PrivateCSV

Convert Excel to CSV

Save any worksheet as UTF-8 CSV with the delimiter you choose.

Excel file (.xlsx, .xls, .ods)

  • Nothing is uploaded
  • Free
  • No sign-up

Guide

Excel to CSV: the complete guide

Last updated 3 min read

About this tool

PrivateCSV converts one sheet of an Excel workbook (.xlsx, .xlsm, .xls) or an OpenDocument spreadsheet (.ods) into a UTF-8 CSV file. You choose the delimiter (comma, semicolon or tab), dates are written as ISO 8601 (2024-01-15) and numbers keep their full stored value, so the file imports cleanly into databases, CRMs and online shops. The workbook is read in your browser and never uploaded.

How to check that your file is never uploaded

How to convert Excel to CSV

  1. Choose the workbook. If it has several sheets, pick the one to convert.
  2. Pick the delimiter: comma for most systems, semicolon for software set up for European formats, tab for TSV.
  3. Leave “Values as displayed in Excel” unticked to export stored values, which import more reliably. Tick “Excel-compatible” only if the CSV will be reopened in Excel.
  4. Click Convert to CSV and download the file.

Example

Stored values are exported: ISO dates, unformatted numbers, quoted commas.

orders.xlsx (Sheet1)
Order  | Date       | Total    | Note
A-1001 | 15/01/2024 | 1,234.50 | Café, terrasse
orders.csv
Order,Date,Total,Note
A-1001,2024-01-15,1234.5,"Café, terrasse"

When you need it

Importing into a shop, CRM or database
Shopify, HubSpot, Salesforce's Data Import Wizard and most databases import CSV rather than .xlsx. A UTF-8 CSV keeps accented names, currency symbols and non-Latin text intact.
Getting the delimiter and encoding you need
Excel's Save As uses the list separator of your regional settings, a semicolon in much of Europe, and its plain “CSV (Comma delimited)” format is not UTF-8. Here you pick the delimiter explicitly and always get UTF-8.
Exporting a sheet without Excel
It works on any device with a browser, including computers without Microsoft Office, Chromebooks and phones.

Stored values or displayed values

Excel keeps two versions of every number: the value it stores (1234.5) and the text a cell shows once formatted (1,234.50 €). By default the converter writes stored values, with dates as ISO 8601 and booleans as TRUE or FALSE, because that is what import tools parse reliably. Tick “Values as displayed in Excel” to write the formatted text instead, which is what Excel's own Save As produces.

What ends up in the CSV

  • One sheet per file, because a CSV holds a single table.
  • Formulas are exported as the value last calculated and saved in the workbook.
  • Every row has the same number of fields, matching the sheet's used range. Completely empty rows are skipped.
  • Text containing the delimiter, a double quote or a line break is quoted as RFC 4180 requires.

Limits to know about

  • Formatting, colors, comments, charts and images are not exported; a CSV cannot hold them.
  • In merged cells the value belongs to the top-left cell; the other cells of the merge are empty.
  • Password-protected workbooks cannot be read. Save an unprotected copy first.
  • The whole workbook is read into memory, so very large workbooks can be slow on phones.

Frequently asked questions

How do I convert an Excel file to CSV?

Choose the workbook, pick the sheet and the delimiter, and click Convert to CSV. You get a UTF-8 CSV of that sheet to download.

Why does Excel save my CSV with semicolons?

Excel uses the list separator from your Windows or macOS regional settings. In countries that write decimals with a comma, such as France or Germany, that separator is a semicolon. This converter lets you choose the delimiter whatever your settings are.

How do I save an Excel file as CSV UTF-8?

In recent versions of Excel, use File > Save As and choose “CSV UTF-8 (Comma delimited)”; the older “CSV (Comma delimited)” type uses a legacy encoding. This converter always writes UTF-8.

Are leading zeros kept?

Yes when the cell holds text such as 00123. When the cell holds the number 123 formatted to show 00123, the stored value is 123; tick “Values as displayed in Excel” to export 00123.

Can I convert every sheet at once?

Not yet. A CSV file holds one table, so convert each sheet separately; the sheet list appears as soon as you choose the workbook.

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