Excel MCP Server

Name: Excel MCP Server
Author: Haris

Create, read and edit Excel workbooks, charts, PivotTables and formulas without Microsoft Excel

By Haris (individual) Python Local · stdio, Streamable HTTP Data and analytics Files and storage Productivity

GitHub PyPI Website

88 popularity score ★ 4.3k ↓ 136k/mo

Connect your client

Local (once it is running)

Add in one click

Add to Cursor Add to VS Code Add to LM Studio Add to Goose

Opens the app, which asks before it adds the server.

Or add it by command or config

Claude CodeTerminal

claude mcp add --transport http excel http://127.0.0.1:8017/mcp

Cursor~/.cursor/mcp.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "excel": {
      "url": "http://127.0.0.1:8017/mcp"
    }
  }
}

VS Code.vscode/mcp.json

{
  "servers": {
    "excel": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "http://127.0.0.1:8017/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Codex~/.codex/config.toml

[mcp_servers.excel]
url = "http://127.0.0.1:8017/mcp"

Gemini CLITerminal

gemini mcp add --scope user --transport http excel http://127.0.0.1:8017/mcp

Local (PyPI)

Add in one click

Add to Cursor Add to VS Code Add to LM Studio Add to Goose

Opens the app, which asks before it adds the server. Then replace each <NAME> in its settings with your value.

Or add it by command or config

Claude CodeTerminal

claude mcp add excel -- uvx excel-mcp-server stdio --allow-dir '<ABSOLUTE_PATH_TO_WORKBOOKS>'

Claude Desktopclaude_desktop_config.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "excel": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "excel-mcp-server",
        "stdio",
        "--allow-dir",
        "<ABSOLUTE_PATH_TO_WORKBOOKS>"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Cursor~/.cursor/mcp.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "excel": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "excel-mcp-server",
        "stdio",
        "--allow-dir",
        "<ABSOLUTE_PATH_TO_WORKBOOKS>"
      ]
    }
  }
}

VS Code.vscode/mcp.json

{
  "servers": {
    "excel": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "excel-mcp-server",
        "stdio",
        "--allow-dir",
        "<ABSOLUTE_PATH_TO_WORKBOOKS>"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Codex~/.codex/config.toml

[mcp_servers.excel]
command = "uvx"
args = ["excel-mcp-server", "stdio", "--allow-dir", "<ABSOLUTE_PATH_TO_WORKBOOKS>"]

Gemini CLITerminal

gemini mcp add --scope user excel uvx -- excel-mcp-server stdio --allow-dir '<ABSOLUTE_PATH_TO_WORKBOOKS>'

Settings 11

Set together: http
`EXCEL_FILES_PATH`	Optional: Folders workbooks must be in (same as --allow-dir); separate with : on macOS/Linux, ; on Windows. HTTP mode uses ./excel_files when unset.
`EXCEL_MCP_READ_ONLY`	Optional: Set to 1 to offer only tools that do not change files. Default `off`.
`EXCEL_MCP_TOOLS`	Optional: Comma-separated tool areas to offer beside the core tools (e.g. data,charts); an unknown area stops the server. Default `all`.
`EXCEL_MCP_MAX_FILE_MB`	Optional: Largest workbook opened, in MB; also sets the unpacked-size cap (10x). Default `100`.
`EXCEL_MCP_MAX_CELLS`	Optional: Most cells one call may read, write or format. Default `100000`.
`EXCEL_MCP_MAX_PIVOT_CELLS`	Optional: Largest PivotTable source, in cells. Default `3000000`. For create_pivot_table.
`EXCEL_MCP_MAX_LOADED_CELLS`	Optional: Most cells and rows loaded into memory at once (about 0.5 KB each). Default `3000000`.
`EXCEL_MCP_ALLOW_VBA_WRITE`	Optional: Set to 1 to add the VBA writing tools and let create_workbook and import_workbook make .xlsm/.xltm files. Ignored in read-only mode, and with EXCEL_MCP_TOOLS it needs the vba area. Default `off`. For write_vba_module.
`EXCEL_MCP_HOST`	Optional: HTTP listen address; a non-local host needs EXCEL_MCP_AUTH_TOKEN or --allow-unauthenticated. Default `127.0.0.1`.
`EXCEL_MCP_PORT`	Optional: HTTP port. Default `8017`.
`EXCEL_MCP_AUTH_TOKEN` secret	Optional: Bearer token clients must send in HTTP mode.

