How do I install the latest stable version of LibreOffice?

If you want the newest of the new for LibreOffice, you can place the ppa onto your computer:

https://launchpad.net/~libreoffice/+archive/ppa

Once you click on this link, read the section called "Adding this PPA to your system" to make sure you install it correctly for your 12.04 system.

If this package is to 'cutting edge', I would use the following ppa for LibreOffice that might help as well:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:libreoffice/ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade

To look over the instructions, follow this link here: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/LibreOffice To quote the site on what this ppa is about:

LibreOffice test builds and backports

Most of the packages in this ppa have only experienced minor testing -- in fact it is the place to enable a wider audience to test packages before they are published into the distro proper. In general this ppa is not for the average user to install without a closer look (if it would be, its packages would be in the main repositories).

In general, users are adviced to take a look at the changelog for the details about a package. If there is a specific bug that is intended to be addressed by an update released into the ppa, you are encouraged to test, if the update solves that problem. Packages published after the distro release are mostly such specific fixes. Critical fixes will SRUed into the main repositories after testing anyway (later, with more testing).

See also:

• Will 12.04 get LibreOffice 3.6 and later?
• What are PPAs and how do I use them?
• Are PPA's safe to add to my system and what are some "red flags" to watch out for?

you can download the files from libreoffice.org site at http://www.libreoffice.org/download

Warning: If you are installing 3.6 alongside of older version then you may have some conflicts. So its better to remove the older version and try out the new one.

Steps to remove older version sudo apt-get remove libreoffice-core

To install 3.6

Download the 32 or 64 bit 3.6 version and extract the LibO_3.6.0_Linux_x86(-64)_install-deb_en-US.tar.gz file

cd to the extracted directory and run sudo dpkg -i *.deb

October-1-2015

Open terminal and run the following commands:

Latest version of LibreOffice 5.0.x : (14.04,15.04,15.10)

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:libreoffice/libreoffice-5-0
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

Note: The above PPA provides LibreOffice 5.0.x updates.If LibreOffice 5.1 released then we need to use another PPA.

For any version we can use ppa:libreoffice/ppa PPA:

LibreOffice 5.x:(12.04,14.04,15.04,15.10)

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:libreoffice/ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

Method 2:

Install by downloading .deb file from here

There is no PPA that simply maintains the latest stable version of LibreOffice (meaning: the version that The Document Foundation proposes as the latest stable version).

The options for installing LibreOffice are:

• the official Ubuntu repository (which installs often a version of LibreOffice that is a bit outdated)
• the "Fresh" PPA, sudo add-apt-repository ppa:libreoffice/ppa, which installs a version that is rather cutting edge and has only received minor testing, so not actually recommended for the average user
• the PPA for a specific version, eg. sudo add-apt-repository ppa:libreoffice/libreoffice-5-3 (note the version number at the end)
• not recommended (see explanation on the Fresh PPA webpage): downloading the files (.deb) from the LibreOffice download page

So to install the latest stable version of LibreOffice, as far as I can see the safest way would be:

1. check on the LibreOffice download page what version they propose as stable (eg. 5.3.7)
2. add the corresponding PPA (eg. libreoffice-5-3, note the version number at the end) to your system. You can find links to these different PPA's on the Fresh PPA page. Following those links you will also find installation instructions.
3. Periodically check what version is considered stable by the Document Foundation (cfr. point 1 above), and if necessary install the new stable version (cfr. point 2 above).

Just saw, that the LibreOffice Launchpad Team has created separate PPAs for the different versions from 3.4 to 4.0 plus pre-releases for the brave and a general ppa for those who want the latest stable release.

Links to the PPAs: https://launchpad.net/~libreoffice

See the other answers for installation instructions

As of 2017, LibreOffice is also available as a Snap!

Let's compare versions:

$ apt show libreoffice | grep Version       // deb in Ubuntu (not PPA)
Version: 1:5.4.5-0ubuntu0.17.10.5

$ snap find libreoffice                     // snap in Ubuntu
Name         Version  Developer  Notes  Summary
libreoffice  6.0.1.1  canonical  -      LibreOffice is a powerful office suite including word processing and creation of spreadsheets, slideshows and databases

First, uninstall the deb version to prevent confusion

sudo apt remove libreoffice
sudo apt autoremove

Second, install the snap version

sudo snap install libreoffice

Snaps are not debs. Snaps don't use apt. Snaps don't upgrade automatically. Upgrade snaps to the latest version using:

sudo snap refresh libreoffice

Install / Upgrade to LibreOffice 3.6

To get started, press Ctrl – Alt – T on your keyboard to open the terminal. When it opens, run the commands below to add its PPA.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:libreoffice/libreoffice-prereleases

Finally, run the commands below to upgrade your system including LibreOffice.

Finally, run the commands below to upgrade your system including LibreOffice.

Enjoy!

sudo apt-get purge libreoffice-core
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:libreoffice/libreoffice-prereleases
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install libreoffice

These four lines in terminal to remove your current LibreOffice, and install the new one. It says it will install LibreOffice 4.0, But I got 3.6.0.1 instead, which happens to be the newest stable version I'm aware of.

Credit to: http://jaisejames.wordpress.com/2012/11/27/to-install-libreoffice-4-0-on-ubuntu-12-10/

1. Uninstall the previous version of LibreOffice

   sudo apt-get remove libreoffice-core

2. Download Latest Version from

   https://www.libreoffice.org/download/download/

3. Right-click on the downloaded package and choose Open With Archive Manager

4. Extract all files

5. Enter LibreOffice -> DEBS folder

6. Right-click in the folder and choose Open in Terminal

7. Finally, install all .deb packages by running the following command

   sudo dpkg -i *.deb