Email list formatter: comma, semicolon or one per line
An email list formatter converts a list of addresses from one layout to another: an Excel column into a semicolon separated list for Outlook, a comma separated list for Gmail, or a pasted recipient line back into one address per line. Paste any mix, choose the separator and copy the result, deduplicated and optionally split into batches.
Sample result
4 addresses joined by semicolons, ready to paste, with 1 duplicate removed.
- Addresses
- 4
- Duplicates removed
- 1
- Batches
- 1
What this means for you
Paste straight into the To or Bcc field of your mail app without fixing separators by hand.
- Semicolons, commas or one per line
- Strips names, brackets and mailto:
- Removes duplicates and lower-cases
- Splits into batches per message cap
- Outlook
- Separators
- Batches
By SimpleVerifier Team · Last updated · Runs in your browser; nothing you paste is sent to us
How do I convert an email list to comma or semicolon separated?
- Paste the addresses or upload a TXT or CSV file. Any mix works: a column copied from Excel, a comma or semicolon separated line, or recipients copied from an email like Jane Doe <jane@example.com>. Files can be up to 25 MB.
- Choose the separator: semicolon and a space for classic Outlook, comma and a space for Gmail and most other apps, or one per line for a spreadsheet.
- Leave duplicates removal on, and pick a batch size if the list is longer than your mail app allows on one message.
- Press Format the list, then copy each batch into the To, Cc or Bcc box, or download the result as a text file.
Example
- You enter
- 5 addresses pasted one per line, including
jane.doe@acme.exampletwice, with semicolon and space chosen. - You get
jane.doe@acme.example; bob.smith@yourcompany.example; ana@acme-mail.example; sales@acme.example: 4 addresses in 1 batch, with the duplicate removed.- Limits
- Runs in your browser with no row cap; an uploaded file can be up to 25 MB.
How do I copy email addresses from Excel to Outlook?
Copy the column, paste it here, choose Semicolon + space, and paste the result into Outlook's To, Cc or Bcc box. Microsoft's own guide for creating a message in classic Outlook says to separate multiple recipients with a semicolon. A column pasted straight from Excel arrives as one address per line, which Outlook often reads as a single malformed recipient.
If the column also holds names, or some cells contain two addresses, that's fine: the formatter reads every address out of each line in order, and drops the name unless you tick Keep display names. To build an Outlook contact group instead, paste the formatted list into the group's Members box.
How do I separate emails with a comma or semicolon?
Paste the list, pick the separator, and press Format the list. Comma is what the email standard uses: RFC 5322 defines an address list as addresses separated by commas, and web mail apps follow it. Semicolon is a classic Outlook convention. Each also comes with or without a space after it; the space is only for readability, and either works.
To do it in Excel itself, =TEXTJOIN("; ",TRUE,A2:A500) joins a column with semicolons in Excel 2019 and Microsoft 365, and =TEXTJOIN(", ",TRUE,A2:A500) with commas. Google Sheets has the same function. The formula doesn't remove duplicates, strip names or catch a cell with two addresses in it, which is where this tool helps.
How many email addresses can you BCC?
It depends on the account, and the provider sets it. Gmail allows 500 recipients per email per its sending limits page; Google Workspace allows 2,000, of which at most 500 external; Outlook.com allows 500 per message per Microsoft's limits; and in Microsoft 365 the admin sets the cap, up to 1,000. To, Cc and Bcc all count toward it.
Pick one of those as the batch size and the tool splits the list into batches that fit, each with its own copy button. Daily limits still apply across all the batches; the sending limits calculator works out how many messages that is. Past a few dozen recipients, a BCC blast from a personal mailbox is also more likely to be filtered than mail from a proper sending tool.
How do I split emails that are all in one cell?
Paste the cell here and choose One per line. Every address in the text is read in order, whether it is separated by commas, semicolons, spaces or tabs, so a cell like jane@example.com; bob@example.org, ana@example.net comes out as three lines ready to paste back into a column.
