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How to import leads into Hunter

Learn how to import leads into Hunter, map columns, enrich or verify emails, and manage existing contacts during the import process

Updated this week

You can import your existing leads into Hunter Leads using the Leads Import feature. This allows you to upload a CSV or TXT file, map your data to Hunter attributes, and optionally enrich or verify emails during the process.

This guide walks you through the full import flow and explains what to expect.


Before you start

Make sure your file meets these requirements:

  • File format: CSV or TXT

  • Delimiter: Comma (,) or semicolon (;)

  • Each row must include:

    • An email address, or

    • A name + company information (company name or website)

You can import up to 100,000 rows per file.


Step-by-step guide on how to import a list of leads

To import a list to your leads, follow these steps after clicking on + Import leads inside your People Leads section. The process involves 3 steps:

  1. Upload file: Uploading the CSV or TXT file

  2. Map Columns: mapping the columns

  3. Settings: Configure your upload


Step 1: Upload your file

  1. Go to LeadsPeople Leads.

  2. Click + Import leads.

  3. Upload your CSV or TXT file.

Import leads button in the People Leads section

Step 2: Map your columns

  1. Click Next.

  2. Match each column from your file to:

    • A default Hunter attribute

    • An existing custom attribute

    • Or create a new attribute

  3. Click Next.

💡 If your file includes column headers, enable Headers in first row.

Column mapping screen during lead import in Hunter

Step 3: Configure import settings

In this step, you define how Hunter processes your data.

1️⃣ Enrich your data (paid plan)

On a paid plan, for every imported email, Hunter automatically enriches it with available data points — at no additional cost

  • You can prevent specific fields from being overwritten.

  • Select which columns Hunter should not override.

Email enrichment option during leads import setup

2️⃣ Find or verify email addresses (optional)

You can also choose to:

  • Find missing email addresses (1 credit per email found)

  • Verify imported emails (0.5 credit per email verified)

Email find and verify options during lead import setup

💡 You can also verify and find emails for these leads later, once they're added to your list.

3️⃣ Choose where to which leads list you wish to add leads

You can:

  • Add leads to a new list

  • Add leads to an existing list

If creating a new list:

  1. Enter a list name.

  2. Optionally assign it to a folder.

Select the leads list you wish to add your leads to, during lead import setup

4️⃣ Handle existing contacts

Choose how Hunter should treat leads that already exist:

  1. Don’t import existing contacts

    • They remain in their current list.

  2. Copy existing contacts to this list

    • Contacts are updated.

    • They stay in their original list.

    • They are also added to the new list.

  3. Move existing contacts to this list

    • Contacts are updated.

    • They are moved to the selected list.

Select how to handle existing leads during the leads import setup

💡If you're in a team, only the Team Owner or Team Admins can modify other users’ resources. If any of these leads already exist in the account, a standard team member will not be able to update, move, or copy resources owned by someone else. Learn more about Team Management here.


What to expect after starting the import

  • Leads are added to your selected list.

  • Large imports (thousands of rows) may take several minutes.

  • You can continue using Hunter while the import processes and don't need to remain on the import page.


Access your import history

To review past imports:

  1. Go to Leads.

  2. Click Configuration (bottom left).


Leads limits

Import file limit

  • Maximum 100,000 rows per import file

Account limit (based on plan)

Your subscription determines the total number of leads your team can store:

Hunter Plan

Leads storage limit

Free

100,000

Starter

2,000,000

Growth

10,000,000

Scale

30,000,000

Enterprise

Custom

See full plan details in Hunter Plans.


Next steps

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