In this article
IMPORTCSV (2026) is the simple version of IMPORTTEXT for standard CSV files: one argument, a refreshable dynamic array.
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Syntax
=IMPORTCSV(path, [skip_rows], [take_rows], [locale])| Argument | What it means |
|---|---|
path |
CSV file path or URL |
skip_rows, take_rows |
Optional row limits |
Examples
Example 1
=IMPORTCSV(A2)Result: (spills the CSV as a table). See the worked example table below for more cases.
IMPORTCSV in practice
Where you will use it
- Monthly sales exports
- Data from web apps that export CSV
- Feeding a dashboard from a CSV that is replaced daily
Worked example
| File | Formula | Result |
|---|---|---|
| D:\Data\sales.csv | =IMPORTCSV(A2) | (spills the CSV as a table) |
Not calculated here: IMPORTCSV needs the latest Microsoft 365 (rolling out from 2026). The result shown is what it returns.
Mistakes people make
| Mistake | What to do instead |
|---|---|
| Dates read as text | Set the locale argument or convert with DATEVALUE |
| Non-standard separators | Use IMPORTTEXT with a delimiter |
Related functions
📚 Part of the free Excel course: Beginner → Expert · Try it in the Formula Lab or ask the AI Helper.
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