Meta Customer List Template (Free CSV for Facebook & Instagram)
The customer list file Meta wants for Facebook and Instagram custom audiences. Download it, fill it in, upload it.
Or drop your CRM export into the converter below. It adds country codes to phone numbers, fixes countries and strips the duplicates.
Worth it when your list is personal emails and mobiles. Targeting companies? Use the LinkedIn company list template.
Runs in your browser. Your list never touches our servers.
The headers (copy them if you're building your own):
email,phone,fn,ln,ct,st,zip,country- 1,000+customers recommendedSource
- 3 + 3email and phone columns maxSource
- +44…country code on every phoneSource
- 30 daysbefore the list shows "Outdated"Source
Checked against Meta's own help docs on 12 October 2026.
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The rules
What Meta needs
One main identifier per row.Email, phone, mobile advertiser ID, app user ID or Page user ID. The rest help matching but won't carry a row alone.
Phones with a country code.
07700 900123won't match.+447700900123will.Two-letter countries.
GB, not "UK" or "United Kingdom".Up to three emails and three phones.Add a second email column if you hold work and personal addresses.
CSV or TXT.No Excel files. Save as CSV, or let the converter do it.
Refresh within 30 days.After that Meta marks the list "Outdated". Stale exclusions waste money.
You must have permission to use the data you upload. Read Meta's Custom Audiences terms before you upload.
My take
James Green, Evergreen
Meta lists only earn their keep if you hold personal emails or mobile numbers.
For reaching new B2B accounts, a LinkedIn company list is still the best choice. Meta has no idea where anyone works, so a list of company names or work domains does nothing here.
Where Meta helps is the people you already know: webinar sign-ups, past enquiries and customers who gave you a personal email or phone. Use it to retarget them cheaply, and to exclude customers and booked calls so you stop paying to show "book a demo" to people who already have.
Only got work emails? Turn them into a LinkedIn company list instead.
The mistake that kills most Meta lists
UK phone numbers without +44. Meta can't tell which country a number belongs to, so it doesn't match. Fix it before upload, not after a week of nothing.
Questions
FAQ
What columns does a Meta customer list need?
At least one main identifier: email, phone, mobile advertiser ID, app user ID or Page user ID. This template uses email, phone, fn, ln, ct, st, zip, country. The extra columns (name, city, county, postcode, country) help Meta match more people.
How many customers do I need?
Meta recommends at least 1,000. Smaller lists can upload but often end up too small to deliver.
Do phone numbers need a country code?
Yes. Always. Even if every customer is in the UK. 07700 900123 becomes +447700900123. The converter does this for you.
Can I add more than one email or phone column?
Yes, up to 3 email columns and 3 phone columns. Useful when you have a work and a personal email for the same person.
What file types does Meta accept?
CSV or TXT. Save Excel files as CSV first, or drop the Excel file into the converter and it will do it.
Why does my list say "Outdated"?
Meta flags a customer list as outdated when it hasn't been updated for 30 days. Refresh it from your CRM monthly, especially if you use it as an exclusion.
Do I need to hash the data?
No. Meta hashes it in your browser during upload. You can upload pre-hashed data, but you lose the chance to check it first.
Is this an official Meta template?
It follows Meta's customer list formatting guidelines, checked on 12 October 2026. We're an independent agency, not affiliated with Meta.
List sorted. Now the hard bit.
Uploading is easy. Turning a list into meetings is where most campaigns fall over: the wrong job titles layered on, boring ads, budget spread too thin.
That's the bit we do for niche B2B firms.
Keep going
Related
Sources
After the upload
A perfect list won't save a boring ad
The list decides who sees you. The ad decides whether they care. Get both right. Start here:
- Scroll-stopping B2B adsWhy boring ads cost you more per click, and the four things that stop the thumb.
- B2B video ad blueprintMy video guide to ads people actually watch. Hook, structure, length.
- B2B ad frameworksCopy frameworks that work for niche, technical products.
- Anti-Ad BuilderFree tool. Turns a dull ad idea into one with tension.
Prefer to watch? Script your own video ad, or see the video walkthrough in the list upload tutorial.
James Green. Runs LinkedIn and Meta ads for niche B2B firms. 100+ ad accounts audited.Last checked: