JSON is a common format for APIs and data feeds, but importing it into Airtable isn’t always straightforward — especially when the data is nested, paginated, or updates over time.
This guide walks through the different ways to import JSON into Airtable, when each approach makes sense, and how to choose between one-time imports and automated
syncs.
Ways to Import JSON into Airtable
There are a few different ways to import JSON into Airtable, depending on where your data lives and how often it changes.
Option 1: Import JSON as a one-time upload
If you only need to import JSON into Airtable once, a manual upload is often the simplest option. This works well for static exports, small datasets, or data that doesn’t need to stay in sync.
A common workflow is to convert the JSON file into a CSV using an online converter, then upload the CSV using Airtable’s built-in import tools.
This approach is quick to set up, but it’s entirely manual. If the source data changes, you’ll need to repeat the process, and complex or deeply nested JSON may require clean-up before importing.
Option 2: Import JSON from a URL or API
If your JSON data lives at a URL or behind an API and updates over time, importing it as a one-time upload is usually not practical. In these cases, it’s better to connect directly to the source and import the data automatically.
This approach lets you fetch live JSON data, handle authentication if required, and re-run the import on a schedule so your Airtable base stays up to date.
Tools like Data Fetcher make this possible without writing code, allowing you to connect to JSON endpoints and map fields directly into Airtable.
How to Import JSON into Airtable using Data Fetcher
In this example, we’ll import JSON data from a public URL into Airtable. We’ll use a simple weather API, but the same steps apply to any JSON API or hosted JSON file.
This approach is best when your JSON data updates over time, and you want Airtable to stay in sync automatically.
1. Add the Data Fetcher extension
Open your Airtable base and add the Data Fetcher extension from the Airtable extension marketplace. Once installed, create an account or sign in to get started.
After signing in, you’ll see the Data Fetcher home screen, where you can create your first request.
2. Create a new JSON import request
On the Data Fetcher home screen, click Create your first request.
For the application type, select Custom. This option is used for connecting to generic JSON APIs and URLs.
In the URL field, enter the following JSON API endpoint, which returns a weather forecast for London:
https://api.open-meteo.com/v1/forecast?latitude=51.5072&longitude=-0.1276&hourly=temperature_2m,precipitation¤t_weather=trueGive your request a descriptive name, such as “Import London weather data”.
Most JSON APIs use the GET method by default, so no additional configuration is needed for this example.
3. Run the request and review the JSON response
Click Save & Run to fetch the data from the API.
Once the request completes, Data Fetcher will show a field mapping screen based on the JSON response. This allows you to see all available fields returned by the API, including nested objects and arrays.
If you want to inspect the raw JSON, you can open the response preview on the
left-hand side to explore the structure before choosing which fields to import.
4. Map JSON fields to Airtable fields
Select the JSON fields you want to import into Airtable. For this example, you might choose fields such as the current temperature, time, or hourly forecast values.
For each selected field, you can either map it to an existing Airtable field or create a new one. When creating new fields, choose the appropriate Airtable field type, such as Number or Date, to match the data.
Once you’re happy with the field mapping, click Save & Run to import the JSON data into your Airtable table.
You’ll now see the imported data appear as records in Airtable, with fields created automatically based on your selections.
5. (Optional) Schedule automatic updates
If you want Airtable to stay up to date as the JSON data changes, you can enable scheduling for this request.
Scheduling lets Data Fetcher re-run the import automatically at regular intervals, such as every hour or once per day. This is useful for dashboards, reports, or any workflow that depends on fresh data.
If you only need to run the import once, you can leave scheduling turned off.
What to do next
You’ve now seen how to import JSON into Airtable from a live API using a single request. To use this with your own data, replace the example URL with your own JSON endpoint and adjust the field mapping to match your schema.
In the next sections, you can explore common JSON import scenarios, such as working with nested data, paginated APIs, or updating existing records.
Airtable JSON Import Examples
Below are common examples of importing JSON into Airtable, and how these situations are typically handled.
Importing nested JSON data
Many JSON APIs return nested objects rather than flat fields. These nested values can be selected and mapped directly to Airtable fields, allowing you to import structured data without manually reshaping the response.
Importing arrays as Airtable records
If your JSON response includes arrays of items, each item in the array can be imported as a separate record in Airtable. This is useful for endpoints that return lists such as products, events, users, or time-series data.
Working with paginated JSON APIs
Some APIs split large datasets across multiple pages. These paginated responses can be followed automatically, so all available data is imported into Airtable, rather than only the first page of results.
Importing data from authenticated APIs
Many JSON APIs require authentication using API keys, bearer tokens, or basic authentication. These authentication methods can be configured so secure endpoints can be imported without exposing credentials in your base.
Updating existing Airtable records
If your JSON data includes unique identifiers, imports can be configured to update existing records instead of creating duplicates. This is useful when syncing data that changes over time.
Creating or updating linked records
JSON data can also be used to create or update linked records in Airtable, allowing you to maintain relationships between tables when importing data from external systems.