For a whole CSV with names and other columns, the email list cleaner splits names and addresses into separate columns, and the email extractor pulls addresses out of any text or document.
Is this quicker than TEXTJOIN in Excel?
| This formatter | Excel TEXTJOIN | |
|---|---|---|
| Joins a column with ; or , | Yes | Yes |
| Splits a joined list back into lines | Yes | Needs TEXTSPLIT or Text to Columns |
| Strips names, brackets and mailto: | Yes | No |
| Removes duplicates | Yes, ignoring case | Needs UNIQUE first |
| Batches of 500 per message | Yes | Manual |
The formula: =TEXTJOIN("; ",TRUE,UNIQUE(A2:A5000)) in Microsoft 365.
Who uses this tool, and for what?
- Office and admin staff
- Turn a spreadsheet column of staff or member addresses into one semicolon list for an Outlook meeting invite or BCC.
- Teachers and club organisers
- Paste a class or member export and get Gmail-ready comma batches of 500 or fewer per message.
- Recruiters
- Copy candidates' addresses out of an ATS export, dedupe them and paste them into BCC without exposing anyone.
- Marketing ops
- Convert a pasted recipient line from an old email back into one address per line for import into a sending tool.
What can’t this tool tell you?
- It reformats addresses; it can't tell whether a mailbox exists or will bounce.
- Syntax is checked loosely: an address that looks right but has a typo domain (gmial.com) passes. The typo fixer catches those.
- Batch sizes are the providers' published per-message caps, read 16 October 2026; your admin or account may set lower ones.
- Duplicates are matched ignoring case only; Gmail dot and plus variants count as different addresses here.
Common questions
- How do I separate emails with a comma in Excel?
- Use =TEXTJOIN(", ",TRUE,A2:A500) in Excel 2019 or Microsoft 365, or paste the column into this formatter and choose Comma + space. The formatter also removes duplicates and strips names and brackets, which the formula doesn't.
- How to separate emails by semicolon in Excel?
- =TEXTJOIN("; ",TRUE,A2:A500) joins a column with semicolons. Or paste the column here, pick Semicolon + space and copy the result straight into Outlook.
- Separate email addresses with comma or semicolon?
- Classic Outlook uses semicolons, per Microsoft's own help. The email standard, RFC 5322, uses commas, and Gmail and most web apps accept commas. When in doubt, check what the box you are pasting into shows between recipients.
- How do I copy and paste multiple email addresses into Outlook?
- Format the list with semicolons first, then paste it into the To, Cc or Bcc box in one go. Outlook resolves each address as a separate recipient. A column pasted from Excel without separators often doesn't resolve.
- How many email addresses can you BCC in Gmail?
- 500 recipients per email for a personal Gmail account, counting To, Cc and Bcc together, per Google's sending limits page. Google Workspace allows 2,000, of which 500 can be external.
- How many email addresses can you BCC in Outlook?
- Outlook.com allows 500 recipients per message, according to Microsoft's sending limits page. In Microsoft 365 the organisation's admin sets the limit, up to 1,000 recipients per message.
- How to convert a column to a comma separated list?
- Paste the column into the formatter above and choose Comma or Comma + space. In a spreadsheet, TEXTJOIN does the same: =TEXTJOIN(",",TRUE,A:A).
Sources
A tidy list can still be full of dead addresses.
Extracting, deduplicating and syntax checks all work on the text of an address. None of them can tell whether the mailbox exists. Only the server that hosts it can answer that, through an SMTP check, and that is what the paid product does.
- Upload the cleaned file as it is: CSVs up to 100,000 rows
- A real SMTP mailbox check on every row, with catch-all detection
- Small list? $9 one-time covers 2,500 emails, no subscription
One plan, cancel anytime, no contract. Sign in with Google and your first 100 email checks are free, no card. The free tools stay free either way.