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Is make-dir ESM-only? Can you require() it?

Make a directory and its parents if needed - Think `mkdir -p`

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against make-dir@5.1.0. Markdown · JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 5.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 4.0.0

make-dir dropped its CommonJS build in 5.0.0 (May 2024). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 4.0.0, published Jun 23, 2023; it declares support for Node.js >=10.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("make-dir") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. On Node.js 18, which has no require(esm), require("make-dir") fails with ERR_REQUIRE_ESM.

What to do

  1. On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("make-dir") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26.
  2. From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const makeDir = await import("make-dir"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=18).
  3. If you need a synchronous require() or run Node.js 18: npm install make-dir@4.0.0, the last CommonJS release (published Jun 23, 2023); it declares Node.js >=10.
  4. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.
Latest
5.1.0 (Sep 10, 2025)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
4.0.0
ESM-only since
5.0.0 (May 2, 2024)
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
>=18
Weekly downloads
99.1M
License
MIT

Does make-dir@5.1.0 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("make-dir")import "make-dir"
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 make-dir

ES modules (import)

import * as makeDir from "make-dir";

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

CommonJS (require)

// Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer (verified):
const makeDir = require("make-dir");

// Any Node.js version the package supports (>=18), from an async function:
async function main() {
  const makeDir = await import("make-dir");
}

// Or pin the last CommonJS release (declares Node.js >=10):
// npm install make-dir@4.0.0

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 (13 versions; the newest 13 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
5.0.0 – 5.1.0ESM-onlyMay 2, 2024
1.0.0 – 4.0.0CommonJSMay 9, 2017

Frequently asked

Is make-dir ESM-only?

make-dir@5.1.0 is ESM-only. make-dir dropped its CommonJS build in 5.0.0 (May 2024). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 4.0.0, published Jun 23, 2023; it declares support for Node.js >=10.

Which version of make-dir still supports CommonJS / require()?

4.0.0 is the last version of make-dir with a CommonJS build; it declares Node.js >=10. Install it with "npm install make-dir@4.0.0". Every version from 5.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use make-dir from a CommonJS file?

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const makeDir = await import("make-dir"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=18). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("make-dir") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Alternatively pin make-dir@4.0.0 (declares Node.js >=10).

Does make-dir work in Bun?

Yes. import "make-dir" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does make-dir ship TypeScript types?

Yes. make-dir bundles its own type declarations; no @types package is needed.

Links

Other esm-only packages

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