Click on "Install Server".
Wait a few minutes for the server to deploy. Once ready, it will show a "Started" state.
In the chat, type
@followed by the MCP server name and your instructions, e.g., "@Excel MCP Servercalculate the total for my expenses in budget.xlsx and return the result"
That's it! The server will respond to your query, and you can continue using it as needed.
Here is a step-by-step guide with screenshots.
Excel MCP Server
A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for Excel file manipulation with real-time formula calculation.
Why a Formula Engine?
Problem: Both humans and LLMs are inconsistent at math. When an AI writes =SUM(A1:A10) to a spreadsheet, it's just storing a string—the calculation never happens unless Microsoft Excel opens the file.
Solution: This MCP integrates HyperFormula, a headless spreadsheet engine that evaluates formulas in real-time. When you read a cell, you get the calculated result, not just the formula text.
This ensures mathematical accuracy for:
Financial calculations
Data aggregations
Report generation
Any workflow where precision matters
Features
No Excel Required - Works with .xlsx files using pure JavaScript
400+ Excel Functions - SUM, AVERAGE, VLOOKUP, IF, and more via HyperFormula
Multi-Workbook - Open and manipulate multiple workbooks simultaneously
Tools (20 total)
Workbook Management
Tool | Description |
| Create new workbook in memory, returns ID |
| Open existing .xlsx file |
| Save workbook to disk |
| Close workbook and free memory |
| List all open workbooks |
Sheet Operations
Tool | Description |
| List all sheets in workbook |
| Add new sheet |
| Remove sheet |
| Rename sheet |
| Get dimensions and metadata |
Cell Operations
Tool | Description |
| Read cell value (returns calculated result) |
| Write value or formula (prefix with |
| Read range of cells |
| Write 2D array to range |
| List columns with headers |
Formula Support
Tool | Description |
| Get raw formula string from cell |
| Force recalculation of all formulas |
Charts & Pivot Tables
Tool | Description |
| Create bar, line, pie, or scatter chart |
| Remove chart |
| Create pivot table from data |
Installation
Configuration
Add to your Claude Code MCP settings (~/.claude.json):
Example Usage
Tech Stack
TypeScript - Type-safe implementation
ExcelJS - Read/write .xlsx files
HyperFormula - Formula calculation engine (GPLv3)
MCP SDK - Model Context Protocol integration
License
GPLv3 (due to HyperFormula dependency)