What it does

Excel MCP Server gives an assistant in Claude, Cursor, VS Code Copilot, Codex, Gemini CLI and other clients the means to create, read and change Excel workbooks. It is a Python program built on openpyxl, so no copy of Microsoft Excel is needed, and it runs on Windows, macOS and Linux. It handles .xlsx, .xlsm, .xltx and .xltm files; as of 2.x, CSV and TSV files are brought in and written out with import_csv and export_csv, while legacy .xls files stay unsupported.

Its 48 tools (counted in the tool areas of server/areas.py, since the README gives no total, with two that appear only under --allow-vba-write) cover workbooks and sheets, reading and writing ranges, sorting, find and replace, formatting, conditional formats, data validation, tables, charts including the Excel 2016 types, PivotTables, slicers, sparklines, images, defined names and notes. A built-in calculator of about 260 functions returns values for formulas in files never opened in Excel. trace_formula follows a formula's inputs and goal_seek solves for a target value using that same calculator.

It runs locally through uv (uvx excel-mcp-server stdio), as a Claude Desktop bundle, or as a Streamable HTTP server on http://127.0.0.1:8017/mcp, which can also be built into a Docker image. --tools (or EXCEL_MCP_TOOLS) offers only the three core tools plus chosen areas to save context, and --max-file-mb and --max-cells set the size caps. In stdio mode without --allow-dir, the server prints a warning to stderr that any Excel file on the computer can be opened (cli.py).

What it needs

Runtime	Python 3.11+
Runs on	macOS, Windows, Linux
Also	uv (for uvx), unless using the Claude Desktop bundle

The client command is uvx excel-mcp-server stdio, so uv must be installed; desktop apps that cannot see your shell PATH need the full path to uvx (which uvx). The Claude Desktop .mcpb bundle from the latest GitHub release needs no uv. For HTTP mode run uvx excel-mcp-server streamable-http --allow-dir <DIR>; the Docker image is built locally from the repository's Dockerfile and also serves HTTP on port 8017.

Limits

Not covered Legacy .xls files are not supported; CSV and TSV only through import_csv and export_csv.
Size cap Opens workbooks up to 100 MB by default (--max-file-mb); unpacked size is capped at ten times that.
Size cap One call reads, writes or formats at most 100,000 cells by default (--max-cells); reads come back in pages.
Size cap Since 2.2.5 chart ranges count against --max-cells too, and one set_sheet_layout call changes at most 10,000 rows (CHANGELOG).
Size cap PivotTable sources are capped at 3,000,000 cells (--max-pivot-cells); the largest take about a minute and 2 GB of memory.
Limit The built-in calculator covers about 260 functions; formulas it cannot reproduce return null and are listed as uncalculated, and RAND-style volatile functions are not calculated.
Limit goal_seek refuses formulas the calculator cannot evaluate and stores a result only when it converges within 0.001.
Not covered The server never runs macros; digitally signed VBA projects cannot be edited, and signatures are removed when a signed file changes.
Limit Without --allow-vba-write, create_workbook and import_workbook refuse .xlsm and .xltm paths, and uploads saved as .xlsx or .xltx lose their macros.
Limit Version 2.0 renamed tools and parameters, breaking 1.x clients and saved prompts; the changelog maps old names to new.

Who it suits

Suits someone who wants an assistant to build or edit real Excel files, with charts, PivotTables, formats and formulas, on a machine without Excel or on a server. It runs locally and needs no account; --allow-dir and --read-only make it reasonable to point at a folder of existing reports, and --tools keeps the tool list small for clients short on context. It writes files, so pick --read-only if you only want analysis. It is not a fit for .xls files, for live Excel sessions (it edits files on disk, not an open Excel window), or for running macros. Values it calculates come from its own engine, not Excel, so check results that matter in Excel itself.

