Convert Tabs to Spaces
Replace every tab character with a set number of spaces. Runs entirely in your browser, so your data never leaves your device.
0 chars · 0 lines
Output
The result appears here as you type.
How to use Convert Tabs to Spaces
- 1. Paste your text. Enter code or text that uses tab characters for indentation into the input pane, such as a file copied from an editor that defaults to tabs.
- 2. Set Spaces per tab. Choose how many spaces each tab character should expand into, matching the indentation width your target editor or style guide expects.
- 3. Copy the space-indented text. Copy the converted text from the output pane, where every tab character has been replaced with the number of spaces you specified.
When to use Convert Tabs to Spaces
Convert Tabs to Spaces replaces every tab character with a chosen number of spaces, untabifying a document. Use it whenever a style guide or editor requires space-based indentation instead of tabs.
- Matching a project's space-indentation style. A team's style guide requires two or four spaces for indentation, but a file you're contributing to was written with tabs. Convert it before submitting your change.
- Fixing inconsistent display across editors. A file with tab indentation looks misaligned when opened in an editor with a different tab width setting. Convert tabs to a fixed number of spaces so alignment is consistent everywhere.
- Preparing code for a forum or chat post. You're pasting a code snippet into a platform that renders tabs inconsistently or collapses them. Convert tabs to spaces first so the indentation displays reliably.
Examples
Untabify
Input
indented
Output
indented
About the Convert Tabs to Spaces tool
Convert Tabs to Spaces runs as plain JavaScript in your browser tab, with no server behind it. Replace every tab character with a set number of spaces. Whatever you put in stays on your device from start to finish.
The tool is part of EditSafely's Text Tools section, 211 single-purpose utilities built around the same idea: open the page, get the result, keep your data to yourself.
You can shape the output with the Spaces per tab setting, and the result refreshes the moment you change it. A worked example further down the page shows exactly what the tool produces for a real input.
That local-first design has practical benefits beyond privacy. The tool keeps working on a flaky connection once the page has loaded, results are instant because nothing round-trips to a server, and it is safe to use with confidential material.
Frequently asked questions
Is Convert Tabs to Spaces free to use?
Yes, it is completely free. All 2,658 tools on EditSafely work without an account, a subscription or usage limits.
Is it safe to paste sensitive or confidential data?
Everything happens locally. Your browser downloads the tool's code once, then does all the processing itself; nothing you enter is transmitted, stored or logged. You can even go offline after the page loads and it will still work.
How much text can I process at once?
There is no fixed limit. Because the work happens on your own device rather than on a shared server, the practical ceiling is your machine's memory, which comfortably handles inputs far larger than typical online tools allow.
Do I need to sign up or install anything?
No. The tool works in any modern browser on desktop, tablet or phone. There is no account to create, no extension to add and no software to install.
How do I use the result?
The output panel has a one-click copy button, and you can keep refining the input while you work; the result updates in place as you type.