About the Split Excel
Big spreadsheets are hard to email, import or hand out. This tool splits one into several smaller files in three ways: every N rows, for example 500 rows per file for an import limit; one file for each value in a column, such as one file per region, salesperson or store; or one file per sheet of a workbook. The header row can be repeated at the top of every file. Save the parts as Excel or CSV and download them together in one ZIP.
Updated October 2026
How to use the Split Excel
- 1Select an .xlsx, .ods or .csv file and pick the sheet.
- 2Choose how to split: every N rows, by a column, or one file per sheet.
- 3Set the number of rows or the column.
- 4Choose Excel or CSV for the parts.
- 5Download the ZIP.
Choosing a method
Pick the method that matches why you are splitting.
- Import limits: every N rows
- Sharing with teams or regions: by a column
- Workbooks with many tabs: one file per sheet
Headers
Leave the header option on when the first row holds column names. Every part then starts with the same header, so each file works on its own in Excel or an importer.
File names
Parts are named after the original file plus part-01, part-02 and so on, or after the column value, such as sales-North.xlsx. Characters that aren't allowed in file names are replaced.
Combining files again
To put CSV parts back together, our Merge Text Lists tool or a spreadsheet's import feature can append them; keep only the first header.
Splitting very large files
When a file is too big for an email or an upload form, splitting it by rows is the quickest fix. As a rule of thumb, 10,000 rows of typical business data is about 1 MB as .xlsx. Splitting happens in your browser, so files with a few hundred thousand rows are best handled on a computer.
Splitting by a column for mail merges
Splitting a sales list by salesperson, a class list by teacher or an order list by supplier gives each person a file with just their rows. Sort the sheet first if you want the rows inside each file in a particular order; the original order is kept within each part.
Checking the parts
The message under the button says how many files were made. Open a couple of parts to check the header and the first and last rows before sending them on.
Phone and computer
Splitting works on any device; the ZIP downloads to your downloads folder. If you want plain text copies, use CSV Splitter, and Excel to CSV makes the single file first.
Features
- Split every N rows
- One file per column value
- One file per sheet
- Header repeated in every part
- Excel or CSV output
- All parts in one ZIP
Frequently asked questions
How do I split a large file for an import limit?
Choose Every N rows and enter the limit, such as 1,000. Each file gets the header plus up to 1,000 rows.
How do I send each person only their rows?
Choose By a column and pick the column with names or regions. Each file contains only that value's rows.
What happens to empty values in the chosen column?
Those rows go into a file called (empty).
Is there a limit on the number of files?
Up to 1,000 files per split, which keeps the ZIP manageable.
Are formulas and formatting kept?
Values are kept; formulas become their results and formatting is not copied.
Is my spreadsheet uploaded?
No. It is read and converted in your browser, so private figures and customer lists stay on your device.
Can I split a CSV file?
Yes. Pick a .csv file; the parts can be saved as CSV or Excel.