CSV (Comma-Separated Values) remains a universal format for data exchange due to its simplicity, readability, and wide compatibility across platforms. If you're looking for a robust and efficient method to read CSV in Java, the Spire.XLS for Java library offers a powerful and straightforward solution.

This guide will walk you through how to use Java to load and read CSV files, as well as convert them into structured DataTables for seamless data manipulation and analysis in your applications.

• Why Choose Spire.XLS for Java to Parse CSV Files?
• Step-by-Step: Read a CSV File in Java
  • 1. Setup and Dependencies
  • 2. Load the CSV File
  • 3. Read CSV Data
• Advanced: Read CSV into DataTable in Java
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Conclusion

Why Choose Spire.XLS for Java to Parse CSV Files?

Compared with other CSV parser in Java, Spire.XLS offers several advantages for CSV processing:

• Simplified API for reading CSV files
• Support for custom delimiters (not just commas)
• Built-in range detection to avoid empty rows/columns
• Natively converts CSV data to DataTable
• Seamlessly switch between CSV, XLS, and XLSX formats

Step-by-Step: Read a CSV File in Java

Spire.XLS for Java provides the Workbook class to load CSV files and the Worksheet class to access data. Below are the steps to read CSV files line by line with automatic delimiter detection:

1. Setup and Dependencies

First, ensure you have Spire.XLS for Java included in your project. You can add it via Maven by including the following dependency:

<repositories>
    <repository>
        <id>com.e-iceblue</id>
        <name>e-iceblue</name>
        <url>https://repo.e-iceblue.com/nexus/content/groups/public/</url>
    </repository>
</repositories>
<dependencies>
    <dependency>
        <groupId>e-iceblue</groupId>
        <artifactId>spire.xls</artifactId>
        <version>15.12.15</version>
    </dependency>
</dependencies>

2. Load the CSV File

Spire.XLS for Java loads CSV files into a Workbook object, where each CSV row becomes a worksheet row.

import com.spire.xls.*;

public class ReadCSV {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        // Create Workbook instance  
        Workbook workbook = new Workbook();

        // Load CSV file (specify delimiter)  
        workbook.loadFromFile("sample.csv", ",", 1, 1);
    }
}  

Parameters:

The loadFromFile() method accepts four parameters:

• "sample.csv": The input CSV file path.
• ", ": Custom delimiter (e.g."," ";" or "\t").
• 1: Start row index.
• 1: Start column index.

3. Access Worksheet & Read CSV Data

Spire.XLS treats CSV files as single-worksheet workbooks, so we access the first worksheet and then iterate through rows/columns:

// Get the first worksheet
Worksheet sheet = workbook.getWorksheets().get(0);

// Get the used range (avoids iterating over empty rows/columns)
CellRange dataRange = sheet.getAllocatedRange();

//Iterate through the rows
for (int i = 0; i < dataRange.getRowCount(); i++) {

    //Iterate through the columns
    for (int j = 0; j < dataRange.getColumnCount(); j++) {
        // Get cell text
        CellRange cell = dataRange.get(i+1,j+1);
        System.out.print(cell.getText() + "\t"); // Use tab to separate columns
    }
    System.out.println(); // New line per row

Output: Read data from a CSV file and print out with tab separation for readability.

Advanced: Read CSV into DataTable in Java

For structured data manipulation, converting CSV to a DataTable is invaluable. A DataTable organizes data into rows and columns, making it easy to query, filter, or integrate with databases.

Java code to read a CSV file and export to a DataTable:

import com.spire.xls.*;
import com.spire.xls.data.table.DataTable;

public class CSVtoDataTable {
    public static void main(String[] args) {

        // Create a workbook and load a csv file
        Workbook workbook = new Workbook();
        workbook.loadFromFile("sample.csv", ",", 1, 1);

        // Get the first worksheet
        Worksheet sheet = workbook.getWorksheets().get(0);

        // Export to DataTable
        DataTable dataTable = sheet.exportDataTable();

        // Get row and column count
        System.out.println("Total columns: " + dataTable.getColumns().size());
        System.out.println("Total rows: " + dataTable.getRows().size());
        System.out.println();

        // Print column names
        for (int i = 0; i < dataTable.getColumns().size(); i++) {
            System.out.print(dataTable.getColumns().get(i).getColumnName() + "  | ");
        }
        System.out.println();
        System.out.println("----------------------------------------------------------");
        // Print rows
        for (int i = 0; i < dataTable.getRows().size(); i++) {
            for (int j = 0; j < dataTable.getColumns().size(); j++) {
                System.out.print(dataTable.getRows().get(i).getString(j) + "\t");
            }
            System.out.println();
        }
    }
}

Key Explanations:

• exportDataTable(): convert CSV data into a DataTable directly, no manual row/column mapping required.
• DataTable Benefits: Easily access basic information such as column count, row count, column names, and row data etc.

