Excel to JSON Converter
Convert an Excel sheet into JSON for an app, an API, a website or a test data set. The header row becomes the field names, and every row becomes one record.
Your files stay on your device. Conversions run in your browser.
Your files stay on your device. Conversions run in your browser.
- No signup required
- Files stay on your device
- Browser-based conversion
- Fast download
- Free to use
How it works
How to convert Excel to JSON online
- 1
Choose an XLSX or XLS file.
- 2
Pick records with field names or plain rows, then click “Convert to JSON”.
- 3
Download the JSON file – one file per sheet.
Supported file types: XLSX, XLS · No signup required
From spreadsheet to JSON records
Spreadsheets are where data is collected and edited; JSON is what programs read. With “Records”, the first row of each sheet becomes the field names and every following row becomes an object – for example {"name": "Anna", "city": "Zurich", "amount": 1234.5}. With “Plain rows”, every row is written as an array of values, including the header row.
How values are written
Formulas are written as their current result. Formatting such as colours and fonts is not part of JSON.
- Numbers stay numbers and TRUE/FALSE become true and false.
- Dates are written exactly as they appear in Excel, as ISO 8601 text: 2026-01-15, or 2026-01-15T14:30:00 with a time.
- Empty cells become null, so every record has the same fields.
- Duplicate column names get a number added (name, name_1).
- Each sheet is saved as its own JSON file; empty sheets are skipped.
About Excel and JSON files
- Excel (XLSX and XLS)
- XLSX is the modern Excel spreadsheet format (Excel 2007 and newer); XLS is the older format. Both store data in rows, columns and sheets, and open in Excel, Google Sheets, LibreOffice and Numbers. All Excel tools →
- JSON
- JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is the standard data format of web APIs and apps. It stores records as named fields, which makes it easy for programs to read.
Privacy: your files stay on your device
Your files stay on your device. Conversions run in your browser. PDFConvertFast never uploads, stores or reads your documents – there is no server that receives them, no account and no email address.
- Your files stay on your device
- No signup required
- Browser-based conversion
Excel to JSON – frequently asked questions
How do I convert an Excel sheet to JSON?
Choose your XLSX or XLS file, keep “Records (first row = field names)” under “JSON structure” and click “Convert to JSON”. Every row below the header becomes one JSON object with the column names as keys. The file is saved with the same name as your spreadsheet and the .json extension.
What is the difference between “Records” and “Plain rows” in Excel to JSON?
“Records” gives an array of objects, for example [{"name": "Anna", "amount": 1234.5}], with the first row used as keys. “Plain rows” gives an array of arrays – one array of values per row, and the header row is included as the first array. Use records for APIs and apps, plain rows when the receiving code expects a simple grid.
What happens if my header row has empty or duplicate column names?
Duplicate names get a number added, so a second “name” column becomes “name_1”. An empty header cell becomes a key like “__EMPTY”. For clean keys, give every column a unique name in the first row before you convert.
Why do percentages, currency amounts or formulas show up as plain values in the JSON?
JSON stores the underlying cell value, not Excel’s display format, so 25% is written as 0.25 and €1,234.50 as 1234.5. Formula cells are written with their current result, and TRUE/FALSE become true and false. If you need the values exactly as they look in Excel, export to CSV instead.
How are Excel dates and times written in the JSON?
As ISO 8601 text: 2026-01-15 for a date, or 2026-01-15T14:30:00 when the cell has a time. The calendar day is kept exactly as in Excel and is not shifted by your time zone. Dates are strings in the JSON, because JSON has no date type.
How are empty cells and empty rows handled in the JSON output?
Empty cells become null, so every record has the same keys. Completely empty rows are skipped, and sheets without any data are left out. If the whole workbook is empty, you get the message “This spreadsheet is empty – there is nothing to convert.”
What do I get when my workbook has several sheets?
One JSON file per sheet, named after the file and the sheet, for example sales-January.json. You can download them together with “Download all (… files, ZIP)” or pick single files from the list below. The sheets are not merged into one JSON file.
Can I create nested JSON from Excel columns?
No. Every record is flat: each column becomes exactly one key, and a header like “address.city” stays a single key with a dot in its name. If you need nested objects, restructure the JSON in your code after converting.
Which Excel files can I convert to JSON, and how large can they be?
XLSX, XLS and XLSM files up to 50 MB each, one file per conversion. The tool is free and needs no account. Password-protected workbooks cannot be read – remove the password in Excel first.
Is my spreadsheet data uploaded when I convert it to JSON?
No. The workbook is read and the JSON is built in your browser, so customer lists, prices or test data never leave your device. Nothing is stored on a server.