Browse Tools Top 100
DBF CSV
Free online converter

Convert DBF to CSV

Convert now
DBF to CSV converterFREE
Drop a .DBF file here
or pick one - we convert it to .CSV and give you the file to download

On this page

Tested on macOS, Windows & Linux
Last verified Oct 2026

More free converters

HEIC, PNG, WEBP, MP3 and more - every tool here is free.

Open the toolbox

How to convert DBF to CSV

  1. Add your .DBF file - drop it in the box above or click to browse.
  2. Convert it to .CSV in a few seconds.
  3. Download your new .CSV file.

What to expect

  • Character encoding is the main pitfall: DOS-era .dbf files use CP850 and Windows-era files use CP1252 - the wrong setting in the import dialog garbles accented characters.
  • Memo fields (type M) store long text in a companion .dbt or .fpt file; without it in the same folder as the .dbf, Memo columns export as empty or as a block reference number.
  • CSV stores everything as plain text with no schema; numeric precision, date format, and field-type definitions from the .dbf are not preserved.

Frequently asked questions

Why do I see question marks or garbled characters in the CSV?
The .dbf uses a legacy code page - typically CP850 for DOS-era files or CP1252 for Windows-era files. Reopen it in LibreOffice and pick the matching character set in the dBASE import dialog.
Will Memo field content appear in the CSV?
Only if the companion .dbt (dBASE) or .fpt (FoxPro) file is in the same folder as the .dbf when you open it; otherwise Memo columns export as empty.
Can Excel open a DBF file directly?
Older Excel versions (2003 and earlier) support .dbf natively via File › Open; in current Excel, use Data › Get Data › From File instead.
Is DBF-to-CSV conversion lossless?
Regular columns - text, numbers, dates, and logical fields - transfer cleanly, but Memo content may be missing and the field-type schema is not preserved in CSV.
Learn about the formats: .DBF · .CSV
Programs that convert DBF: Microsoft Excel · Full Convert Enterprise · Corel Quattro Pro · DBF Manager · Microsoft Access · Apache OpenOffice Calc (OpenOffice.org Calc) · Online DBF Converter · PlanMaker