What happens when you convert ODS to HTML
- The ODS is opened by LibreOffice, the open-source office suite, on our conversion server and saved as a single HTML page.
- Every sheet appears in the page as its own table, one after another, with a list of the sheets at the top. Cells show their values as displayed, with their number formats, and formulas become their results.
- Charts and pictures placed on the sheets are left out, so the HTML holds the data only. Cell colours, bold text and borders are kept where HTML can show them.
- This conversion runs on our server: the file is uploaded, converted, and deleted together with the result as soon as the result has been sent back to you. Nothing is kept. Files up to 25 MB are accepted.
How to convert ODS to HTML online
- Press "Choose ODS files" and select one or more files, or drag them onto the box. Files up to 25 MB each can be converted.
- There are no settings to choose: the converter keeps everything the target format can hold.
- Press "Convert to HTML". The file is uploaded to our conversion server, converted in a few seconds, and deleted together with the result as soon as the result is sent back.
- Save each HTML with its download button. Our server has already deleted both your ODS and the HTML by then.
Why convert ODS to HTML?
ODS files usually come from LibreOffice and OpenOffice users and public-sector documents. People convert them to HTML because HTML opens in any browser and keeps headings, lists, tables and links.
In short, ODS is good at what it was made for, and HTML is the more practical choice when the file has to open, upload or print somewhere else. ODS opens in LibreOffice Calc, Google Sheets and Excel, while HTML opens in every web browser.
How to convert ODS to HTML on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android
On Windows
Open this page in Chrome, Edge or Firefox, drag your ODS files in from File Explorer, and press Convert. Each HTML is saved to your Downloads folder.
On a Mac
Safari, Chrome and Firefox all work. Drag the ODS files from Finder onto the drop zone and the HTML files land in Downloads.
On iPhone and iPad
Open the page in Safari and tap Choose ODS files. You can pick from Photos or from the Files app. The converted HTML appears in Files, in the Downloads folder.
On Android
Open the page in Chrome, tap Choose ODS files and pick them from Files or your gallery. The HTML is saved to the Download folder, where any file manager can find it.
Best settings for ODS to HTML
There are no settings: every sheet is included, in order, each under its own heading.
For one table only, delete the other sheets before converting, or convert to CSV, which keeps just the first sheet.
ODS vs HTML: the differences
| ODS | HTML | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | OpenDocument spreadsheet | HyperText Markup Language |
| Type | spreadsheet | document |
| Created by | OASIS | Tim Berners-Lee |
| First released | 2005 | 1993 |
| Compression | Lossless | Lossless |
| What it holds | several sheets with values, formulas and formatting | text with tags for headings, lists, links, tables and images |
| In a browser | opens in LibreOffice Calc, Google Sheets and Excel | opens in every web browser |
| Common uses | LibreOffice and OpenOffice users and public-sector documents | web pages, emails and documents meant to be read in a browser |
| MIME type | application/vnd.oasis.opendocument.spreadsheet | text/html |
About ODS and HTML files
What is an ODS file?
ODS is the open standard spreadsheet format and the default in LibreOffice Calc. Several governments require it for published documents.
What is an HTML file?
HTML is the language of web pages. A converted document saved as HTML keeps its headings, lists, tables and links and opens in any browser.
ODS to HTML not working? Common problems
- "Files up to 25 MB can be converted." Server conversions have a size limit. Compress the images inside the file, or split it, and try again.
- "The conversion took too long and was stopped." Very long or complex files can pass the 90 second limit. Split the file and convert the parts.
- The file will not convert. It may be password protected, damaged, or saved in a newer or unusual version of the format.
Convert ODS to HTML from the command line
LibreOffice does the same on your own computer, without opening a window:
soffice --headless --convert-to html input.odsConverting on your own computer keeps the file entirely local, which is worth it for very large or very sensitive documents. For everything else, the converter on this page does it without installing anything.
ODS to HTML converter FAQ
Will I lose quality converting ODS to HTML?
Every cell value is kept as displayed; formulas become their results, and charts and pictures are dropped.
Why is the HTML a different size from the ODS?
HTML stores every cell as text with tags around it, so it is often larger than the ODS for big sheets and smaller for short ones.
Are my ODS files uploaded?
Yes, for this conversion. A faithful ODS to HTML conversion needs LibreOffice, the open-source office suite, which cannot run in a browser. The file travels over an encrypted connection, is converted in a private temporary folder, and is deleted together with the HTML as soon as the result has been sent back to you. We do not keep, read or share it.
Can I convert several ODS files to HTML 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 HTML file?
HTML opens in every web browser. HTML is common for web pages, emails and documents meant to be read in a browser.
Is this ODS to HTML converter free?
Yes. There is no sign-up and no watermark. Because this conversion uses our server, there is a fair-use limit of 25 MB per file and a number of files per hour, which stops the service being overloaded.
Can I convert ODS to HTML on my phone?
Yes. It works in Safari on iPhone and iPad and in Chrome on Android. The conversion happens on our server, so it is as fast on a phone as on a computer; the HTML is saved to your Downloads folder.