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Is chalk ESM-only? Can you require() it?

Terminal string styling done right

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against chalk@6.0.0. Markdown · JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 5.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 4.1.2

chalk dropped its CommonJS build in 5.0.0 (November 2021). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 4.1.2, published Jul 30, 2021; it declares support for Node.js >=10.

On Node.js 22.12+ and newer (chalk@6.0.0 declares Node.js >=22), require("chalk") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 22, 24 and 26. Node.js 18 has no require(esm), and chalk@6.0.0 declares Node.js >=22, so 18 is outside its supported range anyway.

chalk@6.0.0 declares engines ">=22", so Node.js 18, 20 are outside its supported range regardless of module format.

What to do

  1. On Node.js 22.12+ and newer (chalk@6.0.0 declares Node.js >=22), require("chalk") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 22, 24 and 26.
  2. From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const chalk = await import("chalk"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=22).
  3. If you need a synchronous require() or run Node.js 18: npm install chalk@4.1.2, the last CommonJS release (published Jul 30, 2021); it declares Node.js >=10.
  4. chalk@6.0.0 declares engines ">=22", so Node.js 18, 20 are unsupported regardless: upgrade Node.js or pin an older release.
  5. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.
Latest
6.0.0 (Jul 26, 2026)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
4.1.2
ESM-only since
5.0.0 (Nov 26, 2021)
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
>=22
Weekly downloads
439.8M
License
MIT

Does chalk@6.0.0 actually load? Runtime test results

Installed and executed on Sep 9, 2026 with require("chalk") from a CommonJS file and import "chalk" from an ES module.

Runtimerequire("chalk")import "chalk"
Node.js 18✗ failsERR_REQUIRE_ESM✓ works
Node.js 20✓ works✓ works
Node.js 22✓ works✓ works
Node.js 24✓ works✓ works
Node.js 26✓ works✓ works
Bun 1.4.0✓ works✓ works

How to import chalk

ES modules (import)

import * as chalk from "chalk";

Namespace import shown because the ESM entry may have no default export; use named imports for what it exports.

CommonJS (require)

// Node.js 22.12+ and newer (verified):
const chalk = require("chalk");

// Any Node.js version the package supports (>=22), from an async function:
async function main() {
  const chalk = await import("chalk");
}

// Or pin the last CommonJS release (declares Node.js >=10):
// npm install chalk@4.1.2

Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm, corrected where a runtime test of that version contradicted them (42 versions; the newest 42 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
5.0.0 – 6.0.0ESM-onlyNov 26, 2021
0.1.0 – 4.1.2CommonJSAug 3, 2013

Frequently asked

Is chalk ESM-only?

chalk@6.0.0 is ESM-only. chalk dropped its CommonJS build in 5.0.0 (November 2021). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 4.1.2, published Jul 30, 2021; it declares support for Node.js >=10.

Which version of chalk still supports CommonJS / require()?

4.1.2 is the last version of chalk with a CommonJS build; it declares Node.js >=10. Install it with "npm install chalk@4.1.2". Every version from 5.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use chalk from a CommonJS file?

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const chalk = await import("chalk"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=22). On Node.js 22.12+ and newer (chalk@6.0.0 declares Node.js >=22), require("chalk") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 22, 24 and 26. Alternatively pin chalk@4.1.2 (declares Node.js >=10).

Does chalk work in Bun?

Yes. import "chalk" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does chalk ship TypeScript types?

Yes. chalk bundles its own type declarations; no @types package is needed.

Links

Other esm-only packages

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