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

TypeScript Execute (tsx): Node.js enhanced with esbuild to run TypeScript & ESM files

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against tsx@4.23.13. Markdown · JSON

ESM-only ESM-only — it has never shipped a CommonJS build

tsx has been ESM-only since its first stable release; there is no CommonJS version to pin.

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

What to do

  1. On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("tsx") 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 tsx = await import("tsx"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=18.0.0).
  3. There is no CommonJS release of tsx to pin; without require(esm) the only option is a dynamic import().
  4. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.
Latest
4.23.13 (Aug 30, 2026)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
none
ESM-only since
3.2.0 (May 17, 2022)
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
>=18.0.0
Weekly downloads
61.9M
License
MIT

Does tsx@4.23.13 actually load? Runtime test results

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

Runtimerequire("tsx")import "tsx"
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✗ failsError✗ failsError

How to import tsx

ES modules (import)

import * as tsx from "tsx";

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 tsx = require("tsx");

// Any Node.js version the package supports (>=18.0.0), from an async function:
async function main() {
  const tsx = await import("tsx");
}

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 (140 versions; the newest 60 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
4.12.1 – 4.23.13ESM-onlyJun 7, 2024

Frequently asked

Is tsx ESM-only?

tsx@4.23.13 is ESM-only. tsx has been ESM-only since its first stable release; there is no CommonJS version to pin.

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

None. tsx has always been ESM-only. Use import, or a dynamic import("tsx") from an async function in CommonJS.

How do I use tsx from a CommonJS file?

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const tsx = await import("tsx"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=18.0.0). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("tsx") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26.

Does tsx work in Bun?

Importing tsx failed in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026: error: Cannot find module './cjs/index.cjs' from ''

Does tsx ship TypeScript types?

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

Links

Other esm-only packages

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