Convert TSV to CSV
Tab-sep → comma-sep
What is TSV to CSV Converter?
Convert between tab, comma, semicolon and pipe separated data, with the quoting done correctly. Swapping tabs for commas is not enough: a tab-separated field is allowed to contain a comma, a quote or even a newline, and unless those fields are quoted on the way out, the row silently gains columns and the data is corrupted in a way nobody notices for weeks. This tool parses properly, shows you the result as a grid before you commit, and tells you exactly which fields it had to quote and why. It also detects the file encoding, because exports from Excel on Windows are often UTF-16 or Windows-1252 rather than UTF-8.
How do I use TSV to CSV Converter?
- Paste your data or drop the file; the delimiter and encoding are detected.
- Check the preview grid, which shows how the data actually parsed.
- Choose the output delimiter, quoting policy and line endings.
- Copy the result or download it.
When should I use TSV to CSV Converter?
Use this to move data between tools that insist on different separators. To turn the same data into JSON, use CSV to JSON. To read a real spreadsheet file, use Excel to CSV. To flatten nested structures first, use JSON to CSV.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if a field contains a comma?
It gets wrapped in double quotes, per RFC 4180, and the tool tells you how many fields needed it. This is the single most common way a TSV to CSV conversion corrupts data: tools that just replace tabs with commas turn one field into two, and the row silently gains a column.
What about quotes inside a field?
Embedded double quotes are escaped by doubling them, which is the RFC 4180 convention that spreadsheets and database importers expect.
Can a field contain a line break?
Yes. A quoted field may span multiple lines, and the parser handles that correctly rather than treating it as a new row. Such fields are always quoted on output.
My file came out as mojibake in other converters; why?
Because it was probably not UTF-8. Excel on Windows frequently exports UTF-16LE or Windows-1252. This tool checks the byte order mark, looks for the null-byte pattern that signals BOM-less UTF-16, and validates UTF-8 before falling back, so the text decodes correctly before parsing starts.
What does the ragged rows warning mean?
It means some rows have a different number of fields from the first row. That almost always indicates the source delimiter was guessed wrong or a quote is unbalanced somewhere. The preview grid makes it obvious which rows are affected.
Which line endings should I choose?
LF is standard on Linux and macOS and is what most programming tools expect. CRLF is what Windows software and older Excel importers expect. The tool detects what your input used and defaults to that.
Is my file uploaded anywhere?
No. Everything runs in your browser. Your files never leave your device, and there is no server component for this tool.
Tools that pair well with TSV to CSV Converter
- CSV to JSON Converter structured csv → json, free and in your browser.
- Excel to CSV Converter .xlsx → csv, free and in your browser.
- JSON to CSV Converter flatten json arrays to csv, free and in your browser.
- XML to CSV Converter flatten xml to rows, free and in your browser.