One row per invoice
Use one record when each invoice has a customer, description, and total. Select One Row Per Invoice: the five records in this sample produce five invoices.
Create an invoice from CSV.
Turn a CSV file into a PDF invoice using an editable template or your own PDF layout. Upload your data, connect the columns, and download a single invoice or a whole batch.
Your invoice designGrouped line itemsBulk PDF export
Product demo
How to create an invoice from a CSV file
To create an invoice from CSV, upload a file with column headers, map the customer and billing fields to an invoice template, and export the PDF. Use one data row for a single invoice, or several records to generate a batch.
- 01 · IMPORT
Upload your CSV
Put column names in the first row, followed by your invoice data. Choose One Row Per Invoice for complete records, or Grouped Data when several item rows share an invoice number.
- 02 · CONNECT
Map your invoice fields
Use the starter invoice or import your own PDF. Connect each column to the matching field, and use a table for grouped line items.
- 03 · EXPORT
Download your PDF invoice
Preview the invoice and check its customer, number, date, and total against the CSV. Export one invoice, separate PDFs in a ZIP, or a combined PDF for a batch.
Working from a workbook? Use the Excel invoice generator to upload XLSX or XLS directly. For a shared sheet, follow the Google Sheets export steps, then upload the downloaded CSV here.
Worked example: one CSV row becomes one invoice
This sample contains one invoice for consulting services. Download the file below, open the editor, import it, and select One Row Per Invoice. The first line supplies the column names; the second supplies the invoice values.
Customer Name,Invoice #,Date,Address,Description,Total,Notes
Avery Johnson,INV-1001,"Sep 3, 2026",123 Business Rd.,Consulting services,"$1,250.00",Payment due within 30 days.Connect the columns to your template
Map Customer Name to the recipient, Invoice # to the invoice number, and Total to the amount due. Connect Date, Address, Description, and Notes to their corresponding fields.
Add your business name, logo, and payment details in the template. Those details can stay the same while the connected values change with each CSV row.
- Invoice number
- INV-1001
- Bill to
- Avery Johnson
- Date
- Sep 3, 2026
- Address
- 123 Business Rd.
- Description
- Consulting services
- Total (USD)
- $1,250.00
- Payment notes
- Payment due within 30 days.
The quoted date and amount contain commas, so the quotes keep each value in one column. The sample supplies the final total; check your amounts before importing. For shifted columns or blank fields, use the CSV import troubleshooting guide.
CSV invoice templates for batches and line items
For one row per invoice, start with these columns. The downloadable sample includes five invoices plus addresses, dates, and payment notes. You can use your own column names.
| Invoice # | Customer Name | Description | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| INV-1001 | Avery Johnson | Consulting services | $1,250.00 |
| INV-1002 | Maya Chen | Design package | $860.00 |
Multiple line items per invoice
Select Grouped Data and use Invoice # as the identifier. Connect Description, Quantity, Unit Price, and Line Total to a table. This sample has three item rows: two for INV-1001 and one for INV-1002, producing two invoices.
Keep the final amounts and formatting consistent. Enclose CSV values containing commas in double quotes, such as "$1,250.00". See the CSV format guide or troubleshoot CSV import errors.
One invoice layout, ready for your next CSV
Keep your branding
Place your logo, business details, and payment instructions in the layout. Connect the fields that change with each invoice.
Reuse the template
Save your layout and mappings. Import the next billing export with the same headers to use the design again.
Choose your output
Create one invoice per record or group item rows by invoice number, then download the generated documents together.
Create recurring invoices from the next CSV export
For retainers or repeat services, reuse your saved invoice layout and import an approved CSV for the current billing period. Keep the column headers consistent, assign new invoice numbers, and update the dates, descriptions, and amounts before generating the PDFs.
Start with the recurring invoice CSV checklist and the guide to continuing invoice numbers. The monthly invoice workflow covers approval, output checks, and delivery.
You start each batch manually. After downloading and checking the files, send them through your email or billing system. See the worked example of bulk invoice creation for service businesses for hourly work and project fees.
CSV to invoice: frequently asked questions
How do I create an invoice from CSV?
Upload your CSV with a header row, connect the columns to an invoice template, and generate the PDF. Use one data row for a single invoice, or group rows by invoice number for multiple line items. For a batch, download separate PDFs in a ZIP or combine them into one PDF.
Can I create just one invoice from a CSV file?
Yes. Include a header row and one data row, then choose One Row Per Invoice in the editor. Connect the fields and generate the PDF. If that invoice has several item rows, choose Grouped Data and group them by the same invoice number.
What columns do I need to create an invoice from CSV?
Include the values your invoice needs: invoice number, customer name, date, description, and total. Add an address and payment notes when needed. For multiple line items, include quantity, unit price, and line total. Your own column names can be mapped in the editor.
Can the CSV contain multiple rows for the same invoice?
Yes. Give related rows the same invoice number, select that column as the identifier, and connect the item columns to a table in your template. Each group becomes one invoice.
Do I need specific CSV column names?
No. You map your own headers in the editor. Start with a header row, followed by the records, and keep the same column names when reusing a saved template.
Can I generate recurring invoices from a CSV?
Yes. Reuse a saved template and upload an approved CSV for each new billing period. Update invoice numbers, dates, and amounts, then generate and check the PDFs. You start each batch manually; LinkoPDF does not schedule runs or email invoices.
Do I need to convert CSV to Excel first?
No. LinkoPDF accepts CSV directly. Excel files in XLSX or XLS format are also supported.
How should I format amounts and invoice numbers?
Keep invoice numbers as text when leading zeros matter. Use consistent dates and amounts, and check the imported values. When a CSV value contains a comma, enclose the full value in double quotes.
Build your invoice workflow
Bulk invoice generator from Excel or CSV
Prepare and download a batch of invoices from one spreadsheet.
Invoice template builder
Create a reusable invoice layout and connect your CSV fields.
Itemized invoice generator
Combine several products or services into one customer invoice.
Start with your existing CSV export
Use the file your team already has, map the fields once, and turn the next billing batch into consistent invoice PDFs.