Output:

You may also read: Convert CSV to Excel in Java

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: How do I handle CSV files with different delimiters (semicolon, tab, etc.)?

A: Specify the delimiter in the loadFromFile() method:

// For semicolon-delimited files
workbook.loadFromFile("sample.csv", ";", 0, 0);

// For tab-delimited files
workbook.loadFromFile("sample.csv", "\t", 0, 0);

// For pipe-delimited files
workbook.loadFromFile("sample.csv", "|", 0, 0);

Q2: How do I skip header rows in a CSV file?

A: You can skip header rows by iterating from the second row. For example, if your CSV has 2 header rows (rows 1 and 2) and data starts at row 3:

// Start reading from the third row
for (int i = 2; i < dataRange.getRowCount(); i++) { 
    for (int j = 0; j < dataRange.getColumnCount(); j++) {
        // Convert 0-based loop index to Spire.XLS's 1-based cell index 
        CellRange cell = dataRange.get(i + 1, j + 1); 
        System.out.print(cell.getText() + "\t");

Q3. Can I export a specific range of a CSV to a DataTable?

A: Yes. Spire.XLS lets you define a precise cell range and export it to a DataTable with the exportDataTable(CellRange range, boolean exportColumnNames) method.

Conclusion

Spire.XLS for Java simplifies CSV file reading in Java, offering a robust alternative to manual parsing or basic libraries. Whether you need to read a simple CSV, or convert it to a structured DataTable, this guide provides the corresponding examples to help you implement CSV parsing efficiently.

For more advanced features (e.g., exporting to PDF), check the Spire.XLS for Java Documentation.

Converting CSV files to Excel is a common task for Java developers working on data reporting, analytics pipelines, or file transformation tools. While manual CSV parsing is possible, it often leads to bloated code and limited formatting. Using a dedicated Excel library like Spire.XLS for Java simplifies the process and allows full control over layout, styles, templates, and data consolidation.

In this tutorial, we’ll walk through various use cases to convert CSV to Excel using Java — including basic import/export, formatting, injecting CSV into templates, and merging multiple CSVs into a single Excel file.

Quick Navigation

• Set Up Spire.XLS in Your Java Project
• Convert a CSV File to Excel Using Java
• Format Excel Output Using Java
• Merge Multiple CSV Files into One Excel File
• Tips & Troubleshooting
• Frequently Asked Questions

Set Up Spire.XLS in Your Java Project

Before converting CSV to Excel, you’ll need to add Spire.XLS for Java to your project. It supports both .xls and .xlsx formats and provides a clean API for working with Excel files without relying on Microsoft Office.

Install via Maven

<repositories>
    <repository>
        <id>com.e-iceblue</id>
        <name>e-iceblue</name>
        <url>https://repo.e-iceblue.com/nexus/content/groups/public/</url>
    </repository>
</repositories>
<dependencies>
    <dependency>
        <groupId>e-iceblue</groupId>
        <artifactId>spire.xls</artifactId>
        <version>15.12.15</version>
    </dependency>
</dependencies>

Add JAR Manually

Download Spire.XLS for Java and add the JAR to your classpath manually. For smaller projects, you can also use the Free Spire.XLS for Java.

Convert a CSV File to Excel Using Java

The simplest use case is to convert a single .csv file into .xlsx or .xls format in Java. Spire.XLS makes this process easy using just two methods: loadFromFile() to read the CSV, and saveToFile() to export it as Excel.

import com.spire.xls.*;

public class CsvToXlsx {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Workbook workbook = new Workbook();
        workbook.loadFromFile("data.csv", ",");
        workbook.saveToFile("output.xlsx", ExcelVersion.Version2013);
    }
}

To generate .xls format instead, use ExcelVersion.Version97to2003.

Below is the output Excel file generated after converting the CSV:

You can also specify a custom delimiter or choose the row/column to begin inserting data — useful if your sheet has titles or a fixed layout.

workbook.loadFromFile("data_semicolon.csv", ";", 3, 2);

Format Excel Output Using Java

When you're exporting CSV for reporting or customer-facing documents, it's often necessary to apply styles for better readability and presentation. Spire.XLS allows you to set cell fonts, colors, and number formats using the CellStyle class, automatically adjust column widths to fit content, and more.

