Excel to JSON

The Excel to JSON Converter is a free online tool that converts Excel files (XLS, XLSX) and CSV files into JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) format. JSON is a lightweight data-interchange format that is easy for humans to read and write, and easy for machines to parse and generate. This tool is perfect for developers, data analysts, and anyone who needs to transform spreadsheet data into JSON for web applications, APIs, or data processing.

What is JSON?

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a text-based data format that is:

• Lightweight: Smaller than XML and easier to parse
• Human-Readable: Easy to read and understand
• Language-Independent: Supported by all major programming languages
• Web-Friendly: Native support in JavaScript and web browsers
• API Standard: Widely used in REST APIs and web services

How Does Excel to JSON Conversion Work?

The conversion process involves several steps:

1. File Upload: Upload your Excel or CSV file
2. File Parsing: The tool reads and parses the Excel file structure
3. Sheet Detection: Identifies all sheets in the workbook
4. Data Extraction: Extracts data from the selected sheet
5. JSON Conversion: Converts rows and columns to JSON objects or arrays
6. Formatting: Applies pretty printing or compact formatting
7. Output: Displays the converted JSON ready for use

How to Use the Excel to JSON Converter

1. Upload File: Click the file input and select your Excel (.xls, .xlsx) or CSV file
2. Select Sheet: If your Excel file has multiple sheets, choose which sheet to convert
3. Configure Options:
   • Use first row as keys: Use the first row as JSON object keys
   • Pretty print JSON: Format JSON with indentation for readability
4. View Output: See the converted JSON in the output field
5. Copy or Download: Copy the JSON to clipboard or download it as a file

Key Features

• Multiple File Formats: Supports Excel (.xls, .xlsx) and CSV files
• Sheet Selection: Choose which sheet to convert from multi-sheet workbooks
• Header Options: Use first row as JSON keys or keep as data
• Pretty Printing: Format JSON with indentation for readability
• Real-time Conversion: Instant conversion as options change
• Copy to Clipboard: One-click copying of converted JSON
• Download Option: Download JSON as a file
• Error Handling: Clear error messages for invalid files
• Client-Side Processing: All conversion happens in your browser
• No File Size Limits: Process files of any size (limited by browser memory)

Conversion Modes

1. With First Row as Keys

When enabled, the first row becomes the keys for JSON objects:

Excel:
Name    Age    City
John    30     New York
Jane    25     Los Angeles

JSON:
[
  {
    "Name": "John",
    "Age": 30,
    "City": "New York"
  },
  {
    "Name": "Jane",
    "Age": 25,
    "City": "Los Angeles"
  }
]

2. Without First Row as Keys

When disabled, all rows are converted to arrays:

Excel:
Name    Age    City
John    30     New York
Jane    25     Los Angeles

JSON:
[
  ["Name", "Age", "City"],
  ["John", 30, "New York"],
  ["Jane", 25, "Los Angeles"]
]

Use Cases

• Web Development: Convert Excel data for use in web applications
• API Integration: Transform spreadsheet data for API requests
• Data Migration: Convert Excel data for database import
• Configuration Files: Convert Excel settings to JSON config files
• Data Analysis: Convert data for analysis in JavaScript/Node.js
• Testing: Generate test data from Excel spreadsheets
• Data Visualization: Prepare data for charting libraries
• Mobile Apps: Convert Excel data for mobile app data files
• Automation: Automate data conversion workflows
• Data Processing: Process Excel data in JSON-compatible systems

Supported File Formats

Excel Formats

• XLSX: Excel 2007+ format (recommended)
• XLS: Legacy Excel format (Excel 97-2003)

CSV Format

• CSV: Comma-separated values files
• Character Encoding: UTF-8 recommended

Excel Structure Handling

Single Sheet Files

For Excel files with a single sheet, the tool automatically converts that sheet.

Multiple Sheet Files

For Excel files with multiple sheets:

• All sheets are detected and listed
• You can select which sheet to convert
• Each sheet is converted independently
• You can process multiple sheets by converting them one at a time

Best Practices

• Clean Data: Ensure your Excel data is clean and well-structured
• Use Headers: Include header rows for better JSON structure
• Consistent Format: Keep data formats consistent across columns
• No Merged Cells: Avoid merged cells for cleaner conversion
• UTF-8 Encoding: Use UTF-8 encoding for international characters
• Test Output: Verify the JSON output matches your expectations
• Validate JSON: Use a JSON validator to check the output
• Handle Empty Cells: Be aware that empty cells become null in JSON

Technical Details

Data Type Handling

• Numbers: Converted to JSON numbers
• Text: Converted to JSON strings
• Dates: Converted to strings (ISO format when possible)
• Booleans: Preserved as boolean values
• Empty Cells: Converted to null
• Formulas: Converted to calculated values

Library Used

The tool uses SheetJS (xlsx), a powerful JavaScript library for reading and writing Excel files. This library:

• Supports all Excel formats (XLS, XLSX, CSV)
• Handles complex Excel structures
• Preserves data types when possible
• Works entirely in the browser

Limitations

• File Size: Very large files may cause browser performance issues
• Complex Formulas: Complex Excel formulas are converted to values
• Formatting: Cell formatting (colors, fonts) is not preserved
• Charts/Images: Charts and images in Excel are not converted
• Merged Cells: Merged cells may not convert cleanly
• Macros: VBA macros are not executed or converted

Security and Privacy

• Client-Side Processing: All conversion happens in your browser
• No Server Upload: Your Excel files never leave your device
• Privacy Safe: Your data remains completely private
• No Data Storage: No files are stored on our servers
• Secure: No network transmission of your files

Example Conversion

Excel Input:

JSON Output (with first row as keys):

[
  {
    "Name": "John Doe",
    "Age": 30,
    "Email": "john.doe@example.com",
    "City": "New York"
  },
  {
    "Name": "Jane Smith",
    "Age": 25,
    "Email": "jane.smith@example.com",
    "City": "Los Angeles"
  },
  {
    "Name": "Bob Johnson",
    "Age": 35,
    "Email": "bob.johnson@example.com",
    "City": "Chicago"
  }
]

Tips for Optimal Usage

• Prepare Your Data: Clean and organize your Excel data before conversion
• Use Headers: Always include header rows for better JSON structure
• Check Output: Review the JSON output to ensure it matches your needs
• Test with Sample: Test with a small sample first before converting large files
• Handle Special Characters: Ensure special characters are properly encoded
• Validate JSON: Use a JSON validator to verify the output
• Choose Right Format: Select the format that best fits your use case