Format comparison
DOCX vs XLS
How do DOCX and XLScompare? Here's everything you need to know to choose the right format — and how to convert between them.
.docx
Full guide →Office Open XML Document
DOCX is the default format for Microsoft Word documents. It's an XML-based format that replaced the older .doc format, offering better compression, easier recovery, and broader compatibility.
.xls
Full guide →Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet (Legacy)
XLS is the legacy binary format used by Microsoft Excel before 2007. While superseded by XLSX, many existing spreadsheets and enterprise systems still use this format.
| Specification | DOCX | XLS |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Office Open XML Document | Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet (Legacy) |
| Extension | .docx | .xls |
| MIME type | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document | application/vnd.ms-excel |
| Category | Document | Document |
| Developer | Microsoft | Microsoft |
| Year introduced | 2007 | 1987 |
DOCX advantages
- Standard format for word processing
- Excellent formatting capabilities
- Smaller files than legacy .doc format
- Compatible with Google Docs, LibreOffice, and more
DOCX limitations
- Formatting may vary between applications
- Complex internal XML structure
- Requires office software to edit properly
- Version differences can cause compatibility issues
XLS advantages
- Compatible with older Excel versions
- Widely recognized format
- Supported by all major spreadsheet apps
- Large installed base
XLS limitations
- Limited to 65,536 rows and 256 columns
- Larger file sizes than XLSX
- Binary format — harder to recover
- Missing modern Excel features
Which should you use?
DOCX and XLS serve different purposes. DOCX is ideal for business reports and memos, while XLS excels at legacy spreadsheet compatibility.
Best uses for DOCX
Business reports and memos
Academic papers and essays
Resumes and cover letters
Collaborative document editing
Best uses for XLS
Legacy spreadsheet compatibility
Older enterprise systems
Historical data archives
Backward-compatible exports
Convert between DOCX and XLS
Need to switch formats? Convert for free with SquishConvert.