Prepare Spreadsheets for ClickUp Imports

Importing tasks from a spreadsheet into ClickUp is easier when your file is formatted correctly. This guide shows you how to structure columns, data, and formatting so your task, assignee, and date information imports cleanly into ClickUp.

Use this step-by-step walkthrough to get your CSV or XLSX file ready and avoid common issues during the import process.

Before You Import Data to ClickUp

Before starting an import into ClickUp, confirm a few basic requirements so your spreadsheet is accepted by the importer.

• Use a supported file type, usually CSV or XLSX.
• Make sure your first row contains column headers only.
• Remove blank rows at the top of the sheet.
• Check that each row represents a single task.

Once your sheet follows these rules, you are ready to map your columns to ClickUp task fields.

Set Up Spreadsheet Columns for ClickUp

Proper column setup is the foundation of a smooth import into ClickUp. Each column should clearly describe a single field that you want to map during the import process.

Name your task column for ClickUp

The task name column is required for a successful import. Without it, ClickUp cannot create tasks from your rows.

• Include a dedicated column for task names or titles.
• Use a clear header such as Task Name or Title.
• Avoid combining multiple pieces of information in this column.

Every row that you want imported into ClickUp must have a value in this task name column.

Use separate columns for core ClickUp fields

Create individual columns for the fields you plan to map to ClickUp during import. Common task fields include:

• Description or task details
• Assignee or multiple assignees
• Status
• Priority
• Start Date
• Due Date

Keeping these values in separate columns makes it much easier to line them up with the correct fields in ClickUp during the mapping step.

Format Assignees for ClickUp Imports

Assignee information must match existing Workspace members in ClickUp for tasks to be assigned correctly. Use consistent formatting in your spreadsheet so the importer can recognize each person.

Choose a format for assignee names

When preparing assignee columns for ClickUp, pick one format and use it throughout your sheet:

• Full name, such as Alex Johnson
• Email address, such as alex@example.com

Make sure these values match the users that already exist in your ClickUp Workspace. If they do not match, tasks will be imported but may not be assigned.

Handle multiple assignees in ClickUp

If tasks in your spreadsheet can have more than one assignee, plan your structure before import.

• Use a single column with multiple assignees separated by commas or semicolons, if supported by your importer options.
• Alternatively, create multiple columns such as Assignee 1, Assignee 2, and so on.

During the import into ClickUp, map these columns to the assignee field as allowed by the importer screen.

Prepare Status and Priority for ClickUp

Statuses and priorities help organize tasks after you import them into ClickUp. Proper preparation in your spreadsheet ensures these values show up as expected.

Use valid status names

Check the statuses that exist in your target List or Folder inside ClickUp. In your spreadsheet:

• Use status names that match your ClickUp workflow, such as To Do, In Progress, or Complete.
• Avoid misspellings and variations like In-Progress if your actual status is In Progress.

If a status in your sheet does not exist in ClickUp, the importer may create a new one or map it differently depending on your workspace settings.

Standardize priority values

For priority fields in ClickUp, you typically map values like:

• Urgent
• High
• Normal
• Low

Use these labels or matching values in your spreadsheet so the priorities map correctly in ClickUp. Keep capitalization and spelling consistent.

Format Dates and Times for ClickUp

Correct date formatting prevents errors when you import due dates or start dates into ClickUp. Different regions use different formats, so choose one that the importer recognizes.

Choose a consistent date format

For ClickUp imports, use a single date format throughout the sheet, such as:

• YYYY-MM-DD (for example, 2025-03-15)
• MM/DD/YYYY (for example, 03/15/2025)
• DD/MM/YYYY (for example, 15/03/2025)

Ensure the entire column is formatted as a date in your spreadsheet software rather than plain text when possible.

Include time and timezone if needed

If you are using time-specific fields for ClickUp tasks, such as exact due times, make sure:

• Your column includes both date and time, for example 2025-03-15 14:00.
• All values use the same format throughout the column.
• You clearly understand how your Workspace timezone applies to imported dates.

Consistent formatting prevents confusion when tasks appear on the calendar or in views that display time in ClickUp.

Map Custom Fields to ClickUp

You can bring more than basic task information into ClickUp by preparing columns for Custom Fields. Careful setup of these columns makes custom data more reliable after import.

Match custom field types in ClickUp

Before importing, review the Custom Fields in your target location in ClickUp and align your spreadsheet columns with them:

• Text fields: store notes, tags, or labels.
• Number fields: use digits only, without extra symbols if possible.
• Dropdown fields: use values that match existing options.
• Checkbox or boolean fields: use consistent values such as TRUE/FALSE or Yes/No.

Each column that you want to map to a Custom Field must contain only data meant for that specific type in ClickUp.

Clean up values for custom fields

To avoid issues during import into ClickUp:

• Remove extra spaces at the beginning or end of cells.
• Standardize spelling for repeated values.
• Replace inconsistent entries with a single agreed format.

Clean data makes it much easier for ClickUp to recognize and apply each Custom Field value correctly.

Check Your Spreadsheet Before Importing to ClickUp

Once your spreadsheet is structured and formatted, perform a final review before running the ClickUp import.

Run a quick quality checklist

1. Confirm every task row has a task name.
2. Scan for empty rows or columns you do not need.
3. Verify date formats are consistent in each date column.
4. Check that assignee names or emails match your Workspace users.
5. Confirm status and priority values match your ClickUp setup.

If anything looks inconsistent, fix it now to reduce manual cleanup later inside ClickUp.

Test with a smaller sample

When importing into ClickUp for the first time, consider testing with a small sample file:

• Create a copy of your main spreadsheet.
• Keep only 10–20 rows.
• Import this test file into a temporary List.

Review the results in ClickUp to confirm that names, dates, assignees, and Custom Fields appear the way you expect. After that, you can confidently import the full dataset.

Start Your ClickUp Spreadsheet Import

After your spreadsheet is fully prepared, you are ready to begin the actual import inside ClickUp. Follow the importer prompts to upload your file, map columns to task fields, and confirm the final preview.

For a detailed, official walkthrough of every import screen and option, review the original documentation at this ClickUp help center article.

If you want expert help planning a migration strategy, cleaning data, or optimizing your workspace after import, you can also explore consulting resources such as Consultevo.

With a well-prepared spreadsheet and a clear mapping plan, you can move work into ClickUp smoothly and start managing tasks with minimal cleanup.

Need Help With ClickUp?

If you want expert help building, automating, or scaling your ClickUp workspace, work with ConsultEvo — trusted ClickUp Solution Partners.

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