Excel to TSV Converter
Convert any Excel file (.xlsx or .xls) to TSV (Tab Separated Values) instantly. Preview the output, download the file, or copy to clipboard. Your file never leaves your browser.
Drop your Excel file here
or click to browse — .xlsx and .xls supported
How to Convert Excel to TSV
Upload your Excel file
Drag and drop your .xlsx or .xls file onto the converter, or click to browse. Your file is read locally — nothing is uploaded.
Select a sheet
If your workbook has multiple sheets, use the sheet tabs to choose which one to export. Each sheet exports to a separate .tsv file.
Download or copy
Click Download .tsv to save the file, or Copy to Clipboard to paste directly into Excel, Google Sheets, or a database import dialog.
TSV vs CSV: When to Use Each
Both TSV and CSV are plain-text formats for tabular data. The difference is the separator character. TSV is the right choice in these situations:
- Your data contains commas: Addresses, descriptions, monetary values like "1,000.00", and product names with commas will break CSV parsers unless properly quoted. TSV sidesteps this entirely.
- Bioinformatics and scientific tools: BLAST, NCBI tools, BEDTools, and many genomics pipelines expect tab-delimited input. Converting from Excel to TSV is a common step in data preparation workflows.
- Database imports with tab detection: PostgreSQL's
\copycommand, MySQL'sLOAD DATA INFILE, and many ETL tools support TSV natively with simpler configuration than CSV. - Clipboard pasting: When you copy cells from Excel and paste into another application, Excel uses tab characters as column separators. TSV matches this behaviour exactly.
Use CSV when the receiving system requires comma-delimited format and your data does not contain commas within values.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between TSV and CSV?
TSV (Tab Separated Values) uses tab characters as column separators, while CSV (Comma Separated Values) uses commas. TSV is preferred when your data contains commas — for example, addresses, descriptions, or monetary values formatted with comma thousands separators. With TSV, those values are never misinterpreted as column breaks.
When should I use TSV instead of CSV?
Use TSV when your data contains commas within cell values, when importing into tools that expect tab-delimited input (many bioinformatics tools, BLAST, some database import wizards), or when pasting data directly into spreadsheet applications where tab is the column separator for paste operations.
Can I paste TSV output directly into Excel or Google Sheets?
Yes. Excel and Google Sheets both recognise tab-separated data when pasted. Copy the TSV using the Copy to Clipboard button, then paste into the top-left cell of your target sheet. The data will split into separate columns automatically.
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 use this tool offline after the page has loaded.
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 50 MB work well in most browsers. Very large files (100 MB+) may be slow to process.
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