how do I convert excel spreadsheets to numbers format?

In most cases you can simply open the spreadsheet in Numbers. Numbers reads Excel files.

So if you are on Windows and preparing a spreadsheet for a Mac user, you can just send them the Excel spreadsheet. If you are on a Mac and have received an Excel spreadsheet, just drag and drop it on to Numbers, or choose File, Open in Numbers and open the file.

Once you have it open in Numbers, you can save the document and it will save as a Numbers spreadsheet. Or, you can export it and choose Excel to save it back out as an Excel document.

The short answer is: just open the Excel documents with Numbers.

Numbers does a pretty good job of importing data and many formulas from Excel. But don't expect the import to be perfect. Formatting, formulas involving dates, so-called "array formulas"––these are some of the things that may not make it into Numbers and you'll need to fix them.

Likewise, when exporting from Numbers to Excel, don't expect things to be perfect.

If you're collaborating with others who are using Excel (either Excel for the Mac or Excel on a Windows machine) you'll find that using Excel yourself will be the most satisfying route to take.

For one-off transition from Excel to Numbers, though, the import is a pretty good start.

SG