# Excel to CSV Converter

Convert Excel file to CSV format, extracting data from the first worksheet

> Canonical page: https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/excel-to-csv

- **Category:** Format Conversion

- **Keywords:** excel, csv, converter, transform, data, xlsx, xls, spreadsheet

## Overview

The Excel to CSV Converter is a streamlined utility designed to transform your spreadsheet files into plain-text CSV format. By extracting data directly from the first worksheet, this tool ensures your structured data is ready for database imports, data analysis, or cross-platform compatibility.

## Inputs

- **Excel File** (file)
- **CSV Delimiter** (text): Field delimiter (comma, tab, semicolon, etc.)
- **First Row Contains Headers** (checkbox)
- **Trim Whitespace from Values** (checkbox)
- **Quote Empty Fields** (checkbox)

## When to use

- Preparing spreadsheet data for import into SQL databases or CRM systems.
- Standardizing data formats for use in programming environments or text-based applications.
- Reducing file size by stripping away complex Excel formatting and formulas.

## How it works

- Upload your .xlsx or .xls file using the primary file input.
- Adjust settings such as the CSV delimiter, header inclusion, and whitespace trimming to match your target requirements.
- Click the convert button to process the file and generate your plain-text CSV output.

## Use cases

- Migrating customer contact lists from Excel into email marketing platforms.
- Converting financial reports into machine-readable formats for custom analysis scripts.
- Cleaning up messy spreadsheet data by removing unnecessary whitespace and formatting.

## Frequently asked questions

### Which worksheets are converted?

This tool extracts data exclusively from the first worksheet of your Excel file.

### Can I change the delimiter?

Yes, you can specify any character, such as a comma, tab, or semicolon, in the CSV Delimiter field.

### Does it handle whitespace?

Yes, the 'Trim Whitespace' option is enabled by default to clean up leading and trailing spaces from your data cells.

### What happens to empty fields?

You can choose to quote empty fields if your specific data pipeline requires explicit empty string indicators.

### Is my data secure?

The conversion is processed efficiently, and your files are not stored permanently on our servers.

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## Samples

- [XLS Samples](https://elysiatools.com/en/samples/xls-samples): Sample legacy Excel (XLS) files for binary spreadsheet parsing and import tests
- [XLSX Samples](https://elysiatools.com/en/samples/xlsx-samples): Sample XLSX spreadsheets for worksheet parsing and data extraction testing
- [CSV Samples](https://elysiatools.com/en/samples/csv-samples): Sample CSV files with various data types, sizes, and complexity levels
- [Python Samples](https://elysiatools.com/en/samples/python): Essential Python code examples and Hello World demonstrations

## Related content

- [Tabular Data Conversion Workflow](https://elysiatools.com/en/hubs/csv-convert): Convert CSV, spreadsheets, JSON, HTML tables, Markdown, XML, and text while checking headers, delimiters, types, and encoding.