Tools 48

8 only read, 29 change things, 11 can delete or overwrite.

create_workbook changes: Create a new workbook; .xlsm and .xltm only with --allow-vba-write
describe_workbook: Describe a workbook and its sheets
set_workbook_settings changes: Change workbook-wide settings
list_workbooks: List the workbooks the server may use
export_workbook: Send a workbook from the server to the client (HTTP mode)
import_workbook changes: Receive a workbook from the client (HTTP mode); macro-enabled paths only with --allow-vba-write
import_csv changes: Load a .csv or .tsv file into a sheet at a chosen cell
export_csv changes: Save a cell range as a CSV file
describe_sheet: Describe a worksheet, with its charts and images
create_sheet changes: Add a worksheet
rename_sheet changes: Rename a worksheet, updating references to it
copy_sheet changes: Duplicate a worksheet
delete_sheet deletes: Remove a worksheet
insert_rows_or_columns changes: Insert rows or columns and shift references
delete_rows_or_columns deletes: Remove rows or columns and shift references
read_range: Read cell values or formulas, paged for large sheets
write_range changes: Put values and formulas into cells
clear_range deletes: Empty a block of cells
copy_range changes: Copy a block of cells elsewhere
sort_range changes: Sort a block of cells
transform_range changes: Filter, remove duplicates, split text to columns, fill series and similar
find_cells: Search cells by their content
replace_cells changes: Find and replace text in cells
trace_formula: Show a formula's precedents and dependents, or step through its evaluation
goal_seek changes: Change an input cell until a formula hits a target value
format_range changes: Apply fonts, fills, borders and number formats
merge_cells changes: Merge a block of cells
set_sheet_layout changes: Set column widths, row heights, frozen panes, print setup and the like
add_conditional_format changes: Add a conditional formatting rule
add_data_validation changes: Add a validation rule such as a dropdown list
set_table changes: Create or change an Excel table
create_chart changes: Add a chart
delete_chart deletes: Remove a chart
create_pivot_table changes: Build a PivotTable from a data range
delete_pivot_table deletes: Remove a PivotTable
add_slicer changes: Add a slicer or timeline to a table or PivotTable
delete_slicer deletes: Remove a slicer
insert_image changes: Place an image on a sheet
delete_image deletes: Remove an image
add_sparklines changes: Add sparklines to cells
delete_sparklines deletes: Remove sparklines
set_defined_name changes: Create or change a defined name
delete_defined_name deletes: Remove a defined name
set_note changes: Add or change a note on a cell
delete_note deletes: Remove a cell note
read_vba: Read the VBA code stored in .xlsm and .xltm files
write_vba_module changes: Set the code of a VBA module (only with --allow-vba-write)
delete_vba_module deletes: Remove a VBA module (only with --allow-vba-write)

Popularity

88 popularity score, on our list (the bar is 36)

★ 4.3k ↓ 136k/mo

GitHub stars	4,280	43.6 points
Stars in 30 days	+45	8.3 points
PyPI downloads, last month	135,901	36.2 points

Measured 2026-11-07. How the score works.

Where it is published

Code	haris-musa/excel-mcp-server ★ 4.3k
PyPI	excel-mcp-server 2.2.6, 2026-10-31

What it can reach

Runs	On your machine
Reaches	Files on your machine
Changes things	Yes: it can write, send, create or delete
Sign-in	None
Licence	MIT (PyPI)
Last code change	2026-10-31

Runs locally, on Excel and CSV files only. Without --allow-dir any absolute path to an Excel file works and a warning goes to stderr. With it, access stays inside the chosen folders (symlinks resolved, UNC and device paths rejected). --read-only drops every tool that writes. Formulas that reach the network or other programs are rejected, as are Excel 4.0 macro functions and DDE links. VBA writing is off by default, and since 2.2.5 that switch also decides whether create_workbook and import_workbook may store macro-enabled files. The docs warn that enabled macro code runs with your rights, and that untrusted content could steer a model into writing harmful code. HTTP mode binds 127.0.0.1 and needs EXCEL_MCP_AUTH_TOKEN for a non-local host unless --allow-unauthenticated is given.

Over time

GitHub stars 4.3k +68 (+2 %)

4.3k4.2k

8 Oct 20267 Nov 2026

PyPI downloads a month 136k −2.7M (−95 %)

2.8M125k

12 May 20267 Nov 2026

Before the site measured it, read from pypistats' daily download counts.

Popularity score 88 +8 (+11 %)

8980

8 Oct 20267 Nov 2026

What is rising across the directory

Sources

Page checked 2026-10-31.

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Connect your client

Add in one click

Or add it by command or config

Add in one click

Or add it by command or config

Settings 11

What it does

What it needs

Limits

Who it suits

Tools 48

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