Excel MCP Server

Create, edit, format and chart .xlsx files, no Excel needed.

Started in our test
★ 4.3K GitHub stars
50.6K downloads a week
Last commit 26 Oct 2026

At a glance

This server works on Excel files directly, so it runs on any machine, including servers without Office. The assistant can read ranges, write values and formulas, format cells, add charts and pivot tables, and manage sheets.

It can run over stdio for desktop clients or over HTTP if you want to host it.

Made by: Haris Musa
Licence: MIT
Latest version: 2.2.2 (21 Oct 2026)
PyPI package: excel-mcp-server
GitHub stars: 4.3K
Downloads: 50.6K a week
Last commit: 26 Oct 2026
Tools: 46
Runs on: Your computer

Our check: We ran this exact config on 26 Oct 2026: it started and answered with 46 tools. The npm package called "excel-mcp-server" has no link to this project. The project publishes to PyPI under that name, so it runs with uvx.

What's in the pod: its tools

We found 46 tools when we started it on 26 Oct 2026. 8 only read. The rest can change things, so keep your app's "ask before each tool call" setting on for them.

Changes things38 tools · Can create, edit, send or delete.

Tool	What it is for
`add_conditional_format`	Adds colour scales, data bars, icon sets or highlight rules to a range.
`add_data_validation`	Adds dropdown lists or value limits to cells.
`add_slicer`	Adds a slicer button panel to filter a PivotTable or table.
`add_sparklines`	Draws tiny in-cell line, column or win/loss charts.
`clear_range`	Empties a block of cells, keeping or removing formatting.
`copy_range`	Copies cells to another place, with paste-special options.
`copy_sheet`	Duplicates a worksheet.
`create_chart`	Builds a native Excel chart, from bar and line to waterfall, treemap and funnel.
`create_pivot_table`	Builds a real PivotTable that Excel can refresh, with grouping and calculated fields.
`create_sheet`	Adds a new worksheet.
`create_workbook`	Makes a new, empty Excel file.
`delete_chart`	Removes a chart.
`delete_defined_name`	Removes a named range.
`delete_image`	Removes a picture from a sheet.
`delete_note`	Removes a cell note.
`delete_pivot_table`	Removes a PivotTable.
`delete_rows_or_columns`	Deletes rows or columns and fixes every formula that pointed at them.
`delete_sheet`	Deletes a worksheet.
`delete_slicer`	Removes a slicer.
`delete_sparklines`	Removes sparklines.
`export_csv`	Saves a range out as a CSV file.
`format_range`	Sets fonts, fills, borders and number formats.
`goal_seek`	Changes one input until a formula hits the target you set.
`import_csv`	Pulls a CSV or TSV into a sheet and turns numbers and dates into real values the way Excel's own import does.
`import_workbook`	Uploads a workbook to a remote server so it can be edited.
`insert_image`	Places a picture on a sheet.
`insert_rows_or_columns`	Inserts rows or columns and keeps every formula reference right.
`merge_cells`	Merges or unmerges cells.
`rename_sheet`	Renames a worksheet.
`replace_cells`	Finds and replaces text or values.
`set_defined_name`	Creates or updates a named range.
`set_note`	Adds or edits a note on a cell.
`set_sheet_layout`	Sets column widths, frozen panes, grouping, print setup and protection.
`set_table`	Turns a range into an Excel table, with totals row and calculated columns.
`set_workbook_settings`	Changes workbook-wide options such as calculation mode.
`sort_range`	Sorts rows by one or more columns.
`transform_range`	Cleans data: removes duplicates, splits text to columns or fills a series.
`write_range`	Writes values, formulas, dates or links into cells.

Only reads8 tools · Looks things up and changes nothing.

Tool	What it is for
`describe_sheet`	Summarises one sheet: used range, headers, tables, charts and frozen panes.
`describe_workbook`	Lists a workbook's sheets, tables, names and sizes, as a first look.
`export_workbook`	Sends a workbook from the server back to you when it runs remotely.
`find_cells`	Searches for values or formulas across a sheet.
`list_workbooks`	Lists the Excel files in the allowed folders.
`read_range`	Reads cell values and formulas, working out formula results even if the file was never opened in Excel.
`read_vba`	Shows the macro code inside an .xlsm file without running it.
`trace_formula`	Shows what a formula depends on and what depends on it, step by step, to find a wrong number.

Grouped and described by us. The README on GitHub lists the inputs each tool takes.

Set it up

Pick your app for the exact snippet and where it goes.

Where it goes: claude_desktop_config.json (Settings → Developer → Edit Config)

Claude Desktop

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "excel": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "excel-mcp-server",
        "stdio"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Where it goes: Your terminal, in the project folder

Claude Code

claude mcp add-json excel '{"command":"uvx","args":["excel-mcp-server","stdio"]}'

Where it goes: ~/.cursor/mcp.json, or .cursor/mcp.json in a project

Cursor

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "excel": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "excel-mcp-server",
        "stdio"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Where it goes: .vscode/mcp.json in your project

VS Code

{
  "servers": {
    "excel": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "excel-mcp-server",
        "stdio"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Where it goes: ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json

Windsurf

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "excel": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "excel-mcp-server",
        "stdio"
      ]
    }
  }
}

New to this? See the setup guides for Claude Code, Cursor, Claude Desktop and ChatGPT.

Settings

Names are exactly as the project spells them. Required ones are marked.

Setting	What it does
`--allow-dir`Command line flag	Only lets it open workbooks in this folder. Repeat for more folders. Strongly recommended.`--allow-dir /path/to/workbooks`
`EXCEL_FILES_PATH`Environment variable	The same folder limit set through the environment. Separate folders with : on Mac and Linux or ; on Windows.
`--read-only`Command line flag	Offers only tools that cannot change files. Also EXCEL_MCP_READ_ONLY=1.
`--tools`Command line flag	Loads only the core tools plus the areas you list, which saves a lot of context.`--tools data,charts`
`--allow-vba-write`Command line flag	Adds tools that write macro code. Off by default; macros are never run either way.
`--max-file-mb`Command line flag	Largest workbook it will open. Defaults to 100 MB.
`EXCEL_MCP_AUTH_TOKEN`Environment variable	Bearer token clients must send when the HTTP server listens beyond localhost.
`--port`Command line flag	Port for the HTTP mode. Defaults to 8017.

What it can touch

It can read

Excel files (.xlsx, .xlsm, .xltx, .xltm) and CSVs in the folders you allow

It can change

Creates and edits workbooks in those folders, saving each change in one go so a file is never left half-written
Never overwrites an existing workbook without being asked

Safer setup: Always pass --allow-dir, and add --read-only when you only want analysis. Leave --allow-vba-write off.

Before you start

uv (for uvx)

If it does not work

Claude Desktop cannot find uvx: Desktop apps miss your shell PATH, especially on macOS. Use the full path that which uvx prints.
File not found with a relative path: Relative paths start in the --allow-dir folder. Without that flag, give the full path to the file.
The agent is slow because of the tool list: Use --tools to load only the areas you need, such as data and charts.
A huge sheet is refused: Raise --max-file-mb or --max-loaded-cells, keeping an eye on memory.

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