Guide

How to convert Excel to CSV properly

Avoid the common pitfalls when exporting spreadsheets to CSV format.

Jan 14, 20255 min read

Excel's CSV export looks simple but hides traps. Formulas, dates, and special characters can all break during conversion.

Flatten formulas first

CSV stores values, not formulas. Before exporting, convert formula cells to values. Otherwise, you might export the formula text or get unexpected results.

Copy and Paste Values to flatten
Check cells that reference other sheets
Verify calculated totals match after export

Lock down date formats

Excel's date storage differs from display. A date shown as Jan 15, 2025 might export as 45672 (Excel's internal number). Format dates as text before export.

Format dates as YYYY-MM-DD text
Use TEXT() function to force format
Verify dates in the exported file

Quick CTA

Verify your export

Drop your CSV into Readable CSV to confirm everything converted correctly.

Check your CSV

Handle special characters

Commas, quotes, and line breaks in your data need proper escaping. Excel usually handles this, but verify with a text editor after export.

Fields with commas get quoted
Quotes inside fields get doubled
Line breaks in cells may cause issues

Choose the right CSV variant

Excel offers multiple CSV formats. CSV UTF-8 preserves special characters. CSV (Comma delimited) uses system defaults. Match the format to your target system.

CSV UTF-8 for international data
CSV (Comma delimited) for legacy systems
CSV (Macintosh) rarely needed

Key takeaway

Excel-to-CSV conversion requires attention to formulas, dates, and encoding. Verify the result before sharing.