Pipedrive Import CSV: Formatting Guide
Pipedrive makes CSV imports relatively straightforward, but the relationship between People, Organizations, and Deals adds a layer of complexity. This guide covers the correct CSV format for importing contacts into Pipedrive, how to handle field mapping, and how CAPT generates Pipedrive-ready exports.
Pipedrive's Data Model
Unlike flat CRMs, Pipedrive uses a linked data model:
- People: Individual contacts (name, email, phone)
- Organizations: Companies linked to people
- Deals: Sales opportunities linked to people and organizations
When importing via CSV, you can create People and Organizations in one go. Pipedrive will automatically link them if both are present in the same row.
Pipedrive Contact CSV Template
| CSV Column | Pipedrive Field | Required |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Person - Name | Yes |
| Person - Email | No (but recommended) | |
| Phone | Person - Phone | No |
| Organization | Organization - Name | No |
| Label | Person - Label | No |
| Note | Person - Note | No |
Example CSV
Name,Email,Phone,Organization,Label,Note
Jane Doe,jane@acme.com,+1-555-0123,Acme Inc,Hot lead,Found on company team page
Bob Smith,bob@startup.io,,Startup.io,Warm lead,CTO - conference speakerHow to Import: Step by Step
- In Pipedrive, click the ... menu (top left) and select Import data
- Choose From a spreadsheet
- Upload your CSV file
- Pipedrive will show a column mapping preview
- Map each CSV column to the correct Pipedrive field:
- Name → Person - Name
- Email → Person - Email
- Organization → Organization - Name
- Choose how to handle duplicates (merge or skip)
- Click Start import
Handling Duplicates
Pipedrive offers three duplicate handling options during import:
- Skip duplicates: If a person with the same email exists, the row is ignored.
- Merge duplicates: If a match is found, empty fields are filled from the CSV. Existing data is preserved.
- Allow duplicates: Create new records regardless of existing matches.
For most email extraction workflows, Merge duplicates is the safest choice — it adds new information without overwriting what you already have.
CAPT's Pipedrive Export
CAPT's Pipedrive export generates a CSV with the correct column names for Pipedrive's auto-mapping. The field mapping is:
| CAPT Field | Pipedrive CSV Column |
|---|---|
| Email local part | Name |
| Email domain | Organization |
| Tags | Label |
| Notes + Source URL | Note |
Export Pipedrive-ready CSV in one click
CAPT Pro generates CSV files formatted for Pipedrive's import wizard. No manual column renaming needed.
Learn MoreTips for Clean Pipedrive Imports
- Use UTF-8 encoding: Save your CSV as UTF-8 to avoid character issues with international names.
- One email per row: If a person has multiple emails, put each on a separate line. Pipedrive will merge them on import.
- Use Labels: Pipedrive's Label field is perfect for tracking lead source. CAPT maps your auto-tags to labels.
- Include Organization: Linking people to organizations gives you a cleaner CRM structure and better reporting.
- Deduplicate before import: While Pipedrive handles duplicates, starting with a clean list is always faster.
Common Import Issues
- "Name is required": Every Pipedrive person needs a name. CAPT auto-generates this from the email address.
- Columns not recognized: Pipedrive's auto-mapping is case-sensitive. Use the exact column names from the template above.
- CSV delimiter: Pipedrive expects comma-separated files. If your file uses semicolons (common in European locales), change your export settings.
- Large files timeout: For imports over 50,000 rows, split into smaller files or use the Pipedrive API.
Conclusion
Pipedrive's CSV import is flexible but requires correct formatting for a smooth experience. Use the template above, or let CAPT generate the correct format with one click. The combination of CAPT's automatic deduplication and Pipedrive's merge-on-import makes for a clean, efficient lead pipeline.