To turn a table in a photo or scan into an Excel sheet, use a tool that recognises table structure: in Excel itself, Data, From Picture (“Insert Data from Picture”) converts a photo of a table into rows and columns you can review before inserting, and the Excel mobile app can do the same with your camera. Free alternatives include Google Lens (copy text and paste into Sheets) and Google Docs OCR. Plain OCR tools give you the text but not the columns, so for anything more than a small table, a table-aware tool saves a lot of cleanup.
- Plain OCR reads words; table OCR also keeps rows and columns.
- Excel’s Data from Picture is the quickest route if you have Microsoft 365.
- Straight, well-lit photos with clear grid lines work best.
- Always check numbers, decimals and totals after converting.
- For plain text from images, use the free Image to Text tool.
A price list on paper, needed in a spreadsheet
Picture a hardware shop owner whose supplier sends a printed price list: 120 items, item codes, sizes and prices. He wants it in Excel so he can add his margin and print his own list. Typing it would take most of a day and introduce mistakes.
He photographs each page, uses Excel’s Data from Picture, fixes a handful of misread prices, and has a working spreadsheet within an hour. The important part is the checking step, because one wrong decimal point in a price list costs real money.
Ways to convert a table image to Excel
| Method | Keeps columns? | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Excel: Data from Picture (desktop and mobile) | Yes | Microsoft 365 subscription | Regular table work, accurate structure |
| Google Lens, then paste into Sheets | Partly | Free | Small, simple tables |
| Google Docs OCR | Sometimes | Free | Mixed documents with some tables |
| Plain OCR to text | No | Free | When you only need the words |
Using Excel’s Data from Picture
- Prepare the imageCrop to just the table with the Image Cropper and make sure it is straight and sharp.
- Open ExcelGo to the Data tab and choose From Picture (Picture From File or from the clipboard). On mobile, tap the insert data from picture button and use the camera.
- ReviewExcel shows a preview and flags cells it is unsure about. Correct them in the panel.
- InsertInsert the data into the sheet.
- Check totalsAdd a SUM row and compare with the original document’s totals, if any.
Free method: Lens and Sheets
- Open the photo in Google LensTap Text and select the table area.
- CopyCopy the text, or use “Copy to computer” if signed in on Chrome.
- Paste into Google SheetsPaste into the first cell. If everything lands in one column, use Data, Split text to columns.
- Fix the layoutMove any misplaced cells and check numbers.
Getting cleaner results
- Photograph the table straight on, filling the frame, without shadows.
- Tables with visible grid lines convert better than tables aligned only with spaces.
- Split very long tables into several photos.
- Avoid tables with merged cells and multi-line entries if you can; fix those manually.
Watch out for
- Decimal points and commas (1,250.50 vs 1.250,50).
- Similar characters: 0 and O, 1 and l, 5 and S, 8 and B.
- Currency symbols and units mixed into number cells, which stop formulas working.
Related guides
For scanned PDFs, read how to make a scanned PDF editable. For accuracy tips, see 10 OCR accuracy tips.
Sources
- Microsoft Support: Insert data from picture
- Google Sheets Help: Split text, remove duplicates or trim whitespace
Frequently asked questions
Can I convert a photo of a table to Excel?
Yes. Excel’s Data from Picture feature converts a photo of a table into rows and columns that you can review before inserting.
Is there a free way to convert a table image to a spreadsheet?
Use Google Lens to copy the text and paste it into Google Sheets, then use Split text to columns. It works best for small, simple tables.
Why do my numbers convert incorrectly?
OCR can confuse similar characters such as 0 and O or 1 and l, and misread decimal points. Always check numbers and totals.
Does plain OCR keep table columns?
Usually not. Plain OCR outputs text lines, so you would need to rebuild the columns yourself.
What makes a table easier to convert?
A straight, sharp photo of a table with visible grid lines and no merged cells.
Extract text from photos, screenshots and scans and download it as Word or text.
Guides for this tool
Guide · 3 min readOCR Accuracy: 10 Tips to Get Clean Text from Photos and Scans
Guide · 3 min readHow to Convert a Picture to Text on Phone and PC (Free OCR Guide)
Guide · 3 min readHow to Copy Text From a Screenshot (Phone, PC and Online)
Guide · 3 min readBangla OCR: How to Convert Bangla Text in Images to Editable TextWant a tool, website or app like this for your business?
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