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

A complete and compact Ethereum library, for dapps, wallets and any other tools.

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against ethers@6.17.0. Markdown · JSON

Dual (CommonJS + ESM) Dual package — require() works on every Node.js version we test; import works too

ethers publishes both a CommonJS entry and a native ESM entry (ESM added in 6.0.0). require("ethers") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=14.0.0. import "ethers" works alongside it.

What to do

  1. Nothing to change. require("ethers") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=14.0.0. import * as ethers from "ethers" works alongside it; use named imports for what the ESM entry exports.
  2. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.
Latest
6.17.0 (Jun 18, 2026)
Module format
Dual (CommonJS + ESM)
Last CommonJS version
6.17.0
Native ESM since
6.0.0
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
>=14.0.0
Weekly downloads
3.4M
License
MIT

Does ethers@6.17.0 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("ethers")import "ethers"
Node.js 18✓ works✓ 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 ethers

ES modules (import)

import * as ethers from "ethers";

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

CommonJS (require)

const ethers = require("ethers");

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 (216 versions; the newest 60 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
6.0.0 – 6.17.0Dual (CommonJS + ESM)Feb 3, 2023
5.7.1 – 5.8.0CommonJSSep 14, 2022

Frequently asked

Is ethers ESM-only?

ethers@6.17.0 ships CommonJS and ESM builds. ethers publishes both a CommonJS entry and a native ESM entry (ESM added in 6.0.0). require("ethers") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=14.0.0. import "ethers" works alongside it.

Can I require ethers?

Yes. ethers ships a CommonJS entry alongside the native ESM entry. require("ethers") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=14.0.0.

Does ethers work in Bun?

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

Does ethers ship TypeScript types?

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

Links

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