DocumentsverifiedReviewed 2026-08-11

XLSX

Excel Open XML Spreadsheet · application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet · .xlsx

Overview

XLSX is the default spreadsheet format in modern Microsoft Excel and an Open XML standard. It stores formulas, formatting, charts, and multiple worksheets in a ZIP-based package, which makes it the practical default for structured tabular work.

Typical use cases

  • Financial and business spreadsheets
  • Data tables and reports
  • Multi-sheet workbooks
  • Formulas and charts

Advantages

  • Formulas, formatting, charts, and multiple sheets
  • Default interchange format for business data
  • Strong ecosystem of office and analytics tools

Disadvantages

  • Larger and more complex than CSV for simple data
  • Formatting can vary between spreadsheet apps
  • Macros live in separate XLSM files

How to open or use it

Open XLSX files in Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, LibreOffice Calc, or an online viewer. Mobile office apps and data tools such as Python, R, and Tableau can also read the package.