About the Excel to XML
Many systems import data as XML: product feeds, legacy business software, configuration files and APIs. This converter turns a spreadsheet into clean, indented XML. Each row becomes an element, such as product, and each column becomes a child element named after its heading, such as price. You choose the names of the root and row elements, whether the first row holds the headings, and whether to leave out empty cells. Preview the XML, copy it or download it.
Updated October 2026
How to use the Excel to XML
- 1Select an .xlsx, .ods or .csv file.
- 2Pick the sheet if there are several.
- 3Set the root and row element names.
- 4Tick whether the first row holds column names.
- 5Copy or download the XML.
An example
A sheet with the headings Name and Price and one row Tea, 3.50 becomes a root element holding one row element with Name and Price children. With root products and row product, the output starts <products><product><Name>Tea</Name>.
Naming rules for XML
XML names can't contain spaces, can't start with a number and can't start with the letters xml. The converter fixes headings that break these rules automatically.
- Unit price → Unit_price
- 2024 → _2024
- Price (€) → Price
Empty cells
By default empty cells become empty elements such as <Note/>, which keeps every row's structure the same. Tick Leave out empty cells to drop them for a smaller file.
Going the other way
Our XML to Excel tool turns repeating XML records back into rows and columns.
Using the XML in other systems
Many import tools ask for a sample of the XML they expect. Compare it with the preview: set the root and row names to match, and rename the column headings in your spreadsheet if the field names must be different. Convert again and the XML will follow the new headings.
Encoding and declaration
The file starts with an XML declaration that says it is UTF-8, so accented letters and other alphabets are preserved. The XML is indented with two spaces for readability; whitespace between elements is ignored by XML importers.
Checking the XML
Paste the result into our XML Formatter to validate it, or open it in a browser, which shows a tree view of well-formed XML and an error for broken XML.
Phone and computer
The preview shows the first 200,000 characters; the download always contains the complete XML. For a plain table, use Excel to CSV, and CSV to XML Converter works from a text file.
Features
- Headings become element names
- Custom root and row names
- Invalid characters made safe
- Duplicate headings numbered
- Optional skipping of empty cells
- Preview, copy and download
Frequently asked questions
How are column headings turned into element names?
Spaces and symbols become underscores, names that start with a digit get an underscore in front, and repeated headings get _2, _3 and so on, so the XML is always valid.
What happens to special characters like &?
They are escaped as &, < and >, so the XML stays valid.
Can I use attributes instead of elements?
This tool writes elements, which every XML importer accepts. Change the format afterwards with an XSLT or a text editor if your system needs attributes.
What if my sheet has no headings?
Untick the heading option; columns are then named column1, column2 and so on.
Can it open old .xls files?
Not in the browser. Open the file in Excel, Google Sheets or LibreOffice and save it as .xlsx first.
Is my spreadsheet uploaded?
No. It is read and converted in your browser, so private figures and customer lists stay on your device.
Can I convert a CSV file?
Yes. Pick a .csv file and it is converted the same way, with the first line used as the headings.
Which sheet is converted?
The sheet you choose in the menu. Convert other sheets one at a time.