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

> prettier@3.9.6 ships CommonJS and ESM builds. Dual package — require() works on every Node.js version we test; import works too.

Prettier is an opinionated code formatter

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against prettier@3.9.6.

prettier publishes both a CommonJS entry and a native ESM entry (ESM added in 3.0.0). require("prettier") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=14. import "prettier" works alongside it.

## What to do

1. Nothing to change. require("prettier") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=14. import * as prettier from "prettier" works alongside it; use named imports for what the ESM entry exports.
2. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.

## Facts

- Latest: 3.9.6 (Jul 21, 2026)
- Module format: Dual (CommonJS + ESM)
- Last CommonJS version: 3.9.6
- Native ESM since: 3.0.0
- TypeScript types: bundled
- Node engines: >=14
- Weekly downloads: 114.2M
- License: MIT

## Runtime test results for prettier@3.9.6

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

| Runtime | require("prettier") | import "prettier" |
|---|---|---|
| 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 prettier

ES modules:

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

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

CommonJS:

```js
const prettier = require("prettier");
```

## Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (165 versions; the newest 60 shown).

| Versions | Format | First published |
|---|---|---|
| 3.0.0 – 3.9.6 | Dual (CommonJS + ESM) | Jul 5, 2023 |
| 2.5.0 – 2.8.8 | CommonJS | Nov 25, 2021 |

## Frequently asked

**Is prettier ESM-only?**

prettier@3.9.6 ships CommonJS and ESM builds. prettier publishes both a CommonJS entry and a native ESM entry (ESM added in 3.0.0). require("prettier") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=14. import "prettier" works alongside it.

**Can I require prettier?**

Yes. prettier ships a CommonJS entry alongside the native ESM entry. require("prettier") works on every Node.js version we test (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) and in Bun. The package declares Node.js >=14.

**Does prettier work in Bun?**

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

**Does prettier ship TypeScript types?**

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

## Links

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

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