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Is p-limit ESM-only? Can you require() it?

Run multiple promise-returning & async functions with limited concurrency

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against p-limit@7.3.2. Markdown · JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 4.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 3.1.0

p-limit dropped its CommonJS build in 4.0.0 (August 2021). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 3.1.0, published Nov 25, 2020; it declares support for Node.js >=10.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("p-limit") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Node.js 18 has no require(esm), and p-limit@7.3.2 declares Node.js >=20, so 18 is outside its supported range anyway.

p-limit@7.3.2 declares engines ">=20", so Node.js 18 is outside its supported range regardless of module format.

What to do

  1. On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("p-limit") 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 pLimit = await import("p-limit"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=20).
  3. If you need a synchronous require() or run Node.js 18: npm install p-limit@3.1.0, the last CommonJS release (published Nov 25, 2020); it declares Node.js >=10.
  4. p-limit@7.3.2 declares engines ">=20", so Node.js 18 is unsupported regardless: upgrade Node.js or pin an older release.
  5. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.
Latest
7.3.2 (Aug 31, 2026)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
3.1.0
ESM-only since
4.0.0 (Aug 12, 2021)
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
>=20
Weekly downloads
293.1M
License
MIT

Does p-limit@7.3.2 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("p-limit")import "p-limit"
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 p-limit

ES modules (import)

import * as pLimit from "p-limit";

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 pLimit = require("p-limit");

// Any Node.js version the package supports (>=20), from an async function:
async function main() {
  const pLimit = await import("p-limit");
}

// Or pin the last CommonJS release (declares Node.js >=10):
// npm install p-limit@3.1.0

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 (26 versions; the newest 26 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
4.0.0 – 7.3.2ESM-onlyAug 12, 2021
1.0.0 – 3.1.0CommonJSOct 21, 2016

Frequently asked

Is p-limit ESM-only?

p-limit@7.3.2 is ESM-only. p-limit dropped its CommonJS build in 4.0.0 (August 2021). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 3.1.0, published Nov 25, 2020; it declares support for Node.js >=10.

Which version of p-limit still supports CommonJS / require()?

3.1.0 is the last version of p-limit with a CommonJS build; it declares Node.js >=10. Install it with "npm install p-limit@3.1.0". Every version from 4.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use p-limit from a CommonJS file?

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const pLimit = await import("p-limit"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=20). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("p-limit") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Alternatively pin p-limit@3.1.0 (declares Node.js >=10).

Does p-limit work in Bun?

Yes. import "p-limit" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does p-limit ship TypeScript types?

Yes. p-limit bundles its own type declarations; no @types package is needed.

Links

Other esm-only packages

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