Excel MCP Server

What is Excel MCP Server?

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that lets you manipulate Excel files without needing Microsoft Excel installed. It enables AI agents to create, read, and update Excel workbooks programmatically, supporting both local and remote use.

How to use Excel MCP Server?

Install and run via uvx excel-mcp-server with one of three transport methods. For local use, use the stdio transport. For remote connections, use streamable‑HTTP (recommended) or the deprecated SSE transport. When using HTTP transports, set the EXCEL_FILES_PATH environment variable to specify where Excel files are stored; file paths in tool calls must be relative to that directory. Optionally set FASTMCP_PORT to change the listening port (default 8007). For the stdio transport, the file path is provided per tool call.

Key features of Excel MCP Server

• Create, read, update, and delete workbooks and worksheets
• Insert formulas, formatting, charts, pivot tables, and Excel tables
• Built‑in data validation for ranges, formulas, and integrity
• Font styling, colors, borders, alignment, and conditional formatting
• Chart creation (line, bar, pie, scatter, and more)
• Triple transport support: stdio, SSE (deprecated), and streamable HTTP

Use cases of Excel MCP Server

• Automatically generate or update Excel reports with an AI assistant
• Perform data analysis and create pivot tables/charts without Excel installed
• Manage multiple worksheets – copy, rename, delete – through natural language commands
• Remotely manipulate Excel files located on a server or in a shared directory

FAQ from Excel MCP Server

Do I need Microsoft Excel installed to use this server?

No. The server lets you manipulate Excel files without needing Microsoft Excel installed.

How do I set the file path when using HTTP transports?

For SSE or streamable HTTP transports, set the EXCEL_FILES_PATH environment variable on the server side. It defaults to `./excel_files