LaTeX Table Generator

How it works

When you write a thesis, a homework report or a paper, the data usually lives in Excel and the document in Overleaf. Retyping a table in LaTeX takes time and often ends in a compile error caused by a single % or _. Select the cells in Excel, copy them and paste them into the left pane: copied cells arrive separated by tabs and the tool recognises that. Comma or semicolon CSV is recognised too. The first row is treated as the header. For example the header "Success %" becomes Success \% and A_1 becomes A\_1; otherwise LaTeX would treat everything after % as a comment and cut the row. Empty cells stay empty and short rows are filled up. The result line tells you how many rows and columns were read and how many special characters were escaped.

This tool is also known as latex table generator, excel to latex table, csv to latex table, latex table from excel, overleaf table generator.

What is tabular and table?

In LaTeX, tabular is the environment that draws the table: the letters in its braces set the number of columns and their alignment (l left, c center, r right), & separates cells and \\ ends a row. table is the floating box around it that handles the caption, the label and placement on the page. Thanks to table you can refer to it by number in the text with \ref{tab:table}.

What is booktabs?

booktabs is a LaTeX package that adds horizontal rules in three weights (\toprule, \midrule, \bottomrule) with proper spacing around them. It advises against vertical lines, which tire the eye and chop the table into boxes. Most journals and university thesis templates today expect tables in this style.

What is the difference between CSV and a LaTeX table?

CSV carries only data: which value sits in which row and column, nothing more. A LaTeX table is a typesetting instruction: column alignment, rules, caption, number and position on the page are all written in the code. A % sign is an ordinary character in CSV, but in LaTeX it turns the rest of the line into a comment. Converting is therefore not only a change of format but also making special characters safe.

Numbers with commas and math mode

A table cell is in text mode in LaTeX, so 12.4 or 39,029,342 print exactly as typed; the tool does not touch numbers. Trouble only starts when you put a number in math mode ($1,250$): there the comma counts as punctuation and gets a space after it, so it shows 1, 250. Write 1{,}250 instead, or use the siunitx package and \num{1250} with \sisetup{group-separator = {,}}.

Current LaTeX (since 2018) reads files as UTF-8 by default, so accented names such as Zoë or José work without inputenc. For correct hyphenation and copyable PDF text, add \usepackage[T1]{fontenc} to the preamble.

booktabs or grid?

booktabs is the layout journals expect: horizontal rules only above the table, below the header and at the end, with no vertical lines. It needs \usepackage{booktabs} in the preamble; the tool writes that as a comment on the first line of the output.

The grid style boxes every cell and needs no extra package. It can be handy in homework or internal reports without a style guide, where it keeps rows from blending together.

Right alignment lines up the digits in number columns. The alignment applies to all columns; to change one column, edit its letter in the {lll} part of the output by hand.

Frequently asked questions

How do I convert an Excel table to LaTeX?

Select the table in Excel, copy it with Ctrl+C (Cmd+C on a Mac) and paste it into the left pane of this page. The LaTeX code appears on the right right away; copy it into your .tex file in Overleaf or on your computer. If you chose booktabs, add \usepackage{booktabs} to the preamble.

Why does my table give a "Missing $ inserted" error?

In LaTeX, $, _, ^, &, %, # and curly braces have special meanings. If one of them is left unescaped in a cell, compilation fails. This tool escapes all of them: _ becomes \_ and ~ becomes \textasciitilde{}. Keep the same rule in mind for any text you add by hand later.

Are merged cells carried over?

No. Copied text holds no information about merged cells; the merged value lands in the first cell and the others stay empty. Add \multicolumn{2}{c}{…} by hand in the output where you need a merge.

Is my data uploaded anywhere?

No. The table is read and converted to LaTeX in your browser; the data you paste stays on this page.