How to export web scraped data to Google Sheets with Instant Data Scraper

Ever spot a list or table online and wish you could just pull it into Google Sheets—no copying, no wasted time? If you're not a coder but still need web data in a spreadsheet, this guide is for you. We'll cover how to scrape data from websites and send it directly to Google Sheets using Instant Data Scraper, a free Chrome extension built for non-programmers. No Python, no APIs, no headaches.

This isn't magic, and it isn't perfect. But if you want a simple, reliable way to go from "I see it on the web" to "I have it in Sheets," here's how to do it—plus what to watch out for.

What You'll Need

  • Google Chrome (or another Chromium browser)
  • A Google account (for Google Sheets)
  • The Instant Data Scraper extension (it's free)
  • A website with data you want to scrape (tables, lists—stuff that's not locked behind a login)

That's it. No need to sign up for new services, and you won't touch code.

Step 1: Install Instant Data Scraper

  1. Go to the Chrome Web Store page for Instant Data Scraper.
  2. Click Add to Chrome.
  3. Confirm by clicking Add extension.

It takes about 10 seconds. No sign-ups, no hidden fees. If an extension wants you to create an account just to scrape a public table, skip it.

Step 2: Find the Data You Want

  • Head to the website with the table or list you want to scrape.
  • Make sure it's visible on the page—Instant Data Scraper can't grab data that's hidden behind logins or loads as you scroll (at least, not easily).
  • If it looks like a plain table or list, you're in luck. If it’s more “fancy JavaScript dashboard,” results will vary.

Pro tip: If you want to scrape multiple pages (pagination), note the Next/Previous buttons. You'll deal with those in a later step.

Step 3: Launch Instant Data Scraper

  1. Click the Instant Data Scraper icon in your browser toolbar.
  2. The extension will pop up in a small window over the page.
  3. It auto-detects tables and lists. You'll see a preview of the data it found.

If you see gibberish or no data, try another detection mode (there’s a button for it), or reload the page. Some sites are just tough to scrape—blame their web developers, not yourself.

Step 4: Adjust What Gets Scraped

  • Look at the preview. If it’s grabbing the wrong columns or too much junk, tweak the selection:
    • Use the "Select Next" or "Select Previous" buttons to cycle through detected tables/lists.
    • Manually select/deselect columns in the preview.
    • Rename columns if you want. Double-click the column header to edit.
  • If the extension grabs nothing useful, you’re probably out of luck for this site (at least with this tool). Some sites purposely block scraping.

Step 5: Scrape Multiple Pages (Optional)

If your data spans multiple pages (think: "Next" buttons), Instant Data Scraper can automate this.

  1. In the extension window, look for the "Detect pagination" button.
  2. Click it. IDS tries to find the pagination buttons automatically.
  3. If it finds them, you’ll see options to set how many pages to scrape. Pick your number, or let it run until it stops.
  4. Start the scrape and wait. Don’t click away; the tool needs the active tab.

Heads up: If the site uses weird JavaScript navigation, the extension may miss pages or duplicate data. Always check your results.

Step 6: Export Data to Google Sheets

Here’s where most guides get fuzzy. Instant Data Scraper can’t push data directly into Google Sheets (as in, “one click and it’s done”). But you can get the data into Sheets in under a minute:

Option 1: Copy-Paste (Fastest for Small Datasets)

  1. When the scrape is done, click Copy to clipboard in the extension.
  2. Open your Google Sheet.
  3. Select a cell and paste (Ctrl+V or Cmd+V).
  4. Google Sheets usually detects and formats the data into columns.

Works best for: Small- to medium-sized tables. If you’re dealing with hundreds or thousands of rows, use Option 2.

Option 2: Export as CSV, Then Import to Google Sheets

  1. In Instant Data Scraper, click Download CSV file.
  2. Save the file to your computer.
  3. In Google Sheets, open a blank sheet.
  4. Click File > Import > Upload and select your CSV.
  5. Choose to insert the data into the current sheet or a new one.
  6. Done.

This is more reliable for larger datasets or weird characters.

Step 7: Clean and Organize in Google Sheets

No scraped data is perfect. Expect:

  • Weird header names
  • Extra blank columns or rows
  • Numbers formatted as text
  • Occasional duplicates (especially if you scraped multiple pages)

Spend a few minutes cleaning up:

  • Rename headers
  • Delete junk columns/rows
  • Use “Remove duplicates” from the Data menu if needed
  • Reformat numbers or dates as needed

Don’t obsess over perfection—get it usable, and move on.

What Works (and What Doesn’t)

What works:

  • Scraping basic tables, lists, directories, and some product listings.
  • Quick copy-paste or CSV export into Sheets.
  • Grabbing data from most non-login, non-dynamic sites.

What doesn’t:

  • Data hidden behind logins or paywalls.
  • Infinite scroll pages (where new data loads as you scroll).
  • Highly dynamic sites built with React, Angular, etc.—the extension can miss data or crash.
  • Direct syncing—there’s no true “live link” between the website and your Sheet. You’ll need to repeat the process to update data.

What to ignore:

  • Any offer to “unlock” more features by creating an account or paying. For most users, the free version is more than enough.
  • Fancy automation add-ons. For 95% of use cases, basic scrape and import is all you need.

Pro Tips

  • Practice on easy sites first: Government data, Wikipedia tables, or product lists are great for learning.
  • Watch out for copyright: Just because you can scrape something doesn’t mean you should—especially for commercial use.
  • Don’t expect perfection: Manual tweaks are part of the process.
  • Try incognito mode if the extension seems buggy—other extensions can mess things up.
  • Refresh before scraping: Sometimes the extension misses data until you reload the page.

Keep It Simple (and Repeatable)

Scraping data to Google Sheets with Instant Data Scraper isn’t rocket science, but it’s not always plug-and-play either. Don’t overthink it: grab what you need, clean it up, and move on. If you find yourself repeating the same scrape often, consider learning more advanced tools—but for most folks, this workflow covers 90% of what you’ll ever need.

If it doesn’t work on a particular site, don’t sweat it. Try another source, or just move on. The goal is useful data, not a perfect process.