Import CSV files to create datasets

Import CSV files to create a dataset. A dataset can be created with the CSV file as the data source or can be added to any HubSpot object or event data. 

Before you get started

Before you begin working with this feature, make sure to fully understand what steps should be taken ahead of time, as well as the limitations of the feature and potential consequences of using it.

Understand requirements

• Verify that you have Import permissions.
• Set up your import files and confirm you have all the required fields. The import file must:
  • Be a .csv file.
  • Have only one sheet.
  • Include a header row in which each column header represents a column in the dataset. The column headers can be organized in any order without affecting the import. To map your CSV data to a HubSpot object or event, one of the columns in the file must match a HubSpot property for the target object or event.
  • Contain fewer than 100 columns.
  • Be UTF-8 encoded if foreign language characters are included.
  • Contain cells in number format when importing date-time properties.
  • Ensure all cell values containing commas are enclosed in quotes.
  • Only contain currency data formatted for USD using decimals (for example 123.45).

Understand limitations & considerations

• Uploaded CSV files will be available to all dataset users in the account.
• Properly setting up your files helps you avoid import errors. You can refer to sample import files to help you get started.
• Imports have the following technical limitations:
  • Import files up to 512 MB.
  • Import up to 10,000,000 rows per day, with a limit of 1,048,576 rows per file. 
  • These limits apply to a rolling 24-hour period and do not reset at a specific time of day.

Import a CSV file as a data source

• In your HubSpot account, navigate to Data Management > Datasets.
• Navigate to the CSV data sources tab.
• Click Upload CSV.

• On the Upload page, select your Data Sources file and the language of the column headers in your file:
  • To upload your Data Sources file, click choose a file.
  • To select the language of the column headers in your file, click the dropdown menu and select a language.

• Click Next.
• On the Map page, select the data type and map your columns:
  • To select the data type, click the Data type dropdown menu and select the data type for each of the column headers.
  • Data types include boolean, text, date, datetime, and number. Learn more about data types. 

• Map your columns to their data types, then click Next.

• On the Details page, enter an Import name.
• Click Finish import.

Use the imported CSV file in the dataset builder

• In your HubSpot account, navigate to Data Management > Datasets.
• Click the CSV data sources tab.
• Hover over the name of the dataset upload and click Use to build dataset.

• In the Dataset Builder, confirm your primary data source, join another data source, and preview your data.
  • In the left sidebar, confirm your primary data source. By default, your imported CSV file will be selected.
  • To change the primary data source:
    • Click the delete delete icon to remove the primary data source.
    • Click + Add primary data source.
    • In the Select your primary data source dialog box, select your Primary data source.

• • To join another data source:
    • Click Join another data source.
    • In the Preview your join dialog box, select how to join your imported CSV file data to your HubSpot data. Learn more about using data joins in datasets.
    • A column in your CSV file should map to a property on your selected HubSpot object. For example, select a unique identifier to link both data sources. A unique identifier could be a contact's email address because it is unique to the contact object.
    • Continue creating your dataset.

Please note: it is not possible to join multiple CSV data sources.