About the TSV Splitter
Very large tab-separated files can be too big for a spreadsheet, an upload form or a tool that limits the number of rows. This splitter cuts a TSV into several smaller files. Choose how many data rows each part should hold and whether the heading row is repeated at the top of every part. The parts are listed with their names, and one button downloads them all as a ZIP of .tsv files. Rows are cut only between records, never in the middle of a cell. It runs in your browser and your data is not uploaded.
Updated October 2026
How to use the TSV Splitter
- 1Paste your TSV into the left box.
- 2Enter how many data rows each file should hold.
- 3Keep the header option on to repeat the heading in every part.
- 4Check the list of parts and their row counts.
- 5Press Download ZIP to save all parts.
When splitting helps
Spreadsheets stop at about a million rows, upload pages often cap the rows, and some analysis tools run faster on batches. Splitting a TSV into parts of a fixed size solves all of these. It is also a simple way to hand different slices of a data set to different people.
Keep the original file until every part has been imported.
Pick the part size
Look up the limit of the place you are sending to, and set the rows a little below it. To get a given number of parts, divide the total rows by that number and round up.
- Spreadsheet comfort: 50,000 rows
- Upload form: its stated limit
- Parallel work: total ÷ people
Check the parts
The note shows the total rows and the number of files. Add up the rows of the parts and compare with the total to be sure nothing was lost.
Examples
A TSV with a heading and five data rows, split two rows per file, gives three files: the first two rows, the next two and the last one, each with the heading on top. The text view shows the name of each part, such as part-001.tsv, and its row count before its content.
The ZIP holds exactly those files, so you can unzip them and import them one at a time.
Phone and computer
On a phone, paste into the box, adjust the rows per file, and tap Copy to carry the result into another app. On a computer you can also download it as a file. The two boxes sit side by side on a wide screen and one above the other on a narrow one, so you can compare input and result without zooming. Nothing you paste is uploaded or stored.
Good to know
The split is made between rows only. Each part is a complete tab-separated table, so any of them can be opened or imported on its own. If you do not repeat the heading, the parts are plain row blocks that can be joined again by simple concatenation. If your file uses commas, CSV Splitter is the matching tool. TSV Column Extractor reads one column from a part, and TSV to CSV Converter changes the format of a part once you have split it.
Features
- Split by number of data rows
- Repeats the heading row in each part
- ZIP of numbered .tsv files
- Shows the rows in each part
- Tab separator is fixed
- Private: nothing is uploaded
Frequently asked questions
How do I split a TSV file?
Paste it, set the rows per file and press Download ZIP. You receive part-001.tsv, part-002.tsv and so on.
Does each part get the heading row?
Yes while the header option is on, so every file works on its own.
Does the row count include the heading?
No. The number is the count of data rows in each part.
What is the maximum number of files?
The tool stops at 1,000 parts and asks for a larger rows value.
How large a file can I paste?
Millions of characters are fine on a computer; an older phone may slow down. Split the biggest files on a computer.
Is my data uploaded?
No. The split and the ZIP are made in your browser.