Excel MCP Server for Claude Code: Setup & Config

What you can do with Excel in Claude Code

Inspect and change workbook ranges with formulas, tables, and per-cell styles in the same integration.

• Populate a new sheet and give its data a named table range.
• Copy a worksheet or apply per-cell presentation changes.
• Capture a paginated sheet image when working on Windows.

Before you start: Excel in Claude Code

• Node.js version 20.x or above
• MCP client able to launch the npm package

The command and flags match the README configuration for other platforms. Its Windows configuration instead launches cmd with /c, then npx and the same package flags. Tool calls use an absolute workbook path. The paging environment key is documented with a default value of 4000.

Excel Claude Code configuration

1. Choose Claude Code configuration scope

   For Excel MCP Server, open Project scope: .mcp.json at the repository root. Project JSON: merge into mcpServers; user scope: use the CLI.

2. Add Excel MCP Server to Claude Code

   Use the excel-mcp-server-negokaz entry below in mcpServers. Keep Excel MCP Server's documented stdio connection fields and your other Claude Code entries.

3. Check Excel MCP Server in Claude Code

   Excel MCP Server: Inspect claude mcp list and /mcp status.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "excel-mcp-server-negokaz": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "--yes",
        "@negokaz/excel-mcp-server"
      ],
      "env": {
        "EXCEL_MCP_PAGING_CELLS_LIMIT": "<optional page-size ceiling in cells; documented default is 4000>"
      }
    }
  }
}

claude mcp add-json --scope project 'excel-mcp-server-negokaz' '{"type":"stdio","command":"npx","args":["--yes","@negokaz/excel-mcp-server"],"env":{"EXCEL_MCP_PAGING_CELLS_LIMIT":"<optional page-size ceiling in cells; documented default is 4000>"}}'

Excel tools available to Claude Code

Excel's stored tool list documents 7 tools; compare it with Claude Code's connected tool list, because the stored list is not a live check.

excel_describe_sheets

For Excel's excel_describe_sheets, review the permission request and arguments in Claude Code before approval.

excel_read_sheet

For Excel's excel_read_sheet, review the permission request and arguments in Claude Code before approval.

excel_copy_sheet

For Excel's excel_copy_sheet, review the permission request and arguments in Claude Code before approval.

Create a new worksheet by copying a specified source sheet.

excel_write_to_sheet

For Excel's excel_write_to_sheet, review the permission request and arguments in Claude Code before approval.

Populate a range with values or formulas, with an option to create the destination sheet.

excel_create_table

For Excel's excel_create_table, review the permission request and arguments in Claude Code before approval.

Define a named table over a chosen worksheet range.

excel_format_range

For Excel's excel_format_range, review the permission request and arguments in Claude Code before approval.

excel_screen_capture

For Excel's excel_screen_capture, review the permission request and arguments in Claude Code before approval.

On Windows, obtain a paginated screenshot of the requested sheet range.

Excel: full stored tool descriptions

Troubleshooting Excel in Claude Code

• If Excel MCP Server fails to start, check npx @negokaz/excel-mcp-server (Node.js/npm), the working directory, and Claude Code's selected scope; inspect claude mcp list and /mcp.
• Excel MCP Server: check EXCEL_MCP_PAGING_CELLS_LIMIT; keep credentials out of shared .mcp.json.
• Excel MCP Server uses stdio here: Claude Code must keep the configured process running; protocol output belongs on stdout and diagnostics on stderr.
• Known limitation: Screenshot capture and live editing are not documented for non-Windows platforms.
• Known limitation: The npm launch requires Node.js 20.x or a newer release.
• General Claude Code troubleshooting lives in the /clients/claude-code guide.

Frequently asked questions