How to Convert PDF to XLS or XLSX for Free (Excel, Mac, Sheets)

To convert a PDF to XLS, first convert it to an Excel workbook (XLSX) with a PDF to Excel converter, then open it in Excel and use Save As to pick "Excel 97-2003 Workbook (.xls)" if a system really asks for the old format. With the free WoowPDF PDF to Excel converter the first step takes seconds, runs in your browser and keeps numbers as real numbers you can add up.

This guide explains XLS vs XLSX, the exact steps on Windows, Mac and Google Sheets, how to handle scanned statements, and how to clean the result so formulas work.

XLS or XLSX: which one do you actually need?

XLS is the Excel format used up to Excel 2003. XLSX replaced it in Excel 2007 and is what every current spreadsheet program saves by default.

	XLS (old)	XLSX (current)
Used by	Excel 97 to 2003, some old accounting and ERP imports	Excel 2007 and later, Google Sheets, Numbers, LibreOffice
Max rows per sheet	65,536	1,048,576
File size	Larger	Smaller (compressed)
When to use it	Only when a system rejects XLSX	Almost always

People often search for "PDF to XLS" when they simply mean "PDF to Excel". If you just want the data in a spreadsheet, XLSX is the right choice, and you can stop after the first part below.

How to convert a PDF to Excel (XLSX) for free

1. Open the PDF to Excel converter.
2. Drop your PDF on the page or click to choose it.
3. Choose one sheet per page, or switch it off to stack all pages in a single sheet (a blank row separates each page).
4. Press Convert to Excel and watch the progress page by page.
5. Download the XLSX file. Its name matches your PDF, so it is easy to find.

The PDF is read on your own device with JavaScript. It is never uploaded, which is what you want for bank statements, payslips and invoices. There is no account and no watermark.

How to save the Excel file as XLS

Only do this if a portal, an old program or a client insists on .xls.

In Excel on Windows

1. Open the XLSX file.
2. Click File, then Save As, then Browse.
3. In "Save as type", choose Excel 97-2003 Workbook (*.xls).
4. Click Save. If Excel shows a compatibility check, read it and click Continue.

In Excel on Mac

1. Open the file and choose File, then Save As.
2. In File Format, pick Excel 97-2004 Workbook (.xls).
3. Click Save.

In Google Sheets or LibreOffice

Google Sheets downloads XLSX only (File, Download, Microsoft Excel). For a real .xls without Excel, open the XLSX in LibreOffice Calc and use File, Save As, then choose "Excel 97-2003 (.xls)".

Microsoft's own help page on saving in another file format lists every format Excel can save.

How the converter turns a PDF into rows and columns

A PDF has no real cells. It only knows where each piece of text is drawn on the page. The converter:

• groups text that sits on the same line into a row,
• starts a new column wherever there is a clear horizontal gap,
• saves cells that contain only a number (including numbers with thousand separators such as 1,250.75) as real numbers, so SUM, sorting and charts work immediately,
• keeps everything else as text.

This works best on clean, digitally created tables with consistent columns, such as bank statements from online banking, supplier price lists and financial reports.

What about scanned PDFs?

A scanned page is an image, so there is no text to put into cells. Run the file through PDF OCR first to add a text layer, then convert the result to Excel. A quick test: if you cannot select a word in your PDF viewer, it is a scan.

OCR can misread a digit on a blurry page, so check totals against the original after converting a scanned statement.

How to clean up the spreadsheet after converting

Most files need a minute of tidying. These fixes cover nearly everything:

Problem	Fix in Excel
Titles and paragraphs in their own rows	Select the rows and delete them
A header split over two rows	Merge the text into one row, delete the other
Two columns that should be one	Use =A2&" "&B2 in a new column, then paste as values
A description that wrapped onto the next row	Cut the text and paste it into the row above
Dates shown as text	Data, Text to Columns, choose Date and the right order (DMY or MDY)
Leading zeros missing from codes	Format the column as Text before pasting, or keep the original as text

The converter does not copy colours, borders or formulas, because a PDF does not contain spreadsheet formulas. You get the data itself, in the right rows and columns.

PDF to Excel, CSV or text?

You want	Best tool
A workbook to read, filter and calculate	PDF to Excel
A file for an import into accounting or shop software	PDF to CSV
Just the words, without columns	PDF text extractor

Only need one page of a long report? Cut it out first with Split PDF, so the workbook holds only the table you need. Password protected PDFs need the password taken off first with Remove PDF Password, which works when you know the password.

Convert your PDF to Excel now

For most people the fastest route is PDF to XLSX in your browser, and a Save As to XLS only if someone demands it. Drop your file into the free PDF to Excel converter and your table is ready to sort and sum in seconds.

Frequently asked questions

Can I convert a PDF to XLS for free?

Yes. Convert the PDF to an Excel workbook with the free WoowPDF PDF to Excel converter, then open it in Excel and use Save As, Excel 97-2003 Workbook if you need the old .xls format.

What is the difference between XLS and XLSX?

XLS is the format used up to Excel 2003 and holds up to 65,536 rows per sheet. XLSX replaced it in Excel 2007, is smaller and holds over a million rows. Use XLSX unless a system rejects it.

Will the numbers work in Excel formulas?

Yes. Cells that contain only a number, including ones with thousand separators, are saved as real numeric values, so SUM, sorting and charts work straight away.

How do I convert a scanned PDF to Excel?

Run the scan through PDF OCR first to add a text layer, then convert the OCR result to Excel. Check totals afterwards, because OCR can misread digits on a poor scan.

Is my PDF uploaded when I convert it?

No. The WoowPDF converter reads the PDF and builds the workbook in your browser, so bank statements and invoices stay on your device.