How to convert TSV to CSV
Upload or paste TSV
Drop a .tsv, .tab, or tab-delimited .txt file into the tool, or paste tab-separated rows directly into the input box.
Preview the parsed table
The converter reads tabs as column boundaries and shows the first rows before export, so you can catch bad delimiters early.
Download CSV
Save a .csv file, copy the comma-separated output, or download a ZIP when converting several TSV files at once.
What is a TSV file?
A TSV file stores data in plain text, with each column separated by a tab character. The format is called Tab-Separated Values, and the file usually carries a .tsv extension. Some applications export the same structure with a .txt extension, especially older database tools and command-line programs.
Tab-separated files are common in scientific research, bioinformatics, and data engineering. Ensembl, UCSC Genome Browser, NCBI databases, Galaxy workflows, and many Unix-based pipelines export TSV because tab characters rarely appear inside real data values.
If you open a .tsv file in Notepad, TextEdit, or VS Code, the columns look separated by wide spaces. Those spaces are tab characters, not regular spaces. When you import the file correctly into Excel or Google Sheets, each tab-separated field lands in its own column.
Common sources of TSV files
What is a CSV file?
CSV stands for Comma-Separated Values. It is a plain-text format where each column is separated by a comma, and any field that contains a comma gets wrapped in double quotes. CSV is the most widely accepted data exchange format across business tools.
Unlike TSV, CSV requires quoting rules. A value such as New York, NY must be wrapped in double quotes so the comma inside the address is not treated as a column separator. Proper CSV parsers handle this automatically.
Why convert TSV to CSV?
The main reason is compatibility. TSV works well inside technical pipelines, but spreadsheets, CRMs, email marketing platforms, reporting dashboards, and import forms usually default to CSV. A .tsv file often needs extra import steps before business users can work with it.
Common cases include datasets from government portals, PostgreSQL or MySQL exports created with tab delimiters, bioinformatics results that need Excel analysis, legacy tab-delimited .txt files, and contact lists that must be loaded into HubSpot, Salesforce, Mailchimp, or another platform.
Other ways to convert TSV to CSV
Use the online converter for the fastest browser workflow, or use one of these methods when your team needs a script, spreadsheet import, or terminal command.
Using this online converter
Upload your .tsv file or paste tab-separated data into the input box. The tool reads every row, changes the tab delimiter to a comma, and wraps fields with commas in double quotes. For most files, the conversion takes only a few seconds.
How to convert TSV to CSV in Python
Python's built-in csv module handles TSV conversion cleanly and deals with embedded commas and newlines inside fields.
import csv
with open('input.tsv', 'r', newline='', encoding='utf-8') as tsv_in:
reader = csv.reader(tsv_in, delimiter='\t')
with open('output.csv', 'w', newline='', encoding='utf-8') as csv_out:
writer = csv.writer(csv_out)
writer.writerows(reader)
# pandas option:
# import pandas as pd
# df = pd.read_csv('input.tsv', sep='\t')
# df.to_csv('output.csv', index=False)How to open a TSV file in Excel and save CSV
Open Excel, go to the Data tab, choose Get External Data, then From Text. Select the .tsv file, choose Delimited, select Tab, and finish the import. Then use File, Save As, and choose CSV (Comma delimited). A useful shortcut is to rename .tsv to .txt before opening it, which often starts Excel's import wizard.
How to convert TSV to CSV in Google Sheets
Open Google Sheets, choose File, Import, upload the .tsv file, and set the separator type to Tab. After the file loads, choose File, Download, and Comma Separated Values (.csv). Google Sheets applies the required quoting rules automatically.
How to convert TSV to CSV using bash
For files where values do not contain commas, sed is enough. For fields that may contain commas, use awk or Python so output fields are quoted correctly.
sed 's/\t/,/g' input.tsv > output.csv
awk 'BEGIN {FS="\t"; OFS=","} {
for (i=1; i<=NF; i++) {
if ($i ~ /,/) $i = "\"" $i "\""
}
print
}' input.tsv > output.csvCommon use cases for TSV to CSV conversion
Loading data into spreadsheets
Excel and Google Sheets open CSV through their normal file menus. TSV often needs an import wizard. Converting first saves time when you repeat the task.
Importing contacts into a CRM
HubSpot, Salesforce, Mailchimp, and most email platforms expect CSV imports. Tab-delimited contact exports need conversion before upload.
Feeding analytics tools
Tableau, Power BI, and reporting tools may read TSV, but CSV works with the broadest range of connectors and import workflows.
Sharing with non-technical users
A .csv file opens more predictably with Excel or Numbers. A .tsv file can confuse users who are not used to import settings.
Archiving scientific datasets
Research datasets often arrive as TSV because the values contain commas. CSV makes the processed archive easier to reuse in business and spreadsheet tools.
TSV vs CSV: the key differences
Both formats store tabular data in plain text. The difference comes down to the delimiter and how each format handles special characters inside fields.
| Aspect | TSV | CSV |
|---|---|---|
| Delimiter | Tab character | Comma |
| Quoting | Rarely needed because tabs seldom appear in values | Required for fields with commas, quotes, or newlines |
| File size | Often slightly smaller because there is less quoting | May be a little larger when many fields need quotes |
| Compatibility | Strong in engineering, bioinformatics, and Unix workflows | Best support across spreadsheets, CRMs, and business software |
| Text editor readability | Often easier to scan because tabs align columns visually | Can look cluttered when values contain many commas |
TSV to CSV converter: frequently asked questions
Answers for opening, converting, and sharing tab-separated files as CSV.