How to Split a CSV Row Into Separate Lines (and Join Them Back)

You've got one line of comma-separated values and you need it as a real list - one item per line, ready to paste into a spreadsheet column or feed into another tool. Or you're stuck with the opposite problem: a list of items that needs to become a single delimited row. Both are the same operation in reverse.

Quick answer

To split a CSV row into separate lines, paste it into a CSV splitter tool with Split mode selected - each comma-separated value becomes its own line. To go the other way, use Join mode: paste a list with one item per line and it combines them into a single delimited row. Both directions support any delimiter, not just commas.

Ready to convert your data?

Open CSV Splitter/Joiner →

Split mode: row → lines

Paste a single delimited row - apple,banana,cherry - and Split mode puts each value on its own line:

Input

apple,banana,cherry

Output

apple
banana
cherry

Join mode: lines → row

The reverse: paste a list with one item per line, and Join mode combines them.

Input

apple
banana
cherry

Output

apple,banana,cherry

Working with delimiters other than commas

Tab-separated, semicolon-separated, and pipe-separated data all work the same way - just change the Delimiter dropdown before splitting or joining. This matters more than it sounds: European Excel locales often export CSV files with semicolons instead of commas, and log files commonly use pipes.

Quoting options, for SQL and config files

Strip Existing Quotes (Split mode) - removes surrounding quote characters from each value as it's extracted.
Quote Item (Join mode) - wraps each individual value in quotes before joining, e.g. building 'apple','banana' for a SQL string list.
Quote Line (Join mode) - wraps the entire joined result, e.g. turning your list into (apple,banana,cherry) for a SQL IN (...) clause in one step.

For SQL IN clauses specifically, or JSON arrays, Markdown, and 18 other formats, the List to Format Converter is purpose-built for it and saves you from combining quote options manually.

Need to pull specific columns instead?

The Column Extractor pulls one or more fields out of delimited text by position.

Try Column Extractor →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I convert a comma-separated list into separate lines?

Paste the row into the CSV Splitter/Joiner tool with Split mode selected. Each value between commas becomes its own line automatically.

How do I do the opposite - combine a list into one CSV row?

Switch to Join mode. Paste your list with one item per line, and the tool combines them into a single row separated by your chosen delimiter.

My data uses semicolons or tabs instead of commas. Does that still work?

Yes. Change the Delimiter dropdown to match - the tool supports comma, tab, semicolon, pipe, colon, and several others, and both Split and Join use whatever delimiter you select.

How do I remove quote marks around each value?

Turn on Strip Existing Quotes in Split mode. If your source data looks like "apple","banana","cherry", this option removes the surrounding quotes so each output line reads cleanly.

Can I add quotes back when joining a list into a row?

Yes, in two ways: Quote Item wraps each individual value in quotes before joining (useful for SQL string literals), and Quote Line wraps the entire joined result - handy for building a SQL IN (...) clause directly.

What happens if a value in my CSV contains a comma inside quotes?

Use "Entire input" mode instead of "Each line separately". Standard CSV parsing treats a quoted field's internal comma as part of the value, not a delimiter - Entire input mode handles that correctly, while line-by-line mode assumes each line is a separate simple row.

Is this the same as opening the file in Excel?

It does the same underlying job (turning delimited text into a list, or back), but works on text you paste directly - no file upload, no spreadsheet software, and nothing leaves your browser.