# Is lerna ESM-only? Can you require() it?

> lerna@10.0.1 is ESM-only. ESM-only since 10.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 9.0.7.

Lerna is a fast, modern build system for managing and publishing multiple JavaScript/TypeScript packages from the same repository

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against lerna@10.0.1.

lerna dropped its CommonJS build in 10.0.0 (July 2026). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 9.0.7, published Mar 13, 2026; it declares support for Node.js ^20.19.0 || ^22.12.0 || >=24.0.0.

On Node.js 22.12+ and newer (lerna@10.0.1 declares Node.js ^22.13.0 || ^24.0.0 || ^26.0.0), require("lerna") 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 lerna@10.0.1 declares Node.js ^22.13.0 || ^24.0.0 || ^26.0.0, so 18 is outside its supported range anyway.

lerna@10.0.1 declares engines "^22.13.0 || ^24.0.0 || ^26.0.0", 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 (lerna@10.0.1 declares Node.js ^22.13.0 || ^24.0.0 || ^26.0.0), require("lerna") 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 lerna = await import("lerna"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (^22.13.0 || ^24.0.0 || ^26.0.0).
3. If you need a synchronous require(): npm install lerna@9.0.7, the last CommonJS release (published Mar 13, 2026); it declares Node.js ^20.19.0 || ^22.12.0 || >=24.0.0.
4. lerna@10.0.1 declares engines "^22.13.0 || ^24.0.0 || ^26.0.0", so Node.js 18, 20 are unsupported regardless: upgrade Node.js or pin an older release.
5. TypeScript: no types are available for lerna; declare the module yourself if you need them.

## Facts

- Latest: 10.0.1 (Aug 19, 2026)
- Module format: ESM-only
- Last CommonJS version: 9.0.7
- ESM-only since: 10.0.0 (Jul 29, 2026)
- TypeScript types: none
- Node engines: ^22.13.0 || ^24.0.0 || ^26.0.0
- Weekly downloads: 1.4M
- License: MIT

## Runtime test results for lerna@10.0.1

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

| Runtime | require("lerna") | import "lerna" |
|---|---|---|
| Node.js 18 | fails (ERR_REQUIRE_ESM) | fails (SyntaxError) |
| 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 lerna

ES modules:

```js
import * as lerna from "lerna";
```

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

CommonJS:

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

// Any Node.js version the package supports (^22.13.0 || ^24.0.0 || ^26.0.0), from an async function:
async function main() {
  const lerna = await import("lerna");
}

// Or pin the last CommonJS release (declares Node.js ^20.19.0 || ^22.12.0 || >=24.0.0):
// npm install lerna@9.0.7
```

## Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (186 versions; the newest 60 shown).

| Versions | Format | First published |
|---|---|---|
| 10.0.0 – 10.0.1 | ESM-only | Jul 29, 2026 |
| 5.5.4 – 9.0.7 | CommonJS | Sep 28, 2022 |

## Frequently asked

**Is lerna ESM-only?**

lerna@10.0.1 is ESM-only. lerna dropped its CommonJS build in 10.0.0 (July 2026). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 9.0.7, published Mar 13, 2026; it declares support for Node.js ^20.19.0 || ^22.12.0 || >=24.0.0.

**Which version of lerna still supports CommonJS / require()?**

9.0.7 is the last version of lerna with a CommonJS build; it declares Node.js ^20.19.0 || ^22.12.0 || >=24.0.0. Install it with "npm install lerna@9.0.7". Every version from 10.0.0 on is ESM-only.

**How do I use lerna from a CommonJS file?**

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const lerna = await import("lerna"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (^22.13.0 || ^24.0.0 || ^26.0.0). On Node.js 22.12+ and newer (lerna@10.0.1 declares Node.js ^22.13.0 || ^24.0.0 || ^26.0.0), require("lerna") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 22, 24 and 26. Alternatively pin lerna@9.0.7 (declares Node.js ^20.19.0 || ^22.12.0 || >=24.0.0).

**Does lerna work in Bun?**

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

**Does lerna ship TypeScript types?**

No. lerna ships no type declarations and there is no @types package for it.

## Links

- [lerna on npm](https://www.npmjs.com/package/lerna)
- [Source repository](https://github.com/lerna/lerna)
- [HTML version](https://canirequire.com/package/lerna/)
- [JSON version](https://canirequire.com/package/lerna.json)

---

For scripts and AI agents: any package is at https://canirequire.com/package/<name>/index.md (Markdown) or https://canirequire.com/package/<name>.json (JSON); the site index is https://canirequire.com/llms.txt. Fetch the URL directly; no search needed.