How to convert CSV to TSV
Paste or upload CSV
Paste a CSV table, upload one file, or batch upload several CSV files. The converter accepts .csv and plain text exports.
Convert comma-separated to tab-separated
The parser reads proper CSV quoting first, then writes tab characters between cells so commas inside data stay untouched.
Download .tsv output
Save one TSV file, copy the tab-delimited result, or download a ZIP when converting multiple files.
CSV to TSV: why tab-separated files are useful
CSV uses commas between fields. TSV uses tab characters. That small change makes a big difference when the data itself contains commas.
Addresses, financial descriptions, product names, notes, and prose fields often include commas. In CSV, those values must be quoted correctly or the file breaks into the wrong columns.
TSV avoids most of that friction. Real data rarely contains tab characters, so a tab-delimited file is easier to inspect, diff, import, and process in databases, BI tools, data science scripts, and bioinformatics pipelines.
TSV file format vs CSV
Both formats are plain text. The right choice depends on where the file goes next and what characters appear inside your data.
| Format | Delimiter | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| CSV | Comma | Excel exports, accounting imports, general spreadsheet sharing | Fields with commas must be quoted correctly |
| TSV | Tab | Data with commas, command-line workflows, databases, analytics pipelines | Fields with tabs or newlines may still need quoting |
A CSV to TSV converter built for real files
Quoted fields handled correctly
Commas inside quotes stay inside the cell. The tool changes delimiters without splitting descriptions, addresses, or currency text.
Batch convert CSV to TSV
Upload multiple CSV files and download a ZIP with matching .tsv files. Each file is processed independently in the browser.
Paste mode for quick jobs
Copy from a text editor, terminal, Excel, or Google Sheets and convert immediately without saving a file first.
Delimiter control
Most users need comma input, but the tool can auto-detect or read semicolon, pipe, and custom delimiters too.
Preview before download
Check rows and columns before exporting so delimiter or quote problems are visible early.
Private by design
All conversion happens locally. There is no upload step and no account required.
Manual ways to convert CSV to TSV
The online converter is fastest for most files, but these manual methods are useful when you need a script or spreadsheet workflow.
How to convert CSV to TSV in Python
Use Python's built-in csv module for reliable quoted-field handling, or pandas when you already work in a data frame.
import csv
with open('file.csv', newline='', encoding='utf-8') as source:
with open('file.tsv', 'w', newline='', encoding='utf-8') as target:
reader = csv.reader(source)
writer = csv.writer(target, delimiter='\t')
writer.writerows(reader)
# pandas option:
# df = pd.read_csv('file.csv')
# df.to_csv('file.tsv', sep='\t', index=False)How to convert CSV to TSV in Excel
Open the CSV, choose File -> Save As, then select Text (Tab delimited). Excel may save with a .txt extension; rename it to .tsv if your importer requires that.
How to convert CSV to TSV in Google Sheets
Import the CSV into Google Sheets, then use File -> Download -> Tab Separated Values (.tsv). This works well for everyday spreadsheet data.
CSV to TSV bash one-liner
For very simple CSV with no quoted commas, sed can replace commas with tabs. For proper CSV, use Python instead.
sed 's/,/\t/g' input.csv > output.tsvHow to convert CSV to TSV in R
Read the CSV with read.csv, then write a tab-separated file with write.table.
data <- read.csv('file.csv', check.names = FALSE)
write.table(data, 'file.tsv', sep = '\t', row.names = FALSE, quote = FALSE)What the free CSV to TSV tool supports
CSV to TSV converter — frequently asked questions
Clear answers for converting comma-separated values to tab-separated values online.