CSV to TSV Converter
Paste comma-separated values and instantly convert them to tab-separated values (TSV). Copy the result or download a .tsv file — everything runs in your browser.
- 01Convert CSV to TSV (tab-separated values) instantly as you type.
- 02Quoted fields, embedded commas, and newlines are parsed correctly.
- 03Copy the TSV or download it as a .tsv file in one click.
- 04Tabs replace commas as the delimiter, so the data stays perfectly aligned.
- 05100% private — your CSV never leaves your browser.
CSV to TSV Converter
Load an example
4 rows × 3 columns
Why Use This CSV to TSV Converter
Instant, Live Conversion
The TSV updates as you type or paste — no Convert button to press, no waiting. Edit your CSV and watch the tab-separated output change in real time.
Correct CSV Parsing
The converter follows the RFC 4180 standard, so quoted fields, commas inside quotes, escaped double quotes, and embedded line breaks are all parsed correctly before being re-written with tabs.
Clean Tab-Separated Output
Each comma delimiter is replaced with a tab character, producing a true TSV file that loads cleanly into Excel, Google Sheets, databases, and command-line tools like cut and awk.
Keeps Your Data Aligned
Rows with empty cells, extra columns, or quoted values stay aligned because the converter parses CSV into a table first, then serializes every row with the same tab delimiter.
Copy or Download
Copy the TSV to your clipboard with one click, or download it as a ready-to-use .tsv file. No account, no email, no limits on how much you convert.
Private and Offline-Friendly
All conversion happens locally in your browser using JavaScript. Your CSV is never uploaded to a server, so it is safe to use with confidential or sensitive data.
Converting CSV to TSV
CSV (Comma-Separated Values) and TSV (Tab-Separated Values) are the two most common plain-text table formats. They are nearly identical — the only difference is the delimiter between fields. Converting CSV to TSV swaps the comma for a tab, which is useful when your data itself contains commas or when a tool specifically expects tab-delimited input.
Whether you are preparing data for a database import, a command-line script, or a tool that only accepts tab-delimited files, this CSV to TSV converter gives you clean, correctly-parsed TSV instantly.
- What Changes
- Only the delimiter changes. Every comma that separates two fields becomes a tab character, while the rows, headers, and cell values themselves stay exactly the same.
- Why Choose Tabs
- Tabs rarely appear inside real-world data, so TSV often avoids the quoting and escaping that commas require in CSV. Many Unix tools, databases, and bioinformatics pipelines default to tab-separated input.
- Quoting and Escaping
- When parsing your CSV, fields wrapped in double quotes — including any commas or newlines inside them — are read as a single value, so they end up in one tab-separated column instead of being split apart.
- Encoding
- The output is UTF-8 text, so accented characters, emoji, and non-Latin scripts are preserved exactly. The .tsv download can be opened in any spreadsheet or text editor.
How to Convert CSV to TSV
- 01
Paste your CSV
Paste or type your comma-separated values into the input box on the left. You can also load one of the examples to see how quoted fields and empty cells are handled.
- 02
Watch the TSV appear
The tab-separated output is generated instantly on the right. Commas between fields are replaced with tab characters while your headers and values stay intact.
- 03
Review the result
Check the TSV output and the row and column count shown below it to confirm the table was parsed the way you expected.
- 04
Copy or download
Click Copy to put the TSV on your clipboard, or Download TSV to save it as a .tsv file ready to open in Excel, Google Sheets, or a database import tool.
Tips for CSV to TSV Conversion
Quote Fields That Contain Commas
If a CSV value contains a comma, wrap it in double quotes (for example "1,200") so the parser treats it as one field. Otherwise it will be split into two tab-separated columns.
Keep a Consistent Header Row
Put your column names in the first row. The header is treated like any other row, so it is converted to tab-separated values along with the data beneath it.
Check for Stray Tabs in Your Data
Because tabs are the new delimiter, any literal tab already inside a cell could shift columns. Review the output if your source data might contain tab characters.
Use TSV for Command-Line Tools
Tab-separated files work well with Unix utilities such as cut, awk, and sort, which split on tabs by default. TSV is often the safest format for scripting pipelines.
Mind UTF-8 Encoding
The download is UTF-8. If a spreadsheet shows garbled characters, import the .tsv via Data → From Text and choose UTF-8 so accented and non-Latin characters display correctly.
Verify Empty and Trailing Cells
Empty cells become empty tab-separated values, keeping every row the same width. Confirm that blank fields and trailing columns match what your target tool expects.
CSV and TSV Reference
CSV vs TSV
CSV and TSV are both plain-text table formats where each line is a row and a delimiter separates the fields. CSV uses a comma; TSV uses a tab. Because tabs are rare inside data, TSV often needs less quoting than CSV.
When to convert CSV to TSV
- Feed data into Unix tools like cut, awk, or sort that split on tabs.
- Import into databases or pipelines that expect tab-delimited input.
- Avoid comma conflicts when your values already contain commas.
- Paste tabular data straight into a spreadsheet, which reads tabs as columns.
RFC 4180 parsing
The converter parses CSV using RFC 4180 rules: fields may be wrapped in double quotes, embedded quotes are written as two double quotes, and quoted fields can contain commas and line breaks. Those values are preserved when re-written as TSV.
Conversion Rules
Comma delimiter → tab delimiter
Each comma that separates two fields is replaced with a single tab character.
a,b,c → a⇥b⇥c
Rows stay rows
Every line of the CSV becomes one line of TSV; the number of rows never changes.
2 CSV lines → 2 TSV lines
Quoted field → single cell
A double-quoted field is parsed as one value, even if it contains commas.
"1,200" → 1,200 (one column)
Empty value → empty cell
A missing field between delimiters becomes an empty tab-separated cell.
a,,c → a⇥⇥c
CSV to TSV Converter FAQ
Q01How do I convert CSV to TSV?
Paste your comma-separated values into the input box. The tool instantly converts them to TSV by replacing each comma delimiter with a tab character, then click Copy or Download TSV. Everything happens in your browser.
Q02What is the difference between CSV and TSV?
CSV uses a comma to separate fields, while TSV uses a tab. The data, rows, and headers are otherwise identical. TSV is handy when your values themselves contain commas or when a tool requires tab-delimited input.
Q03Does it handle quoted fields and commas inside values?
Yes. The parser follows the RFC 4180 standard, so a quoted field like "1,200" is read as a single value. Commas, quotes, and line breaks inside quotes are preserved and kept in one tab-separated column.
Q04What happens to empty cells?
Empty cells become empty tab-separated values, so every row keeps the same number of columns and your table stays aligned in the TSV output.
Q05Is my CSV uploaded to a server?
No. The conversion runs entirely in your browser with JavaScript. Your data is never sent or stored anywhere, so it is safe to convert private or sensitive CSV files.
Q06Will the TSV open correctly in Excel or Google Sheets?
Yes. Tab-separated values are recognized by Excel and Google Sheets. You can paste the TSV directly into a sheet, or open the downloaded .tsv file and choose tab as the delimiter when prompted.
Q07Is there a size limit?
There is no fixed limit, but because everything runs in your browser, very large files (tens of megabytes) depend on your device's memory. For typical exports and datasets the conversion is instant.
Q08Is this CSV to TSV converter free?
Yes, completely free with no signup, no watermark, and no limits. Convert as much CSV to TSV as you like.