How to Convert CSV to JSON

If you’re working with APIs, apps, or NoSQL databases, chances are you’ve come across the need to convert a CSV file into a JSON format. CSV to JSON conversion is essential for modern data workflows — turning flat, tabular data into structured, readable formats used in applications. Whether you’re a developer, analyst, or just exploring data formats, this guide will give you everything you need to know.

Preparing Your CSV Before Conversion

Before you convert a CSV file to JSON, ensure your data is clean and well-structured. Even minor formatting issues can cause conversion tools or scripts to fail, especially when working with nested or inconsistent data.

Ensure column headers are clear and consistent

Each column should have a unique, descriptive name. Avoid special characters, duplicate headers, or spaces. Use underscores if necessary (e.g. first_name, order_total).

Remove empty fields and unnecessary whitespace

Trailing columns, blank rows, and excessive whitespace can result in null values or malformed JSON structures. Keep your data lean and consistent.

Avoid special characters or malformed cells

Commas, quotation marks, or escape characters inside data fields can cause parsing issues. Use quotation marks around strings that include commas and ensure your text encoding is UTF-8.

Flatten nested values

Since CSV is a flat format, avoid including multiple values in a single cell (e.g. [“item1”, “item2”]). Either split them into separate columns or restructure the data later during conversion.

How to Convert CSV to JSON

There are several ways to convert a CSV file to JSON, depending on your technical skills and workflow. Here are the four main methods:

1. Using Microsoft Excel (no code)

Best for: Business users or analysts on Windows (Excel 2016 or later).

Excel can prepare CSVs for conversion through Power Query. To convert JSON back to Excel:

1. Open Excel
2. Go to Data → Get Data → From File → From JSON
3. Browse to your file and click Import
4. In Power Query Editor, select To Table
5. Click the expand icon to unpack nested fields
6. Click Close & Load

2. Using Python with pandas

Best for: Developers and data scientists automating conversions.

import pandas as pd

# Load CSV
df = pd.read_csv('your_file.csv')

# Convert to JSON
df.to_json('output.json', orient='records', indent=4)

Install dependencies:

pip install pandas
pip install openpyxl

3. Using Online Tools

Best for: Non-technical users who need quick results.

• csvjson.com
• convertcsv.com
• json-csv.com

4. Using Google Sheets

Best for: Collaborative or cloud-based environments.

Option A: Upload your CSV, clean it, download as .csv, and use an online converter.

Option B: Use Google Apps Script for custom automation.

What’s the Difference Between CSV and JSON?

Both store structured data, but with different purposes:

CSV example:

Name,Email,Age
Jane Doe,jane@example.com,30

JSON equivalent:

[
  {
    "Name": "Jane Doe",
    "Email": "jane@example.com",
    "Age": 30
  }
]

Why Convert CSV to JSON?

1. API integration: Most APIs accept or return JSON.
2. Web development: Frameworks like React and Vue work natively with JSON.
3. NoSQL databases: Systems like MongoDB use JSON-like documents.
4. Automation and scripting: Backend workflows rely on JSON for moving data.

What to Do with Your JSON File Next

• Import into apps or dashboards – upload JSON as configuration or data.
• Store in a NoSQL database – MongoDB or CouchDB accept JSON documents.
• Use in web or mobile projects – power dynamic UIs or data sync.
• Upload to the cloud – AWS S3, Google Cloud, or Azure Storage.
• Validate your file – check with JSONLint.

How to Convert JSON to Excel

1. Using Microsoft Excel

1. Open Excel
2. Go to Data → Get Data → From File → From JSON
3. Import and expand columns in Power Query

2. Using Python with pandas

import pandas as pd

# Load JSON
df = pd.read_json('your_file.json')

# Export to Excel
df.to_excel('output.xlsx', index=False)

3. Using Online Tools

Use tools such as json-csv.com or convertcsv.com to reverse the process.

4. Using Google Sheets

Convert JSON to CSV and upload it to Sheets, or use Google Apps Script to parse JSON directly.

How WeTransform Can Help

If you need to manage large-scale data transformations, government reporting, or recurring workflows, WeTransform offers:

• High-volume conversions
• Schema validation and transformation logic
• Secure handling of sensitive data
• Workflow automation

Start transforming now →

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re handling e-commerce data, analytics exports, or pipelines, CSV to JSON conversion is a fundamental skill. You don’t need to be a developer — with Excel, online converters, or Python, anyone can do it cleanly and efficiently.