CSV to TSV Converter
This CSV to TSV converter parses your comma-separated data properly before re-emitting it with tab separators, which matters more than it sounds: a naive find-and-replace breaks the moment a value contains a comma inside quotes. Here a field written as "Chen, Ada" stays in one column. Quoting is then re-applied only where a value genuinely contains a tab, a quote or a line break, so most files come out completely unquoted and far easier to read. Semicolon and pipe delimited input is supported too, and the whole conversion runs in your browser.
How it works
Swaps the separator without touching the values. Quoted fields are parsed properly first, so a value like "Chen, Ada" stays in one column instead of splitting on the comma inside it.
Quoting is then re-applied only where a value actually contains a tab, a quote or a line break — which for most data means none at all, leaving a file that is far easier to read.
The conversion runs entirely in your browser — nothing you paste or upload is sent to a server.
How to convert CSV to TSV
- Paste your CSV into the input on the left, or upload a
.csvfile. - If your file uses semicolons or pipes rather than commas, pick that delimiter first.
- Copy the tab-separated result, or download it as a
.tsvfile.
Why a find-and-replace is not enough
The obvious way to turn CSV into TSV is to replace every comma with a tab, and it works right up until a value
contains a comma of its own. A row written as 3,"Chen, Ada",editor has three fields, but a blind
replacement produces four — and every row after it in the file silently shifts a column to the right.
This tool parses the CSV properly first, honouring quoted fields, doubled quotes inside them and line breaks within a value. Only once the rows are correctly separated does it write them back out with tabs.
Quoting in the output
Tab-separated files follow the same quoting rules as CSV, but they need them far less often. A value is quoted only when it actually contains a tab, a double quote or a line break — and since tabs almost never appear inside real data, most files come out with no quoting at all. That is the main practical reason to prefer TSV: what you get is readable in a plain text editor.
Common use cases
- Preparing a file that will be pasted into Excel, Numbers or Google Sheets.
- Feeding a script or command-line tool that splits on tabs.
- Cleaning up a CSV export whose values are full of commas.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert CSV to TSV?
Paste your CSV into the left panel or upload a .csv file. The tab-separated result appears on the right, ready to copy or download.
Why not just replace every comma with a tab?
Because a comma inside a quoted field is part of the value, not a separator. Replacing blindly would split "Chen, Ada" across two columns. This tool parses the CSV first, so quoted commas are preserved.
Does the output keep the quotes?
Only where they are needed — around values that contain a tab, a double quote or a line break. Since tabs are rare inside real data, most files come out with no quoting at all.
Can I convert semicolon or pipe separated files?
Yes. Choose the delimiter your file actually uses from the dropdown and the rest of the conversion is identical.
What happens to the header row?
It is carried through to the output by default. Untick the header option if your file has no header row, and every line will be treated as data.
Is my file uploaded to a server?
No. Files you choose are read directly in your browser, so nothing leaves your device.
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