Skip to content
Lizely

Excel To CSV

Export one selected worksheet from a local .xlsx workbook as a formula-safe CSV download in your browser.

Privacy: your files never leave your device. All processing happens locally in your browser.

How to use

  1. 1.Choose one local .xlsx workbook no larger than 20 MB.
  2. 2.Select the worksheet to export as CSV.
  3. 3.Convert, download the CSV, and check it in the destination application before sharing.

About Excel To CSV

Excel to CSV exports one worksheet from a local .xlsx workbook as a comma-separated text file. The workbook stays on your device: after you choose it, the page opens the workbook in the current browser tab, reads the selected worksheet's stored values, creates CSV text, and exposes one downloadable Blob. Nothing is uploaded to a conversion server or retained by this tool. It is useful when you need a plain-text interchange file for an import, a lightweight review, a database load, or a handoff to software that does not accept .xlsx. The original workbook is never overwritten.

After opening a supported workbook, choose the worksheet to export and select Convert to CSV. Each displayed row becomes one CSV record, commas, quotation marks, and line breaks are escaped in the CSV output, and records use CRLF line endings. Empty cells become empty CSV fields. Stored strings, numbers, and Boolean values are written as text that a receiving program can parse according to its own rules. The tool does not calculate formulas, run macros, follow external links, or execute spreadsheet content. It reads stored values only, so a formula cell does not cause code to run in this browser.

CSV is commonly opened in spreadsheet software, which can interpret text beginning with =, +, -, or @ as a formula. To reduce that formula-injection risk, string cells whose first meaningful character is one of those triggers receive a leading apostrophe in the exported CSV. Number cells remain ordinary numeric text, including negative numbers. This is an intentional safety transformation: a receiving spreadsheet may display the apostrophe or preserve it as text. Review the output before using it in a workflow where an exact leading character has business meaning.

The tool accepts classic .xlsx OOXML packages, not legacy .xls files, macro-enabled formats, encrypted workbooks, or remote URLs. It limits input to 20 MB, checks the package directory before parsing, rejects multi-disk and Zip64 packages, limits entry count and declared expanded size, and limits the selected worksheet to 100,000 addressed cells. Generated CSV is limited to 10 MB. These browser limits are explicit rather than silent truncation. A damaged, unsupported, or oversized workbook returns an error and does not produce a partial file.

CSV does not preserve workbook features. Sheet names, formatting, formulas, charts, images, comments, filters, merged-cell semantics, print settings, validation rules, and formulas are not part of the CSV result. Date values can remain the stored numeric values because the tool does not guess a locale or format. Because CSV has no column types, validate delimiters, encoding, leading zeroes, and destination import behavior before relying on the file for a business transfer. For a reliable export, select the smallest relevant sheet, convert it, open the downloaded CSV once in a text editor or its destination system, and keep the .xlsx workbook as the source of record. Use the related JSON or HTML-table tools when a comma-separated file is not the appropriate interchange format.

Methodology & sources

Validate a bounded classic .xlsx ZIP before dynamically loading the locked SheetJS browser module; read stored worksheet values without formula execution; RFC-style escape CSV fields and prefix formula-triggering string cells; create one local CSV Blob.

Frequently asked questions

Does this upload my Excel file?
No. The browser reads the selected workbook and creates the CSV locally.
Does the CSV keep formulas and formatting?
No. CSV contains stored cell values only; spreadsheet formatting and formula source are not preserved.
Why is an apostrophe added before some text cells?
It prevents spreadsheet apps from treating text beginning with a formula trigger as a formula when the CSV is opened.

Related tools

Developer Tools guides

View all