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Convert Excel to CSV Online Convert Excel spreadsheets to CSV format with sheet selection.

Excel to CSV illustration
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Excel to CSV

Convert Excel spreadsheets to CSV format with sheet selection.

1

Upload Excel file

Drop or select your Excel file (.xlsx, .xls, .ods).

2

Select sheet

Choose the sheet to convert if there are multiple.

3

Download CSV

Copy or download the CSV output.

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What Is Excel to CSV?

Excel to CSV is a file-conversion tool that converts Microsoft Excel spreadsheets into plain-text comma-separated values format, allowing users such as data analysts and developers to easily import spreadsheet data into databases or process it with scripts. It solves the specific problem of converting complex excel files with multiple sheets into a universally compatible format, which can be particularly useful when working with large datasets.

The tool is used by those who need to convert excel files to csv, including xlsx to csv and xls to csv conversions, and it handles various spreadsheet formats such as .xlsx, .xls, .xlsb, and .ods. What makes this tool different is its ability to handle multi-sheet spreadsheets using the SheetJS library, specifically through the XLSX.utils.sheet_to_csv function, which preserves cell values and produces standard CSV output.

It also features a file dropzone that accepts various excel file formats and allows users to select specific sheets for conversion, with options to copy or download the resulting csv data as a text file named 'output.csv' with a mime type of 'text/csv'. The tool's ability to handle spreadsheet conversions in a straightforward manner makes it a useful utility for converting spreadsheet to csv files.

Why Use Excel to CSV?

  • Supports all major spreadsheet formats (.xlsx, .xls, .ods).
  • Multi-sheet workbooks with sheet selector.
  • Standard CSV output compatible with all tools.
  • Browser-based — no file upload to servers.

Common Use Cases

Data Processing

Convert Excel files to CSV for processing with command-line tools, scripts, or data pipelines.

Database Import

Transform Excel data into CSV for bulk import into SQL databases.

Cross-Platform Sharing

Convert Excel files to the universally compatible CSV format.

Version Control

Convert spreadsheet data to text-based CSV for tracking changes in Git.

Technical Guide

The converter uses SheetJS's sheet_to_csv() utility which handles the conversion of cell values to CSV format. The utility processes each cell in the worksheet and outputs its value using comma delimiters and standard CSV quoting rules.

Cell types handled: numbers are output as numeric strings, text is output with CSV quoting when necessary, booleans become TRUE/FALSE, dates are formatted using the cell's number format, and errors are output as their error type.

The SheetJS library reads the binary Excel format in-memory using an ArrayBuffer, making the conversion fully client-side. For multi-sheet workbooks, users select which sheet to convert.

Tips & Best Practices

  • 1
    Select the correct sheet from multi-sheet workbooks before downloading.
  • 2
    Merged cells may produce unexpected results — consider unmerging before conversion.
  • 3
    Formula results (not formulas themselves) are exported to CSV.
  • 4
    Date formatting depends on the cell's number format in Excel.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q Can I convert all sheets at once?
Currently, you convert one sheet at a time. Select each sheet to convert it separately.
Q Are formulas included?
Formula results are included, not the formula expressions themselves.
Q How are dates formatted?
Dates use the number format from the Excel cell. If no format is set, a default date string is used.
Q Is the CSV UTF-8 encoded?
Yes, the output is UTF-8 text. This may need a BOM for correct display in some Excel versions.
Q Can I convert password-protected Excel files?
Password-protected Excel files cannot be processed in the browser. Remove the password protection first.

About This Tool

Excel to CSV is a free online tool by FreeToolkit.ai. All processing happens directly in your browser — your data never leaves your device. No registration or installation required.