How Excel to JSON conversion works
This tool reads your Excel workbook and converts sheet rows into JSON. If you choose “JSON objects”, the first row is treated as headers and each row becomes a JSON object. Everything runs directly in your browser, nothing is uploaded or stored anywhere, making it a good option for private data.
When to use this tool
Excel is great for visual work, but JSON is better for structured data and APIs. Excel to JSON helps when you need integration, scripting, or portable data.
- APIs and web apps: convert sheets into JSON objects for import, requests, and testing.
- Automation: feed JSON into scripts, pipelines, and serverless jobs.
- Configuration: turn tables into structured settings for apps.
- Data transformation: export clean rows you can map, merge, and filter.
Need the “reverse” direction (JSON → Excel)? Try our JSON to Excel Converter. If you need a CSV format instead, use this Excel to CSV Converter.
Step-by-step: from Excel to JSON
Converting your workbook takes just a few seconds:
- Add your Excel files. Drag and drop files into the box above, or click to choose from your device.
- Pick JSON structure. Use headers for JSON objects, or choose array output for raw tables.
- Pick export type. Export the first sheet only, or export all sheets at once.
- Convert to JSON. Click Convert to JSON. The tool processes everything directly in your browser.
- Save your output. Save files one by one or use the “Save all” button once everything is ready.
Privacy, limits and how this tool treats your files
FileYoga is built around a simple rule: your files stay with you. Excel to JSON conversion runs locally in your browser, so your data is never uploaded to FileYoga servers.
Local-only conversion
Conversion runs locally in your browser on your device. Your workbook is not uploaded, and the JSON output is generated on your side.
No hidden copies
When you clear the list or close the tab, the tool stops using your files and does not save copies on a server.
No artificial limits
No paywalls or quotas. The only limits come from your device’s memory and your browser.
No account required
Use the converter without signing up. Open the page, convert your files, and leave when you are done.
If you are working with sensitive data (customer exports, internal reports, financial lists), this setup means you keep full control from start to finish.
Tips for best results
- If your sheet has headers, choose “JSON objects” so columns become field names.
- If header names repeat, rename them in Excel first to avoid overwritten fields.
- If your workbook includes multiple sheets, use “All sheets” to export each tab separately.
- For very large sheets, convert one file at a time to avoid browser memory pressure.
Troubleshooting
- The export is slow or the tab freezes: Large sheets can hit memory limits. Convert one workbook at a time and close other heavy tabs.
- The JSON is empty: The sheet may be blank or contains only headers. Add rows or switch to array output for testing.
- Unexpected keys like __EMPTY: Some spreadsheets have gaps or merged headers. Clean the header row into a simple table.
- Numbers look different: Excel formatting can display values differently than raw cell values. Verify the output and adjust formatting before exporting.
- Multiple sheets exported as ZIP: That happens when you export all sheets from a multi-sheet workbook, so you can download everything at once.
Frequently asked questions
No. Excel to JSON conversion runs locally in your browser. Your workbook never uploads to FileYoga servers, and the JSON output is generated on your device.
The first row of the sheet is treated as column names. Each next row becomes one JSON object where keys are headers and values are the row cells. This is the best choice when your sheet is a clean table.
Use “Array of arrays (raw table)” when your sheet does not have reliable headers, when you want exact row/column structure preserved, or when the sheet is more like a grid than a dataset. Each row becomes an array of values.
That usually means the header row has blank cells, merged headers, or gaps in the table structure. For clean JSON objects, make the first row a simple, fully-filled header row (no merged cells) and try again.
JSON keys should be unique. If headers repeat, fields can overwrite each other or get renamed automatically.
For predictable output, rename duplicate headers in Excel (for example, price and price_2)
before exporting.
JSON exports values, not formatting. Cell styling, charts, images, and layout are not part of JSON. If a cell contains a formula, the export uses the stored value when available. If you need guaranteed values, consider pasting values in Excel before converting.
Excel cells can display formatted values differently than what’s stored underneath. If a date or number looks “off,” check the original cell format and try exporting with a consistent format (for example, ISO-like dates) to keep the JSON predictable.
Empty cells are exported as empty values for their position in the row. If you are using JSON objects mode, the header still exists as a key, but the value may be blank. This keeps row shapes consistent for scripts and imports.
“All sheets” exports each sheet as its own JSON file. If the workbook has multiple sheets, the tool packages them into a single ZIP so you can download everything neatly in one step.
In all-sheets mode, each sheet is saved as its own JSON file named after the sheet. If a sheet name contains characters that are not safe for filenames, it is cleaned up so the download works reliably.
There are no artificial limits. Very large workbooks or many sheets can slow your browser or hit memory limits. If that happens, convert one workbook at a time and close other heavy tabs.