What is an ODS file?
ODS stands for OpenDocument spreadsheet. It was created by OASIS and first released in 2005. ODS is the open standard spreadsheet format and the default in LibreOffice Calc. Several governments require it for published documents.
| Type | spreadsheet |
|---|---|
| Compression | Lossless |
| In a browser | opens in LibreOffice Calc, Google Sheets and Excel |
| Common uses | LibreOffice and OpenOffice users and public-sector documents |
| MIME type | application/vnd.oasis.opendocument.spreadsheet |
Which format should you convert ODS to?
- ODS to XLSX to open in Excel with every sheet and formula.
- ODS to CSV to import into a database, CRM or email tool.
- ODS to XLS for older software that only reads Excel 97 to 2003 files.
How to open an ODS file
Whether an ODS file opens with a double click depends on the device. Here is what works on each, without buying software:
| Windows | Excel opens it on Windows; Google Sheets and LibreOffice Calc are free alternatives. |
|---|---|
| Mac | Numbers opens it, as do Excel for Mac and LibreOffice Calc. |
| iPhone and iPad | Numbers, Google Sheets and the Excel app open it from the Files app. |
| Android | Google Sheets and the Excel app open it from Files by Google. |
| Web browser | ODS opens in LibreOffice Calc, Google Sheets and Excel. |
Want the technical details? See what a .ods file is, with its MIME type, file signature and a viewer.
ODS compared with other spreadsheet formats
How ODS stacks up against the formats people most often convert it to or from:
| Format | Compression | Usually contains | Released | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ODS | Lossless | several sheets with values, formulas and formatting | 2005 | LibreOffice and OpenOffice users and public-sector documents |
| XLSX | Lossless | several sheets with values, formulas, formatting and charts | 2007 | business spreadsheets, reports and anything shared with Excel users |
| CSV | Lossless | one table of plain text values, one row per line | 1972 | data exports, imports into databases and exchanging tables between programs |
| XLS | Lossless | several sheets with values, formulas and formatting in a binary file | 1997 | older Excel files and systems that still export the legacy format |
How to use the ODS converter
- Choose the format you want in the Convert to menu.
- Drop your ODS files on the box, or press Choose ODS files. Several files can go in at once.
- Adjust the settings if you need to; the defaults suit most people.
- Press Convert and save each file with its Download button. Converting to HTML, JPG, PDF, PNG uses our server, which deletes the file right after; the rest never leave your device.
Tips for converting ODS files without losing anything
Converting an ODS file keeps every value exactly; what can change is structure, such as extra sheets, formulas and styling, depending on the target.
- Keep workbooks as XLSX or ODS while you work on them, and export CSV only for importing into other systems.
- CSV keeps one sheet and no formulas; converting back will not restore what was dropped.
- Save CSV files as UTF-8 so names with accents and other alphabets survive the trip between programs.
- Before converting a large workbook, remove unused sheets and ranges to keep the result small.
- Name the header row clearly before exporting CSV; most import tools map columns by these names.
- If numbers with leading zeros, such as postcodes or phone numbers, must survive, format those columns as text before converting.
- When a system rejects your file, check whether it expects a comma or a semicolon as the separator; many European systems use semicolons.
Convert ODS files from the command line
LibreOffice converts spreadsheets from the command line without opening a window:
soffice --headless --convert-to csv input.odsThe converter on this page does the same job in your browser, without installing anything.
ODS converter FAQ
What is an ODS file?
ODS stands for OpenDocument spreadsheet, a spreadsheet format created by OASIS in 2005. ODS is the open standard spreadsheet format and the default in LibreOffice Calc. Several governments require it for published documents.
How do I open an ODS file?
ODS opens in LibreOffice Calc, Google Sheets and Excel. If the program you need will not open it, convert it to a more widely supported format above.
What is the most common ODS conversion?
ODS to CSV is the conversion people search for most. CSV holds a single table of plain text, so the first sheet of the ODS is saved. Formulas become their last calculated values, and other sheets, formatting and charts are left out.
Does converting ODS files here upload them?
Only for some conversions. Converting to HTML, JPG, PDF, PNG uses our conversion server, where the file is deleted as soon as the result is sent back; the other conversions run inside your browser and never leave your device.
Is the ODS converter free?
Yes. There is no sign-up and no watermark. Conversions that use our server accept files up to 25 MB, with a fair-use limit per hour. The site is supported by advertising.
Can I convert ODS files on iPhone or Android?
Yes. Open this page in Safari on iPhone and iPad, or in Chrome on Android, choose your ODS files and download the results to your Downloads folder.
Can I convert several ODS files at once?
Yes. Drop as many as you like; they are converted one after another, each with its own download button.