Example: Apply Styling and Auto-Fit Columns

import com.spire.xls.*;

public class CsvToXlsx {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Workbook workbook = new Workbook();
        workbook.loadFromFile("data.csv", ",");

        Worksheet sheet = workbook.getWorksheets().get(0);

        // Format header row
        CellStyle headerStyle = workbook.getStyles().addStyle("Header");
        headerStyle.getFont().isBold(true);
        headerStyle.setKnownColor(ExcelColors.LightYellow);
        for (int col = 1; col <= sheet.getLastColumn(); col++) {
            sheet.getCellRange(1, col).setStyle(headerStyle);
        }

        // Format numeric column
        CellStyle numStyle = workbook.getStyles().addStyle("Numbers");
        numStyle.setNumberFormat("#,##0.00");
        sheet.getCellRange("B2:B100").setStyle(numStyle);

        // Auto-fit all columns
        for (int i = 1; i <= sheet.getLastRow(); i++) {
            sheet.autoFitColumn(i);
        }

        workbook.saveToFile("formatted_output.xlsx", ExcelVersion.Version2013);
    }
}

Here’s what the styled Excel output looks like with formatted headers and numeric columns:

Need to use a pre-designed Excel template? You can load an existing .xlsx file and insert your data using methods like insertArray(). Just note that formatting won’t automatically apply — use CellStyle to style your data programmatically.

Merge Multiple CSV Files into One Excel File

When handling batch processing or multi-source datasets, it’s common to combine multiple CSV files into a single Excel workbook. Spire.XLS lets you:

• Merge each CSV into a separate worksheet, or
• Append all CSV content into a single worksheet

Option 1: Separate Worksheets per CSV

import com.spire.xls.*;
import java.io.File;

public class CsvToXlsx {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        // Get the CSV file names
        File[] csvFiles = new File("CSVs/").listFiles((dir, name) -> name.endsWith(".csv"));
        // Create a workbook and clear all worksheets
        Workbook workbook = new Workbook();
        workbook.getWorksheets().clear();

        for (File csv : csvFiles) {
            // Load the CSV file
            Workbook temp = new Workbook();
            temp.loadFromFile(csv.getAbsolutePath(), ",");
            // Append the CSV file to the workbook as a worksheet
            workbook.getWorksheets().addCopy(temp.getWorksheets().get(0));
        }

        // Save the workbook
        workbook.saveToFile("merged.xlsx", ExcelVersion.Version2016);
    }
}

Each CSV file is placed into its own worksheet in the final Excel file:

Option 2: All Data in a Single Worksheet

import com.spire.xls.*;
import java.io.File;

public class CsvToXlsx {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        // Get the CSV file names
        File[] csvFiles = new File("CSVs/").listFiles((dir, name) -> name.endsWith(".csv"));
        // Create a workbook
        Workbook workbook = new Workbook();
        // Clear default sheets and add a new one
        workbook.getWorksheets().clear();
        Worksheet sheet = workbook.getWorksheets().add("Sample");

        int startRow = 1;
        boolean isFirstFile = true;

        for (File csv : csvFiles) {
            // Load the CSV data
            Workbook temp = new Workbook();
            temp.loadFromFile(csv.getAbsolutePath(), ",");
            Worksheet tempSheet = temp.getWorksheets().get(0);

            // Check if it's the first file
            int startReadRow = isFirstFile ? 1 : 2;
            isFirstFile = false;

            // Copy the CSV data to the sheet
            for (int r = startReadRow; r <= tempSheet.getLastRow(); r++) {
                for (int c = 1; c <= tempSheet.getLastColumn(); c++) {
                    sheet.getCellRange(startRow, c).setValue(tempSheet.getCellRange(r, c).getText());
                }
                startRow++;
            }
        }

        // Save the merged workbook
        workbook.saveToFile("merged_single_sheet.xlsx", ExcelVersion.Version2016);
    }
}

Below is the final Excel sheet with all CSV data merged into a single worksheet:

Related Article: How to Merge Excel Files Using Java

Tips & Troubleshooting

Problems with your output? Try these fixes:

• Text garbled in Excel → Make sure your CSV is UTF-8 encoded.

• Wrong column alignment? → Check if delimiters are mismatched.

• Large CSV files? → Split files or use multiple sheets for better memory handling.

• Appending files with different structures? → Normalize column headers beforehand.

Conclusion

Whether you're handling a simple CSV file or building a more advanced reporting workflow, Spire.XLS for Java offers a powerful and flexible solution for converting CSV to Excel through Java code. It allows you to convert CSV files to XLSX or XLS with just a few lines of code, apply professional formatting to ensure readability, inject data into pre-designed templates for consistent branding, and even merge multiple CSVs into a single, well-organized workbook. By automating these processes, you can minimize manual effort and generate clean, professional Excel files more efficiently.

You can apply for a free temporary license to experience the full capabilities without limitations.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I convert CSV to XLSX in Java?

Use Workbook.loadFromFile("file.csv", ",") and then saveToFile("output.xlsx", ExcelVersion.Version2016).

Can I format the Excel output?

Yes. Use CellStyle to control fonts, colors, alignment, and number formats.

Is it possible to use Excel templates for CSV data?

Absolutely. Load a .xlsx template and inject CSV using setText() or insertDataTable().

How can I merge several CSV files into one Excel file?

Use either multiple worksheets or merge everything into one sheet row by row.