XlsConverter

XLSB to XLSX for binary Excel workbooks

Upload the XLSB file and convert. You download an XLSX workbook with every sheet, formula and format, readable by Google Sheets, BI tools and data libraries that cannot open XLSB.

XLSB

Encrypted, auto-deleted

Demo converts up to 100 rows, once.
Small business owner editing a spreadsheet on a tablet and a laptop

XLSB is Excel binary format: smaller and faster for huge workbooks, but many tools cannot read it, including Google Sheets and most data libraries. XlsConverter rewrites XLSB as standard XLSX so the file works everywhere.

Macro enabled binary workbooks lose their VBA in the process, as on XLSM to XLSX. If you only need the data, XLSX to CSV is a common next step.

How to convert XLSB to XLSX in three steps

  1. 1Upload the .xlsb workbook.
  2. 2Keep formulas and styles or choose values only.
  3. 3Convert and download the .xlsx file.

Why XLSX files are larger than the XLSB original

XLSB stores cells as compact binary records, while XLSX stores them as zipped XML. The same workbook is often two to four times larger as XLSX, depending on how many text cells it has. That is expected and does not mean data was duplicated.

Load time in Excel also changes. Very large models with hundreds of thousands of formulas open faster as XLSB. If you convert to XLSX only to read data in another tool, you can keep the XLSB as the working copy and convert on demand.

Both formats share the same limits of 1,048,576 rows and 16,384 columns, so nothing is truncated. For loading the data into a database instead of another spreadsheet, go straight to Excel to PostgreSQL or Excel to MySQL.

XLSB to XLSX questions

What is an XLSB file?

It is the Excel binary workbook format. It holds the same features as XLSX, including macros, but stores them in a compact binary form.

Can Google Sheets open XLSB files?

No. Convert the file to XLSX first, then import it into Google Sheets.

Is any data lost converting XLSB to XLSX?

Data, formulas and formatting are preserved. Only VBA macros are removed because XLSX cannot store them.

Why is my converted XLSX bigger?

XLSX uses zipped XML, which is less compact than binary records, so files are typically larger.

Can I try XLSB to XLSX before buying?

Yes, a one-time demo converts up to 100 rows. Full files need a paid plan, starting at 24 USD per month billed yearly.

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