LibreOffice Writer is a powerful word processor, but when it comes time to share content on the web, that ODT file sitting on your desktop won't do much good. HTML—the language of web browsers—is what you need for websites, blogs, email newsletters, and content management systems. Converting ODT to HTML bridges the gap between document editing and web publishing, so you can write in LibreOffice and publish browser-ready output.

TL;DR

Understanding ODT and HTML

What is ODT?

ODT (Open Document Text) is the native file format for LibreOffice Writer and other OpenDocument-compatible word processors. Developed as an open standard by OASIS, ODT stores documents in a structured XML format wrapped in a ZIP container. This open specification means ODT files can be read and written by a wide variety of software without licensing restrictions—making it a popular choice for organizations that prefer open-source tools or need long-term document archival without vendor lock-in.

Compared to proprietary formats like DOCX, ODT offers similar functionality: rich text formatting, tables, images, headers and footers, styles, and embedded objects. The key difference lies in the underlying philosophy—ODT prioritizes openness and interoperability over any single vendor's ecosystem.

What is HTML?

HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is the foundational language of the web. Every webpage you've ever visited is built on HTML—it's how browsers understand structure, text, links, images, and the relationships between content elements. Unlike document formats designed for printing, HTML is designed for screens: it flows, adapts to different window sizes, and enables interactivity through links and embedded media.

When you convert a document to HTML, you're translating from a print-oriented format to a web-native format. The result isn't a standalone document file—it's content ready to be published directly on the internet.

Why Convert ODT to HTML?

1. Web Publishing

The most straightforward reason to convert ODT to HTML is web publishing. Whether you're updating a company website, maintaining a personal blog, or managing an online knowledge base, HTML is the format browsers understand. Converting your ODT document gives you content that can be directly embedded into any webpage.

2. CMS Compatibility

Content management systems like WordPress, Drupal, Ghost, and Squarespace all work with HTML under the hood. While these platforms provide visual editors, they often accept pasted HTML for more precise control over formatting. Converting ODT to HTML means you can write long-form content in LibreOffice's comfortable editing environment, then transfer it to your CMS without losing formatting.

3. Email Newsletters

Email marketing tools like Mailchimp, ConvertKit, and Campaign Monitor render HTML content. If you're creating newsletters or marketing emails, converting from ODT to HTML lets you design content in a full-featured word processor before importing it into your email platform. This approach is particularly useful for content-heavy newsletters where LibreOffice's editing tools outshine basic email editors.

4. Cross-Platform Accessibility

HTML content works in any web browser on any device—no special software required. Share a link, and anyone can read your content whether they're on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, or Android. This universal accessibility makes HTML ideal for public-facing documentation, help articles, and any content that needs to reach the widest possible audience.

5. Archive and Index

Search engines crawl and index HTML content. If you want your documents discoverable via Google, Bing, or internal site search, HTML is the format to use. ODT files sitting in cloud storage are invisible to search engines; the same content published as HTML becomes searchable and discoverable.

How to Convert ODT to HTML

Using TinyUtils Document Converter

  1. Navigate to TinyUtils Document Converter
  2. Click the upload area or drag and drop your .odt file
  3. Select HTML from the output format options
  4. Click Convert to process the document
  5. Download your HTML file

The converter produces clean, semantic HTML without the bloated markup that word processors often generate when using "Save as HTML" directly. This cleaner output is easier to style, faster to load, and more maintainable long-term.

Batch Conversion

Converting an entire documentation library? Upload multiple ODT files at once. The converter processes each file individually and delivers a ZIP archive containing all your HTML documents, preserving original filenames.

What You Get

A properly converted ODT produces semantic, well-structured HTML that respects your document's original organization:

  • Heading hierarchy — LibreOffice's Heading 1, Heading 2, etc. become HTML h1, h2, h3 tags, preserving document structure
  • Paragraphs — Body text converts to clean paragraph tags
  • Text formatting — Bold, italic, underline, strikethrough, and superscript/subscript are preserved using appropriate HTML tags
  • Lists — Numbered and bulleted lists convert to proper ol and ul elements with correct nesting
  • Tables — ODT tables become HTML tables with preserved row and column structure
  • Hyperlinks — Links remain clickable and functional
  • Images — Referenced in the HTML output (see image handling notes below)

What May Need Adjustment

Some ODT features don't translate directly to HTML or may require post-conversion work:

  • Page-specific formatting — Headers, footers, page numbers, and margins are print concepts that don't apply to HTML
  • Complex positioning — Text frames, anchored objects, and precise positioning may need CSS styling
  • Fonts — Custom fonts require web font hosting (Google Fonts, Adobe Fonts, or self-hosted)
  • Table of contents — Generated TOCs convert as static text; for live navigation, consider JavaScript or CMS plugins

Common Use Cases

Blog Posts and Articles

Many writers prefer composing in a word processor instead of fighting a browser editor. LibreOffice is a nice place to draft: fewer distractions, decent spell‑check, and proper styles. When the draft is ready, convert to HTML and paste into your blog’s editor. WordPress, Ghost, Medium, and most other platforms handle pasted HTML reasonably well, preserving headings, lists, and basic formatting.

