Notion's CSV export is one level deep, so nested subpages are missing, and the API returns property values as nested objects rather than plain text.
There are two ways to get Notion database data into Excel: the built-in CSV export from the database menu and the Notion API via Power Query. Notion has no official Excel add-in. The CSV export is fast for a simple flat database but misses nested subpages and relation fields. The API gives you everything but requires navigating property values that arrive as nested JSON objects rather than plain strings. Here is every method, with the structure problems that Notion's own docs do not prepare you for.
Method 1: Database export as CSV
Open the Notion database you want to export (in full-page view works best), click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner of the database, and choose Export. In the export dialog, select CSV as the format and click Export. Notion downloads a zip file containing the CSV. Unzip it, open the CSV in Excel, and save as .xlsx.
All visible database properties become columns, and each row in the database becomes a row in the CSV. Select properties, multi-select properties, and relation fields are included, though relations appear as linked page titles rather than the full related record.
The catch: the export covers only the top-level rows in the database. If any database row has a content page inside it (nested subpages or child databases), that nested content is not included in the CSV. The export is one level deep. For databases that use parent-child page nesting extensively, a significant portion of content will be absent from the export without any error or warning.
Method 2: Notion API via Power Query
In desktop Excel (Windows or Mac), use Data, then Get Data, then From Web to call the Notion API database query endpoint. Add your Notion integration token as an Authorization header and the database ID in the request body. Power Query can receive the JSON response and expand it into rows.
The catch: Notion property values are deeply nested. A simple text property returns something like: {{"type":"rich_text","rich_text":[{"plain_text":"My value"}]}}. A select property returns a nested object with a select.name path. Multi-select properties return arrays. Every property type has a different structure, so expanding the response in Power Query requires knowing the exact path for each property type you want. This is the main reason people get mostly empty or error columns on their first attempt.
The Notion API also paginates at 100 results per request. Databases with more than 100 rows require multiple requests using the start_cursor parameter to walk through pages. Without pagination logic, you silently get only the first 100 rows. Power Query is Windows and Mac desktop only; it does not work in Excel on the web.
Method 3: Brooked for Excel (flattens properties, any platform)
Brooked for Excel is an add-in that connects to Notion, queries a database, and delivers each property as a clean flat column with the value already extracted from the nested JSON structure. Select fields arrive as the option name, rich text fields arrive as plain strings, and dates arrive as Excel date values. It handles pagination automatically so you always get all rows, not just the first 100. It runs inside Excel's ribbon on Windows desktop, Mac, and Excel on the web, where Power Query is not available. An AI analyst lets you ask questions like "which deals are closing in the next 30 days" without writing any formulas.
Honest framing: Excel support is in beta. Manual imports and the AI analyst work today; scheduled refresh is rolling out through the beta. The Google Sheets version of the same connector is fully live, so the Notion plumbing itself is mature.
Setting up the Notion connection
Open Brooked in the Excel ribbon, choose Notion as the source, and authorize with your Notion account. Select the database you want to import, choose which properties to include as columns, and import into the active worksheet. Property values arrive as plain text and numbers, not as nested JSON objects.
Brooked AI, NotionMethod comparison
| Method | Cost | Works on | Refresh | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Database CSV export | Free, any Notion plan | Any Excel | Manual re-export | Single flat-database snapshots |
| Notion API via Power Query | Free (dev time required) | Windows & Mac desktop Excel | Manual refresh | Developers who can parse nested JSON |
| Brooked for Excel | Free during beta | Desktop, Mac & web Excel | Scheduled (rolling out in beta) | Flat property values without JSON parsing |
What sales and operations teams build with this
- CRM pipeline report: deal stage, owner, close date, and value from a Notion CRM database
- Content calendar rollup: all content items with status, author, and publish date in one Excel table
- Project tracker: task status across multiple project databases, combined into a single view
- Recruitment pipeline: candidate stage, role, and interview dates from a hiring database
- Inventory or product catalog: database rows with select and number properties flattened for analysis
Troubleshooting common issues
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Frequently asked questions
Can I export a Notion database to Excel?
Yes. Open the Notion database, click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner of the database, and choose Export. Select CSV as the format and download the file. The CSV includes all visible database properties as columns and all rows as records. Open it in Excel and save as .xlsx to keep formatting.
Why are subpages missing from my Notion export?
Notion's CSV export covers only the top-level rows in a database. If a database row contains nested pages or sub-items, those are not included in the flat CSV. The export also does not follow relations to other databases. For deeply nested content, you need the API or a connector that can traverse multiple levels.
Does Notion have an official Excel add-in?
No. Notion does not publish an official Excel add-in on Microsoft AppSource as of mid-2026. The only native export is the CSV option inside the database menu. For live data in Excel you need the API or a connector tool.
How do I use the Notion API with Excel Power Query?
In Power Query, call the Notion API's database query endpoint with your integration token in the Authorization header. The API returns pages (rows) as JSON objects where each property value is itself a nested object with a type field. A select property returns {type: 'select', select: {name: 'In Progress'}} rather than the string 'In Progress'. You have to drill into the correct nested path for each property type to extract the readable value. This is the most common source of empty or error columns when first building the Power Query.
Does the Notion export work on Windows, Mac, and Excel on the web?
The CSV file from Notion's export menu opens in any Excel on any platform, including Windows, Mac, and Excel on the web. Power Query with the Notion API works in desktop Excel on Windows and Mac but is not available in Excel on the web. Connector add-ins like Brooked work across all three Excel platforms.
How do I export multiple Notion databases to Excel at once?
Notion's built-in export handles one database at a time. To export multiple databases, you repeat the export process for each one and combine the files in Excel. The API lets you query multiple databases programmatically, and connector tools can pull from multiple databases in a single import session.
Can I sync Notion and Excel automatically so they stay in step?
Notion has no native two-way sync with Excel. Third-party tools cover this. Notixel is a Notion-listed integration that creates a bi-directional sync between a Notion database and an Excel file via official APIs, mapping database properties to Excel columns automatically. Zapier can push new or updated Notion database entries into Excel rows on a trigger. Both require paid plans beyond their free limits. For one-way scheduled pulls, Coupler.io and Brooked for Excel (in beta) connect to the Notion API and write results to Excel on a schedule.
Get live Notion database data in Excel, with properties flattened and ready to use.
Brooked for Excel is in beta and free to try. Using Google Sheets instead? Read the Sheets version of this guide.
See Brooked for Excel →
