Excel to CSV Converter
Convert any Excel file (.xlsx or .xls) to a CSV file instantly. Choose your delimiter, preview the data, and download in one click. Your file never leaves your browser.
Drop your Excel file here
or click to browse — .xlsx and .xls supported
Files are processed entirely in your browser — never uploaded to any server
How to Convert Excel to CSV
Upload your file
Drag and drop your .xlsx or .xls file onto the converter, or click to browse your files.
Choose settings
Select the sheet to convert (if your file has multiple) and choose your preferred delimiter.
Download CSV
Preview the first rows to verify the data looks right, then click Download CSV.
Why Convert Excel to CSV?
CSV (Comma-Separated Values) is the universal format for tabular data. While Excel's .xlsx format is great for calculations and formatting, CSV is required by most databases, web platforms, and data tools. Common reasons to convert:
- Database imports: MySQL, PostgreSQL, Airtable, and most databases import CSV, not Excel
- API uploads: Platforms like Mailchimp, HubSpot, and Salesforce accept CSV for bulk imports
- Smaller file size: CSV strips formatting, formulas, and metadata — resulting in much smaller files
- Universal compatibility: Any programming language and data tool reads CSV natively
- Removing formulas: Converting to CSV replaces all formula cells with their current calculated values
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this Excel to CSV converter really free?
Yes — completely free with no usage limits. The conversion runs entirely in your browser using JavaScript, so there is no server cost to pass on.
Are my files uploaded to a server?
No. Your file is read directly in your browser using the SheetJS library. It never leaves your device and is never sent to any server. You can even use this tool offline after the page has loaded.
What delimiter should I choose?
Comma is the standard and works in most applications. Choose semicolon if you are in a European locale (where Excel uses semicolons by default). Choose tab if your data contains commas inside values (like addresses). Pipe (|) is useful for database imports.
Why does my CSV show garbled characters when I open it?
This is a character encoding issue. The downloaded CSV includes a UTF-8 BOM (Byte Order Mark) which tells Excel to use UTF-8 encoding. If characters still appear garbled, open the CSV in Excel via Data → From Text/CSV and select UTF-8 encoding manually.
Can I convert multiple sheets at once?
Currently the tool converts one sheet at a time. If your file has multiple sheets, use the sheet selector to switch between them and download a separate CSV for each. Multi-sheet export is on our roadmap.
What is the maximum file size?
There is no hard limit — the tool is constrained only by your browser's available memory. Files up to 50MB work well in most browsers. Very large files (100MB+) may be slow to process.
Delimiter Reference: Which One to Choose
| Delimiter | Symbol | Use when… | Avoid when… |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comma | , | Standard — works in most databases, APIs, and tools | Your data contains commas (addresses, amounts like "1,000") |
| Semicolon | ; | European locale users — Excel in German, French, Spanish defaults to semicolon | Importing to systems that only accept comma-delimited files |
| Tab | \t | Data contains commas inside values; bioinformatics tools (TSV) | Systems that don't recognise tab-delimited input |
| Pipe | | | Database imports when commas and tabs both appear in data | General sharing — less universally supported |
Why Use This Converter Instead of Saving as CSV in Excel
Excel's built-in “Save As CSV” works, but it has a few limitations this tool avoids:
- It only saves the active sheet: If your workbook has multiple sheets, Excel saves only the one currently selected. This tool lets you choose any sheet, then repeat for others.
- Encoding issues with special characters: Excel's Save As CSV defaults to the system's ANSI encoding on Windows, which can corrupt accented letters and non-Latin characters. This tool exports UTF-8 with a BOM, which Excel itself re-opens correctly.
- No delimiter choice: Excel Save As forces the system locale's separator (comma in English, semicolon in German). This tool lets you pick any delimiter regardless of locale.
- No preview: Excel saves immediately without showing you what the CSV will look like. This tool shows a data preview so you can verify before downloading.
- File stays private: No upload — the conversion runs in your browser just as saving in Excel would, but with none of the above limitations.