How to Easily Convert CSV Files to Excel Spreadsheets in 5 Quick Steps

CSV (comma separated values) files are a simple plain text format for storing tabular data. CSVs work perfectly for exporting and importing between programs and are ideal for converting to Excel.

If you regularly receive CSV files, you may spend hours manually reformatting them in Excel. The good news is you can automate converting CSV files into Excel spreadsheets in just a few clicks.

In this guide, you’ll learn:

• What CSV files are and why convert them
• 5 simple steps for converting CSV to Excel
• How to check data formatting after import
• Tips for customizing the import settings
• How to troubleshoot and clean messy CSV data
• Methods for automating CSV to Excel conversions

Follow these 5 easy steps to seamlessly convert CSVs into fully formatted Excel spreadsheets.

What Are CSV Files?

CSV stands for “comma separated values” CSV files contain plain text data separated by commas, They are commonly used for exporting and importing data between programs,

CSVs have a simple structure with values in each row separated by commas The first row usually contains column headings

Here’s an example CSV data file:

Date,Product,Category,Sales 01/01/2020,Widget 1,Electronics,$1001/02/2020,Widget 2,Electronics,$2001/03/2020,Widget 3,Electronics,$30

CSVs work nicely for exporting Excel spreadsheet data since they are compact and structured. But to analyze or edit the information, you’ll want to convert back into Excel format.

Let’s look at how to quickly import CSV data into Excel.

Step 1: Save the CSV File

When you receive or download a CSV file, the first step is to save it in a designated folder on your computer.

Having the files saved ahead of time will make the importing faster. Use a consistent folder location and naming convention.

Step 2: Open a New Excel Spreadsheet

Launch Microsoft Excel on your computer. Open a new blank workbook file. This will become the converted Excel spreadsheet.

Step 3: Go to Data > From Text/CSV

With your blank Excel workbook open, go to the “Data” tab and select the “From Text/CSV” button. This will launch the import wizard.

You can also right-click on the spreadsheet and choose “From Text/CSV” from the pop-up menu.

Step 4: Select the CSV File

In the import wizard, navigate to and select the saved CSV file you want to convert to Excel. Select “Import” to move to the next step.

Step 5: Set Delimiters

Since CSV files are plain text, you need to specify how the data fields are separated.

Choose “Comma” as the only delimiter and set all other boxes to unchecked. This will properly split the CSV’s comma-separated values into separate columns. Select “Next” and then “Finish” to complete the import.

The CSV data will now populate into the Excel spreadsheet as formatted columns and rows. That’s all it takes! Now let’s look at some tips for finalizing the converted spreadsheet.

Check Data Formatting

Once the import finishes, scan the spreadsheet to make sure all data formatted properly:

• Verify date fields were converted to Excel date format
• Look for blank cells that should have values
• Check numbers and currencies are in the right formats
• Confirm text and numbers are aligned left/right correctly

Spend a minute reviewing key fields to catch any formatting issues. Excel does a good job converting data types, but it’s worth a quick check.

Customize Import Settings

If you regularly import the same CSV files, you can customize the import to fit your specific needs:

• Delimited – Only check Comma, uncheck other separators
• Advanced – Specify Date formats like DMY, MDY etc.
• Import data as – Choose column types like Text vs General
• Trailing minus – For negative numbers formatted like 123-
• Consecutive delimiters – How to handle blank consecutive values

Setting up saved import presets will speed up your CSV to Excel conversions.

Clean Up Messy CSV Data

Sometimes CSV data contains formatting quirks that should be fixed in Excel:

• Leading/trailing spaces – Use TRIM function to remove extra spaces
• Inconsistent date formats – Convert all dates to the same format
• Non-breaking spaces – Do Find/Replace to remove strange spaces
• Erroneous commas within fields – Split column to separate value & comma

Taking a minute to clean up irregular CSV formatting will improve your Excel data quality.

Automate CSV to Excel Conversion

As an advanced approach, you can use Power Query to fully automate importing CSV files into Excel.

With Power Query, you can:

• Save template queries for each CSV type
• Schedule automatic refresh of imported data
• Load CSVs from folders or websites
• Further clean and transform after import

Setting up automated Power Query CSV imports will help you efficiently manage high CSV volumes.

Quickly Convert CSV Data into Excel

1. Save CSV files in designated folder
2. Open new blank Excel workbook
3. Go to Data > From Text/CSV
4. Select CSV file and Import
5. Set delimiter as Comma

Following these steps allows you to smoothly import CSV data into properly formatted Excel spreadsheets.

Converting CSVs into Excel makes the data much easier to analyze, visualize, report on, and share with others. By automating the CSV import process, you can save significant time and frustration each week.

So learn these quick tips for flawless CSV to Excel conversion results. Ditch the manual copy-paste approach and leverage the built in tools to import CSVs effortlessly.