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

Find the root directory of a Node.js project or npm package

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against pkg-dir@9.0.0. Markdown · JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 6.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 5.0.0

pkg-dir dropped its CommonJS build in 6.0.0 (October 2021). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 5.0.0, published Oct 16, 2020; it declares support for Node.js >=10.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("pkg-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("pkg-dir") fails with ERR_REQUIRE_ESM.

What to do

  1. On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("pkg-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 pkgDir = await import("pkg-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 pkg-dir@5.0.0, the last CommonJS release (published Oct 16, 2020); it declares Node.js >=10.
  4. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.
  5. This package is deprecated: Renamed to `package-directory`.
Latest
9.0.0 (Jun 5, 2025)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
5.0.0
ESM-only since
6.0.0 (Oct 2, 2021)
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
>=18
Weekly downloads
60.5M
License
MIT

Deprecated: Renamed to `package-directory`.

Does pkg-dir@9.0.0 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("pkg-dir")import "pkg-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 pkg-dir

ES modules (import)

import * as pkgDir from "pkg-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 pkgDir = require("pkg-dir");

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

// Or pin the last CommonJS release (declares Node.js >=10):
// npm install pkg-dir@5.0.0

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 (12 versions; the newest 12 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
6.0.0 – 9.0.0ESM-onlyOct 2, 2021
1.0.0 – 5.0.0CommonJSSep 1, 2015

Frequently asked

Is pkg-dir ESM-only?

pkg-dir@9.0.0 is ESM-only. pkg-dir dropped its CommonJS build in 6.0.0 (October 2021). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 5.0.0, published Oct 16, 2020; it declares support for Node.js >=10.

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

5.0.0 is the last version of pkg-dir with a CommonJS build; it declares Node.js >=10. Install it with "npm install pkg-dir@5.0.0". Every version from 6.0.0 on is ESM-only.

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

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const pkgDir = await import("pkg-dir"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=18). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("pkg-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 pkg-dir@5.0.0 (declares Node.js >=10).

Does pkg-dir work in Bun?

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

Does pkg-dir ship TypeScript types?

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

Links

Other esm-only packages

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