Claude Code and Excel.
Which one, when.
Short answer: Use Claude for Excel, a sidebar inside Excel, to work in an existing workbook. Use Claude Code with Anthropic's xlsx Agent Skill to generate new formatted workbooks from data. Build a small Claude Code tool when the same spreadsheet job repeats every week or month. In every case, check results against totals you calculated yourself.
"Claude and Excel" can mean three different things: Claude working inside Excel, Claude Code creating and editing .xlsx files, or a tool you build that reads spreadsheets. Here is how they differ, based on Anthropic's published material as of September 24, 2026.
Claude for Excel
Anthropic describes Claude for Excel as Claude in a sidebar in Microsoft Excel that can read, analyze, modify and create workbooks, including explaining how a spreadsheet works, fixing formulas and populating templates while preserving structure. Use it when the work should stay in an existing workbook.
Claude Code with the xlsx Agent Skill
Anthropic publishes Agent Skills for document tasks, including one for Excel (xlsx), in the anthropics/skills repository. In Claude Code you can add that marketplace with:
/plugin marketplace add anthropics/skills
With spreadsheet skills, Claude Code can create formatted workbooks with formulas from your data, for example a monthly cash summary generated from a transactions CSV.
A tool that reads spreadsheets
For recurring work, ask Claude Code to build a small app that imports your export (CSV or .xlsx) and produces the view you need every time, with validation and duplicate checks. That is the approach in our cash flow dashboard guide.
Which should you use?
- Existing model, shared with colleagues: Claude for Excel.
- Need a new, well-formatted workbook from data: Claude Code with the xlsx skill.
- Same process every week or month: a small tool built with Claude Code.
- Not sure: read Claude Code vs Excel.
Whichever you use, check the output against totals you calculated yourself. See how to check AI-generated financial calculations.
Frequently asked questions
Can Claude Code create Excel files?
Yes. With Anthropic's xlsx Agent Skill, Claude Code can create and edit .xlsx workbooks, including formulas and formatting.
What is Claude for Excel?
Per Anthropic, it is Claude in a sidebar inside Microsoft Excel that can read, analyze, modify and create workbooks.
Should finance teams use Claude for Excel or Claude Code?
Claude for Excel for work inside existing workbooks; Claude Code for generating new files or building repeatable tools around exports.
Turn a CSV into a working cash flow dashboard.
A self-paced Claude Code workshop for bookkeepers, accountants and FP&A: six lessons, one project, sample data with expected totals. Taught by CFO Leo Godnik.
See the six lessons — $69 → Or start with the free lesson ↗