This takes about 5 minutes.

By the end of this guide, you'll have imported gift cards from a spreadsheet (CSV or XLSX) into BatchCard, with columns mapped, data validated, and cards created.

When to use a spreadsheet import

Spreadsheet imports work best when you:

Need to create 50 or more gift cards at once
Have gift card data in an existing spreadsheet
Need different values, prefixes, recipients, or messages within the same batch
Are migrating gift card data from another platform
Have a shared online spreadsheet you want to import by URL (Business plan)

For smaller batches with a single value, creating gift cards directly is faster.

File import requires a Starter, Pro, or Business plan. Free plan merchants can create batches manually.

Prepare your spreadsheet

BatchCard accepts CSV (.csv) and XLSX (.xlsx) files. You can use Excel, Google Sheets, Numbers, or any app that exports to these formats.

Download a template to get started. Both CSV and XLSX formats include all 10 columns with example data. The XLSX version includes clickable column headers that link to the format reference.

Import template

Pre-formatted with all 10 columns and example data.

CSV XLSX

Supported columns

Your spreadsheet can include any of the 10 columns listed below. Only Value is required. Columns can appear in any order, and extra columns are fine (you can skip them during the mapping step).

Column	Required	Description
Value	Yes	Dollar amount of the gift card (0.01 to 2,000.00)
Code Prefix	No	Characters added before the random gift card code
Code Suffix	No	Characters added after the random gift card code
Recipient Email	No	Email address for delivering the gift card
First Name	No	Recipient's first name for email personalization
Last Name	No	Recipient's last name for email personalization
Message	No	Personal message included in the notification email (max 255 characters)
Expiration Date	No	Date the gift card expires (must be in the future)
Note	No	Internal note visible only to store staff
Tags	No	Comma-separated labels for organizing your batch

The app auto-detects common column name variations. For example, a column labeled "Amount" maps to "Value," and "Email" maps to "Recipient Email." See the format reference for the full list of accepted column names.

Tips for clean data

Remove blank rows at the bottom of your spreadsheet
Save as CSV (UTF-8) if your spreadsheet app gives you encoding options
Currency symbols like $ or EUR are stripped automatically
If your XLSX workbook has multiple sheets, you can pick which sheet to import after uploading

Direct upload (all import plans)

Drag and drop your file onto the upload area on the Create Batch page. You can also click the upload area to browse your computer and select the file.

This is the primary and most reliable way to import.

URL import (Business plan only)

URL import is available on the Business plan only. Direct file upload is available on all import plans (Starter, Pro, Business).

Paste a public URL to a CSV or XLSX file hosted online. Supported sources include:

Google Sheets: Go to File, then Share, then Share with others. Change access to "Anyone with the link." Copy the link and paste it into the URL import field. The app auto-converts the share link to a CSV export.
Dropbox: Use the shared link for your file.
OneDrive: Use the share link for your file. The app converts it to a direct download.
SharePoint: Use the share link for your file. The app converts it to a direct download.
Direct file URLs: Any publicly accessible URL ending in .csv or .xlsx.

The file must be publicly accessible (no login required to download it).

The import flow

Step 1: Upload your file

Drop or select your file on the Create Batch page. The app reads and parses the file in your browser. You will see the filename, row count, and any immediate errors (wrong file type, missing headers, no data rows, or too many rows).

Step 2: Map your columns

The app auto-matches your column headers to BatchCard fields. Review the mapping and correct any mismatches using the dropdown menus. Set unneeded columns to "Skip."

The "Value" field must be mapped. A preview of the first 5 rows is shown so you can verify the mapping looks correct.

Step 3: Validate your data

The app checks every row against the format rules for each field (value range, email format, date format, code length, and more). Valid rows show a checkmark. Rows with errors show the specific issue next to the row.

You can download an error report as a CSV file listing only the rows with problems. Fix errors in your original file and re-upload, or proceed with only the valid rows.

See import errors for a list of every error message and how to fix it.

For files over 1,000 rows, the creation process may take a few minutes. The progress bar shows real-time status.
If you hit your plan's row limit, upgrade your plan or split the file into smaller batches.
Use the downloadable template to avoid column mapping issues.
Test with a small file (5 to 10 rows) first before doing a large import.

CSV and XLSX format reference: complete column specifications, accepted column names, and validation rules
Import errors: every error message you might see during import, with causes and fixes
CSV import and export features: full overview of import and export capabilities
Exporting codes: export your batch data as a spreadsheet

Importing Spreadsheets