What Excel to CSV does
Extract a sheet from an Excel workbook (.xlsx or .xls) as a clean CSV file: the values as displayed, one row per line, fields separated by commas and quoted where needed, encoded as UTF-8. CSV is what databases, import wizards, statistics packages, mailing tools and scripts want, and this converter produces it in your browser, from any device, without uploading the workbook. Choose the sheet if there are several.
How cells are written
| Cell content | In the CSV |
|---|---|
| Text | As is; quoted if it contains a comma, quote or line break |
| Numbers | Formatted as displayed (1,234.50 → "1,234.50" if the format shows separators; plain 1234.5 otherwise) |
| Dates | As displayed in the cell (e.g. 2026-03-01 or 01/03/2026 depending on the cell format) |
| Formulas | Their last calculated value — formulas themselves are not exported |
| Empty cells | Empty fields; trailing empty rows are dropped |
| Merged cells | Value in the top-left cell; other cells empty |
| Hidden rows/columns | Included |
| Charts, images, comments | Not representable in CSV — omitted |
Why export CSV from a browser tool
- Excel's own Save As CSV uses the system code page on Windows unless you choose “CSV UTF-8”, and asks confusing questions about losing features. This tool always writes UTF-8 with no prompts.
- Google Sheets exports only the current sheet; here you can pick any sheet from a workbook without opening it.
- On a phone or a machine without Excel, this is the simplest route to a CSV.
- Excel is never opened, so no macros run and no autosave changes the original.
Common uses
- Importing a contact list into a CRM, an email tool or a phone.
- Loading data into a database, pandas, R or a BI tool.
- Uploading product catalogues or price lists to e-commerce platforms.
- Feeding a spreadsheet to a script or an API that accepts CSV.
- Comparing two versions of a sheet with a text diff tool.
Tips for imports
- Make sure the first row holds column names; most importers use it as the header.
- Format date cells as ISO (yyyy-mm-dd) in Excel before exporting so that every importer reads them the same way.
- If a system needs semicolons or tabs, open the CSV in the CSV tools on this site to change the delimiter.
- Check that numbers are not formatted with thousands separators, which some importers read as text.
Frequently asked questions
Can I export all sheets at once?
One sheet per CSV. Run the tool once per sheet, or convert to PDF with Excel to PDF for a snapshot of all sheets.
Dates came out as numbers like 45992.
The cell has a General format in the workbook. Apply a date format in Excel and re-save, or convert the serial number (days since 1899-12-30) in your importer.
Formulas are missing.
CSV has no formulas by design. The exported values are the results stored in the file.
Will Excel open the CSV correctly?
Yes — it is UTF-8 with a BOM, so accents display properly, and it uses commas, which Excel expects in English locales. European locales may need Data → From Text.
Is there a row limit?
No fixed limit. Sheets with hundreds of thousands of rows convert in seconds on a desktop browser.
Is my workbook uploaded?
No. SheetJS reads the file in your browser and the CSV is generated locally.