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JSON to Excel-Ready Spreadsheet

How to Open a JSON File in Excel

JSON files don't open in Excel by default, but converting them into columns and rows takes seconds. Paste your JSON below and instantly download an Excel-ready spreadsheet.

Paste or Upload JSON Auto Column Detection Instant Excel-Ready File

No manual copy-pasting needed

This tool automatically converts nested JSON data into clean, properly separated columns that open perfectly in Excel, Google Sheets, or Numbers.

Free JSON to Excel Converter

Paste your JSON or upload a .json file below to convert it into a spreadsheet-ready file.

Enter Your JSON

OR
Works best with a JSON array of objects (like a list of records). Nested fields are automatically flattened into their own columns.

Excel-Ready File

No file yet

Paste your JSON and press Convert to see your Excel-ready file here.

Why JSON Won't Open Directly in Excel

JSON stores data as nested key-value pairs, while Excel expects data arranged in flat rows and columns.

Different Data Structure

JSON is designed for nested, hierarchical data, which doesn't map directly onto a spreadsheet grid.

Automatic Flattening

This tool converts nested fields into their own labeled columns automatically.

Universal CSV Format

The output is a CSV file, which Excel, Google Sheets, and Numbers all open natively.

How to Open a JSON File in Excel: Step by Step

  1. Open your .json file in any text editor and copy its contents, or use the upload option above.
  2. Paste the JSON into the box above, or upload the .json file directly.
  3. Click "Convert to Excel Format" to generate a spreadsheet-ready CSV file.
  4. Download the CSV file and double-click it — it will open directly in Excel with each field in its own column.

If you'd rather do this manually in Excel itself, you can also use Excel's built-in Data > Get Data > From File > From JSON import feature (available in Excel for Microsoft 365 and Excel 2016 or later), though this requires using Power Query to shape the data into a table, which is more involved than a direct CSV conversion.

How It Works

Convert your JSON file to an Excel-ready format in three simple steps.

1

Add Your JSON

Paste your JSON text, or upload a .json file directly from your device.

2

Automatic Conversion

The tool detects columns, flattens nested fields, and builds a clean spreadsheet structure.

3

Download & Open

Download the CSV file and open it directly in Excel, Google Sheets, or Numbers.

JSON to Excel FAQs

Common questions about opening JSON files in Excel.

No, Excel doesn't recognize the .json extension by default. You need to either import it through Power Query or convert it into a table format like CSV first, which this tool does automatically.
Nested objects are automatically split into separate columns using dot notation (e.g. address.city), and simple lists of values are joined into a single column separated by semicolons.
It generates a CSV file, which opens natively and correctly in Excel, Google Sheets, and Apple Numbers with each field in its own column.
Yes, you can convert JSON files up to 5MB in size, containing up to 5,000 records in a single conversion.
The tool combines all unique fields across every record into the column headers, leaving cells blank where a particular record doesn't have that field.
Yes, this tool is completely free to use with no signup required and no limit on how many files you can convert.