How to convert Excel to CSV
- Drop a workbook onto the upload area.
.xlsx,.xls,.xlsmand.odsfiles are supported. - Choose the Output format: CSV, JSON or HTML table.
- Click Convert. A workbook with one sheet gives you a single file; a workbook with several sheets is exported sheet by sheet, and you can download each file or all of them together with Download all (ZIP).
Your workbook is processed locally in the browser and is never uploaded, so exports of customer lists or financial data stay on your computer.
Choosing an output format
| Format | What you get | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| CSV | Plain text, one row per line, values separated by commas | Importing into databases, CRMs, e-commerce platforms, Google Sheets, scripts |
| JSON | An array of objects, using the first row as keys | APIs, web apps, configuration and test data |
| HTML table | A <table> with the sheet's rows and cells | Pasting data into a web page, CMS or email |
What CSV keeps and what it drops
CSV (comma-separated values) is the most widely supported format for exchanging tabular data, precisely because it is so simple. It stores only text and numbers in rows and columns. That simplicity means some things in an Excel workbook cannot be represented:
- Formulas are replaced by their calculated values.
- Formatting such as colours, fonts, borders and column widths is lost.
- Charts, images and comments are not exported.
- Multiple sheets cannot live in one CSV file, which is why each sheet becomes a separate file.
If you need to keep the layout for people to read rather than for software to import, convert the workbook with Excel to PDF instead.
Tips
- Put headers in the first row. Import tools and the JSON export use the first row as column names.
- Remove blank rows and notes above or beside the table before converting, so the data starts in the top-left cell.
- Watch for leading zeros. Values such as postcodes or product codes stored as numbers in Excel (for example
01234shown as1234) are exported as they are stored. Format those cells as text in Excel if the zeros matter. - Working with JSON? To convert pasted CSV to JSON and back, or to adjust the result, try the CSV ↔ JSON converter.
.xlsx workbook.Frequently asked questions
What happens to a workbook with several sheets?
Each sheet is exported to its own CSV, JSON or HTML file. Download them individually, or all at once as a ZIP archive.
Are formulas exported?
No. CSV files contain values only, so you get the results of the formulas, not the formulas themselves.
Can I open the CSV in Excel again?
Yes. Excel, LibreOffice Calc, Numbers and Google Sheets all open CSV files, although formatting from the original workbook will not be present.