CSV to Excel Converter
Turn CSV data into a real XLSX workbook. Preview the columns, choose a delimiter, and keep leading zeros intact.
CSV to Excel Converter
Or paste CSV below. If a file is selected, it takes priority.
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Guide updated 6 October 2026
A CSV export is a text file, not an Excel workbook. This converter separates the fields into worksheet cells and creates an XLSX download. Use it when an export opens in one column, a postal code loses its starting zero, or a colleague needs a spreadsheet rather than raw CSV text.
How to convert CSV to Excel online
- Choose one CSV file up to 2 MB, or paste the CSV into the text box. A selected file takes priority.
- Choose the separator. Auto is a starting point; comma, semicolon, tab and pipe are available.
- For an uploaded file, choose its encoding: UTF-8, UTF-16 LE or Windows-1252.
- Select Convert files and inspect the preview. Download the XLSX when the columns and characters look right.
The preview shows the first six rows and twelve columns. The workbook includes all parsed rows and columns within the tool’s limits, so check the download as well as the preview.
CSV and XLSX: what changes during conversion?
CSV stores rows as text separated by delimiters. XLSX stores worksheet cells inside an Excel workbook. Changing a filename from .csv to .xlsx does not create that structure; this tool creates the workbook itself.
The current converter creates one worksheet. It does not merge files, generate a legacy XLS file, add formulas or reproduce spreadsheet styling. The first row stays the first row, whether it contains headings or ordinary data.
Choose the right delimiter and file encoding
All the data appears in one column
The separator probably does not match your export. Try semicolon for a semicolon-separated file, tab for a tab-separated file, or pipe for a pipe-separated file. Auto looks at the first line; unusual headers or quoted separators can require a manual choice.
Accented names look wrong
Encoding tells the converter how bytes represent characters. If an uploaded export shows broken accents, try the encoding used by the exporting program. Changing the delimiter cannot repair text that was already decoded incorrectly. Pasted text is already decoded by your browser.
Keep leading zeros and prevent formula interpretation
Every cell is written as text. An identifier such as 00427 stays 00427, and a value beginning with an equals sign remains text rather than becoming an Excel formula. This is useful for account references, SKU codes and postal codes.
The same choice means ordinary numbers are also text. If you need totals or charts, convert the appropriate numeric columns in your spreadsheet program after checking decimal separators and identifiers. Dates are not guessed or reformatted automatically.
Example: a quoted name and a postal code
| CSV input | Worksheet result |
|---|---|
| Name,Postcode | Two header cells |
| “Morgan, Lee”,00427 | Morgan, Lee in one cell; 00427 in the next |
Double quotes around a field allow it to contain a delimiter. A doubled quote inside a quoted field represents a literal quote. An unclosed quoted field produces an error instead of a reliable workbook.
File limits, privacy and conversion problems
Use files no larger than 2 MB and data with at most 20,000 rows and 200 columns. Smaller files are easier to process on devices with limited memory. Keep the original export so you can compare row counts and important values.
The converter reads and processes your input in the browser. The tool does not send the selected CSV to a conversion server. It does not remove duplicate records, validate the meaning of your data or repair damaged exports.
CSV to Excel FAQs
Is the download a real XLSX workbook?
Yes. It contains a worksheet with text cells, rather than a renamed CSV file.
Can I use a semicolon-separated CSV?
Yes. Select Semicolon and check that the preview splits the columns correctly.
Will formulas from the CSV run?
No. Values are stored as text, including entries that resemble formulas.
Why will Excel not sum a numeric column immediately?
The cells are text to preserve the original values. Convert only the columns that should be numeric after checking them.
Can I combine several CSV files?
This version converts one selected file or one pasted dataset at a time.