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Excel to Markdown guide

Put an Excel Table Into a GitHub README

GitHub renders GitHub Flavored Markdown tables. Convert copied Excel cells to GFM pipe syntax, then paste the result into README.md.

Direct answer

GitHub does not render spreadsheet files inline in a README, but it does render GFM pipe tables. Copy the cells from Excel, paste them into the converter above, and copy the Markdown table into README.md. The output uses the pipe-and-dash syntax that GitHub, GitLab, and most static site generators accept.

Open Excel to Markdown converter

When to use this

  • A README needs a comparison, pricing, or support matrix that already exists in a sheet.
  • You maintain benchmark numbers in Excel and publish them in a repository.
  • A pull request description needs a small results table.

Steps

  1. Copy the cell range from Excel or Google Sheets.
  2. Paste it into the converter above.
  3. Set the header toggle so the first row becomes the table header. GFM tables require a header row.
  4. Right-align numeric columns with the alignment controls for easier reading.
  5. Press Copy, then paste into README.md and commit.

Example conversion

Spreadsheet cells (tab-separated)
Plan	Seats	Price
Free	1	$0
Team	10	$90
Business	50	$400
Markdown table output
| Plan | Seats | Price |
| --- | ---: | ---: |
| Free | 1 | $0 |
| Team | 10 | $90 |
| Business | 50 | $400 |

Common mistakes

  • Do not omit the header row. A GFM table without a header and separator line renders as plain text.
  • Do not leave literal pipe characters in cells. Escape them, which the converter does for you when the escape option is on.
  • Keep tables small. Wide tables scroll badly on the GitHub mobile view.

FAQ

Does GitHub render .xlsx files?
GitHub shows a preview for some tabular files, but it does not embed them in README prose. A Markdown table is the reliable way to show the numbers inline.
Which Markdown table syntax does GitHub need?
GitHub Flavored Markdown pipe tables: a header row, a separator row of dashes, then data rows. The converter writes exactly this shape.
Can I control column alignment on GitHub?
Yes. A colon on the left, right, or both sides of the dashes in the separator row sets left, right, or centre alignment. The converter writes those colons for you.

Related Excel to Markdown guides

How to Paste Excel Cells as a Markdown Table

Copied Excel cells travel as tab-separated text. Paste them into the converter and get a GitHub Flavored Markdown table with the header row and alignment you choose.

Convert Google Sheets Cells to a Markdown Table

Google Sheets copies a selected range as tab-separated text plus an HTML table. Paste either flavour into the converter to get a Markdown table.

How to Align Columns in a Markdown Table

Alignment lives in the separator row. A colon on the left aligns left, on the right aligns right, and on both sides centres the column.

Fix Pipe Characters That Break a Markdown Table

A literal | inside a cell starts a new column and breaks the table. Escape it as \| so the renderer prints the character instead of splitting the row.