Email Newsletters

Newsletter creation in email marketing platforms can be frustrating—their editors often lack the polish of a proper word processor. Write your newsletter content in LibreOffice where you have full control over formatting, convert to HTML, then paste into your email tool's HTML editor. This workflow is especially valuable for text-heavy newsletters, long-form content, or when you need to maintain consistency across multiple newsletter issues.

Documentation and Help Articles

Technical documentation, user guides, and help articles often start as internal documents before being published to a website or help desk platform. Converting ODT to HTML enables a workflow where subject matter experts can write in familiar tools while web teams publish to platforms like Zendesk, Intercom, or custom documentation sites.

Intranet Content

Corporate intranets frequently rely on HTML-based content management. Converting departmental documents, policy guides, and procedural documentation from ODT to HTML makes internal knowledge accessible through standard web browsers without requiring LibreOffice installation across the organization.

Ebook HTML Preparation

EPUB ebooks are essentially packaged HTML files. If you're preparing content for ebook distribution, converting ODT to HTML is often the first step before final EPUB assembly. Clean HTML from the conversion makes the subsequent ebook formatting process much smoother.

Handling Images

Images embedded in ODT documents require special attention during HTML conversion. Unlike self-contained document formats, HTML references images via URLs—the images must be hosted somewhere accessible.

Options for Image Handling

  • Extract and upload — Extract images from the ODT (or download from the converted HTML) and upload them to your web server or CDN. Update image references in the HTML to point to the hosted URLs.
  • Use a CMS media library — Most content management systems have media libraries. Upload images there and update HTML references to use CMS-generated URLs.
  • Cloud storage — Services like Cloudinary, imgix, or even Google Drive can host images. Replace local references with cloud URLs.
  • Base64 embedding — For small images or single-file distribution, images can be embedded directly in HTML as base64-encoded data URIs. This increases file size but eliminates external dependencies.

Adding Styles to Your HTML

Raw HTML output is functional but visually plain—it relies on browser default styling. To match your website's design, you'll typically add CSS after conversion.

Using Your Site's Existing Styles

If you're pasting HTML into a CMS or website that already has CSS defined, the converted content will automatically inherit those styles. Headings will match your site's heading styles, paragraphs will use your body text formatting, and lists will follow your established design.

Adding Custom CSS

For standalone HTML files or situations where you need specific styling, add a CSS stylesheet:

  • Link to an external stylesheet in the HTML head
  • Add inline styles directly to the HTML file
  • Use a CSS framework like Tailwind, Bootstrap, or Pico CSS for quick styling

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my document's styles be preserved exactly?

Basic formatting (bold, italic, headings, lists) converts accurately. However, precise visual styling like specific fonts, exact spacing, and page layout are print concepts that don't directly translate to HTML. You'll need CSS to achieve specific visual styling on the web.

What happens to images in my document?

Images are referenced in the HTML output. You'll need to host them separately on a web server, CDN, or through your CMS's media library. The HTML will contain image tags pointing to where the images should be located.

Is the HTML output clean and semantic?

Yes. The converter produces clean HTML without the excessive spans, inline styles, and bloated markup that LibreOffice's built-in "Save as HTML" often creates. This cleaner output is easier to style, maintain, and meets modern web standards.

Can I convert HTML back to ODT?

Yes, TinyUtils supports bidirectional conversion. If you need to bring web content back into LibreOffice for editing, upload the HTML file and select ODT as the output format.

Will hyperlinks work after conversion?

Absolutely. Links in your ODT document convert to standard HTML anchor tags. They'll be clickable in any web browser, email client, or CMS preview.

What about tables with complex formatting?

Basic table structure (rows, columns, cell content) converts reliably. Complex formatting like merged cells, specific column widths, or cell background colors may need CSS adjustments after conversion.

Why Use an Online Converter?

Word processors can export to HTML, but the output is often bloated with inline styles, proprietary markup, and unnecessary complexity. An online converter like TinyUtils offers advantages:

  • Clean output — Produces semantic HTML without bloated markup
  • No software needed — Works in any browser, no LibreOffice installation required
  • Batch conversion — Upload multiple ODT files, download all HTML in a ZIP
  • Consistent quality — Same clean output every time, regardless of source application version
  • Mobile friendly — Convert documents from any device with a browser

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Fonts look different on the web

HTML displays fonts that are available to the browser. If your ODT uses a font that isn't installed on visitors' devices or loaded as a web font, the browser substitutes a fallback. For consistent typography, use web-safe fonts or add web font loading via Google Fonts or similar services.

Tables don't look right

HTML tables without CSS styling are basic and often don't match the original ODT appearance. Add CSS table styles for borders, cell padding, and column widths to match your design requirements.

Images are missing

HTML references images by URL—if the images aren't hosted at those URLs, they won't display. Extract images from the original ODT, upload them to your web server, and update the HTML image references accordingly.

Spacing and margins are off

ODT documents have precise page margins and paragraph spacing defined for print. HTML doesn't have "pages"—it flows continuously. Use CSS margin and padding properties to adjust spacing to match your web design.

Ready to Publish on the Web?

Converting ODT to HTML opens the door to web publishing without abandoning the editing tools you're comfortable with. Open TinyUtils Document Converter, upload your LibreOffice document, and get clean, semantic HTML ready for your website, blog, or CMS.

Need other format conversions? Check out our guides for ODT to PDF, ODT to DOCX, and HTML to ODT workflows.