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Is storybook ESM-only? Can you require() it?

Storybook: Develop, document, and test UI components in isolation

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against storybook@10.6.0. Markdown · JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 10.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 9.1.20

storybook dropped its CommonJS build in 10.0.0 (October 2025). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 9.1.20, published Mar 5, 2026.

storybook exposes only subpaths in its exports map, for example "storybook/test"; there is no root entry, so import "storybook" itself throws ERR_PACKAGE_PATH_NOT_EXPORTED. Import the subpath you need instead.

require("storybook") failed in our probe on Node.js 20+ as well; see the runtime table for the error before relying on it. On Node.js 18, which has no require(esm), require("storybook") fails with ERR_REQUIRE_ESM.

What to do

  1. Import subpaths, never the bare name: import from "storybook/test". import "storybook" throws ERR_PACKAGE_PATH_NOT_EXPORTED.
  2. require("storybook") failed in our probe on Node.js 20+ as well; see the runtime table for the error before relying on it.
  3. From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const storybook = await import("storybook/test"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports.
  4. If you need a synchronous require() or run Node.js 18: npm install storybook@9.1.20, the last CommonJS release (published Mar 5, 2026).
  5. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.
Latest
10.6.0 (Sep 2, 2026)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
9.1.20
ESM-only since
10.0.0 (Oct 28, 2025)
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
not declared
Weekly downloads
19.5M
License
MIT

Does storybook@10.6.0 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("storybook")import "storybook"
Node.js 18✗ failsERR_PACKAGE_PATH_NOT_EXPORTED✗ failsERR_PACKAGE_PATH_NOT_EXPORTED
Node.js 20✗ failsERR_PACKAGE_PATH_NOT_EXPORTED✗ failsERR_PACKAGE_PATH_NOT_EXPORTED
Node.js 22✗ failsERR_PACKAGE_PATH_NOT_EXPORTED✗ failsERR_PACKAGE_PATH_NOT_EXPORTED
Node.js 24✗ failsERR_PACKAGE_PATH_NOT_EXPORTED✗ failsERR_PACKAGE_PATH_NOT_EXPORTED
Node.js 26✗ failsERR_PACKAGE_PATH_NOT_EXPORTED✗ failsERR_PACKAGE_PATH_NOT_EXPORTED
Bun 1.4.0✗ failsError✗ failsError

How to import storybook

ES modules (import)

import * as storybook from "storybook/test";

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

CommonJS (require)

// require("storybook/test") failed in our probe on Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer as well; see the runtime table.

// Any Node.js version the package supports, from an async function:
async function main() {
  const storybook = await import("storybook/test");
}

// Or pin the last CommonJS release:
// npm install storybook@9.1.20

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 (395 versions; the newest 60 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
10.0.7 – 10.6.0ESM-onlyNov 11, 2025

Frequently asked

Is storybook ESM-only?

storybook@10.6.0 is ESM-only. storybook dropped its CommonJS build in 10.0.0 (October 2025). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 9.1.20, published Mar 5, 2026.

Which version of storybook still supports CommonJS / require()?

9.1.20 is the last version of storybook with a CommonJS build. Install it with "npm install storybook@9.1.20". Every version from 10.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use storybook from a CommonJS file?

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const storybook = await import("storybook/test"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports. require("storybook") failed in our probe on Node.js 20+ as well; see the runtime table for the error before relying on it. Alternatively pin storybook@9.1.20.

Does storybook work in Bun?

Importing storybook failed in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026: error: Cannot find package 'storybook' from '/Users/boat/Projects/top-seo/data/probe-work/storybook/imp.mjs'

Does storybook ship TypeScript types?

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

Links

Other esm-only packages

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