |
| Created by | Microsoft | Microsoft |
| First released | 2007 | 2007 |
| Compression | Lossless | Lossless |
| What it holds | formatted text, images, tables and styles in a ZIP of XML files | several sheets with values, formulas, formatting and charts |
| In a browser | opens in Word, Google Docs, Pages and LibreOffice Writer | opens in Excel, Google Sheets, Numbers and LibreOffice Calc |
| Common uses | letters, reports, CVs and most documents shared at work | business spreadsheets, reports and anything shared with Excel users |
| MIME type | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet |
About DOCX and XLSX files
What is a DOCX file?
DOCX has been Word's default format since 2007. Like XLSX it is a ZIP archive of XML files, which is how its text can be read without Word.
What is an XLSX file?
XLSX has been the default Excel format since Office 2007. Inside it is a ZIP archive of XML files, one per sheet, plus styles and shared text.
DOCX to XLSX not working? Common problems
- "No tables were found in this file." The DOCX has no tables, only text; there is nothing to put into cells.
- Some numbers are text. Numbers written with spaces or currency signs stay text; format the column as a number in your spreadsheet program.
- The document is password protected. Encrypted Word documents cannot be read; remove the password in Word first.
Convert DOCX to XLSX from the command line
Pandoc turns the document into HTML, and pandas reads its tables; this writes the first one (it needs lxml, and openpyxl for XLSX):
pandoc input.docx -o tables.html
python3 -c "import pandas as pd; pd.read_html('tables.html')[0].to_excel('output.xlsx', index=False)"The converter on this page does the same job in your browser, without installing anything.
DOCX to XLSX converter FAQ
Will I lose quality converting DOCX to XLSX?
The values in the tables are kept exactly. Text outside the tables is not, and neither is their styling, because a spreadsheet holds values.
Why is the XLSX a different size from the DOCX?
Usually smaller than the DOCX, because only the tables are kept.
Are my DOCX files uploaded anywhere?
No. The conversion runs inside this browser tab using the open-source mammoth.js and SheetJS libraries, so your files stay on your device. You can disconnect from the internet after the page and converter engine have loaded and it still works.
Can I convert several DOCX files to XLSX at once?
Yes. Select or drop as many files as you like; they are converted one after another and each gets its own download button.
How do I open an XLSX file?
XLSX opens in Excel, Google Sheets, Numbers and LibreOffice Calc. XLSX is common for business spreadsheets, reports and anything shared with Excel users.
Is this DOCX to XLSX converter free?
Yes. There is no sign-up, no watermark and no limit on how many files you convert. The site is paid for by advertising, and because conversions run on your device there is no server cost per file.
Can I convert DOCX to XLSX on my phone?
Yes. The converter works in Safari on iPhone and iPad and in Chrome on Android. Converted files are saved to the Downloads folder.