FileStream stream = File.Open(filePath, FileMode.Open, FileAccess.Read); //1. Reading from a binary Excel file ('97-2003 format; *.xls) IExcelDataReader excelReader = ExcelReaderFactory.CreateBinaryReader(stream); //... //2. Reading from a OpenXml Excel file (2007 format; *.xlsx) IExcelDataReader excelReader = ExcelReaderFactory.CreateOpenXmlReader(stream); //... //3. DataSet - The result of each spreadsheet will be created in the result.Tables DataSet result = excelReader.AsDataSet(); //... //4. DataSet - Create column names from first row excelReader.IsFirstRowAsColumnNames = true; DataSet result = excelReader.AsDataSet(); //5. Data Reader methods while (excelReader.Read()) { //excelReader.GetInt32(0); } //6. Free resources (IExcelDataReader is IDisposable) excelReader.Close();